Major building-wide renovation projects provide an effective vehicle for deep energy retrofits and new construction. Energy efficiency can be a strategic addition to major renovation projects, providing for some of the deepest savings while also significantly contributing to the overall property value creation. With more stringent regulations such as New York’s Local Law 97, it becomes imperative to mitigate energy use and offset carbon emissions from buildings.
The top energy conservation strategies that could be applied in each category would include:
Lighting
Reduce lighting power density
Lighting upgrades to T-8, T-5, and LED fixtures
Lighting override controls
Lower lighting power density in tenant spaces
Install Task lighting and occupancy sensors
Implement continuous dimming high efficiency LED lighting
Daylight sensors, dimming, active blinds
Natural daylighting
Motorized blinds with app control
Daylight dimming, occupancy/vacancy sensors, and controls
Daylight sensors and controls
Active blinds
Reduce lighting schedule
Lighting operations controlled by a Building management system
Cooling
Cooling plant replacement or upgrade
New variable speed screw chiller
Heat Recovery Heat Pump
New DX units throughout the property
Cooling tower replacement or refurbishment
Chilled beams and VAV
VFDs on motors in AHUs, cooling towers, pumps
VFDs in chillers and chilled water pumps
Refurbished DX units with new motors and VFD
Setpoint temps and schedules
Reduce setpoint temperatures
Increase deadband for VAV units
Heating
Boiler plant replacement or upgrade
High-efficiency condensing boilers and thermal storage tank
Gas cogeneration for hot water
Air-source heat pumps
Distribution system improvements
Steam or hot water distribution pipe insulation
Upgrade all internal controls to VAV boxes in ceilings throughout each floor
Ventilation
Air handling system replacement or upgrade
Total air distribution system converted to VAV
Displacement ventilation
Air distribution upgrades (overhead, hybrid overhead, perimeter fan coil, and chilled beam)
VFDs on all supply and return/exhaust fans
Demand control ventilation
Demand control ventilation and CO2 sensors
Fresh air controls with presence detectors enabling shutdown when areas are unoccupied
Envelope
Façade Upgrades
High-performance window replacement
Air-tightness improvements
Replace weather stripping with new gaskets
Passive stack effect mitigation
Façade air tightness caulking for the entire building
Additional insulation
Super-insulated walls and roof with a continuous air barrier
Additional insulation on the roof and below grade level
Plug Loads
Energy star appliances and other ECM's
Replace existing appliances with energy star
Plug load reduction study and advanced power strips installation on tenant floors
Remote, app-driven control for tenants
Hot water
Hot water heater replacement
High-efficiency condensing boilers
Gas cogeneration for hot water
Electrification of hot water generation & other ECM's
New electric domestic hot water tanks
Electrical point of use hot water heaters for hand washing and low-flow fixtures
Other Strategies
Upgrade existing BMS programming and modernized controls
Advanced cloud-based building energy management system (EMS), offering real-time energy management (RTEM) capabilities
The be-ex article (screenshot above) has documented measures taken by 18 buildings to comply with Local law 97 in NYC - https://be-exchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/beex_highrise_lowcarbonreport_102920rt.pdf