*NOTE: The 2018 Code Effective Date has been extended to February 1, 2021. For more information, please visit: https://sbcc.wa.gov/news/2018-code-effective-date-extended-february-1-2021

On February 1, 2021, the HVAC Total System Performance Ratio (TSPR) goes into effect in the 2018 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC). This code update will save energy by requiring building designers to use more efficient HVAC systems evaluated on whole-system performance.

By accounting for full-system HVAC efficiency, TSPR levels the playing field for efficient technologies and promotes more efficient design approaches in the process. This is an improvement on prior Washington code, which disincentivized energy-efficient HVAC system types and designs by treating high- and low-performing HVAC systems equally.

HOW TSPR WORKS
TSPR is a performance-based compliance path for HVAC systems. It is defined as the ratio of the sum of a building’s annual heating and cooling load compared to the sum of the annual carbon emissions from energy consumption of the building’s HVAC systems.

To comply with the WSEC, the proposed system’s TSPR must be greater than or equal to the baseline system TSPR, and meet all other prescriptive code requirements.

Calculating TSPR does not require complex energy modeling. Engineers will have the option to input the characteristics of the building and its mechanical systems into a software tool, developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, as a module within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Asset Scoring Tool.

GETTING READY FOR ROLL-OUT
There will be a series of TSPR trainings offered prior to the February code changes. To learn more and sign up for these live webinar trainings, visit: waenergycodes.com/compliance_training

Download TSPR one-pager

Join the Seattle 2030 District on 6/30 at 8 a.m. PDT for Building Measures to Take to Prepare for Reopening
Continuing from last month’s session, we will look at the intersection of sustainability and health as related to reopening buildings. This online session will include mechanical challenges within your existing system, how technology can run a building more efficiently and improve the health of occupants, and how staff training now could improve efficiency later.

We have great panelists from different sectors in the built environment:

This session is targeted to Seattle 2030 District property owners and managers. Register here.

Note: Registration for this event will close on Monday, June 29th at 10 pm ET.

As a reminder, multifamily and non-residential buildings 20,000 sf or larger must be accurately benchmarked and reported to the City of Seattle by July 1, 2020 (for the prior year’s energy use).

More details and resources, including benchmarking tutorial videos, can be found below and on the City of Seattle’s benchmarking compliance website.

• Compliance Checklist outlines the steps required to submit a benchmark report. Use the checklist to track your progress during the benchmarking process.
• How to Guide includes detailed step-by-step instructions to help you successfully benchmark your building and comply with the annual reporting requirement.
• Video Tutorials provide energy benchmarking instruction, outline the benchmarking process and include follow-along procedures from start to finish. Individual videos are linked below, and the complete series is available here.
  • Introduction to Benchmarking (video)
  • Data Collection (Part A): Property Use Data (video)
  • Data Collection (Part B): Energy Meter Data (video)
  • Creating a Portfolio Manager Account and Entering Data (video)
  • Obtaining Data Usage: Seattle City Light (video)
  • Obtaining Data Usage: Puget Sound Energy (video)
  • Confirming Energy Use & Submitting Report to City of Seattle (video)
  • Understand Results and Create Reports (video)