Deep Energy Savings Defined

Deep Energy Savings (DES) is a generally accepted industry term—but ironically no standard definition has been created or embraced by industry professionals. For this reason, the term is often used to describe a range of efforts that improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. New York State requires at least 30% in energy savings, depending on the age, type, and location of the building, to classify as DES. DES differs in execution depending on whether the process takes place during renovation or during new construction, but in either case it is a trend increasing rapidly in popularity.

When undertaking a renovation project, owners, architects, designers, and builders must come together and agree on everything from the occupant requirements to the energy goals and available budget. Modern upgrades can go a long way in improving the building's efficiency and providing DES benefits. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers expertise and incentives in the early stages to the design teams, as well as incentives for qualified capital investments that will improve energy efficiency.

In new construction, the ultimate goal is to construct a zero net energy building or facility that generates as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. The industry is making great strides in that area; however, the most practical approach today is to optimize energy efficiency measures first and create a building that is zero-net-energy-capable so that, as renewables become more mainstream and affordable, owners can make the switch and enjoy the savings. Our goal at NYSERDA is to give designers and architects the knowledge and ability to look beyond the energy code requirements and strive for results that exceed the baseline while providing an easy platform for future enhancements that achieve a zero net energy environment. By starting with an established energy reduction goal, everyone involved can make the best decisions and recommendations to support that goal.

One factor critical to long-term success in improving energy efficiency is ongoing performance monitoring, otherwise known as commissioning. A variety of systems and methods are available to measure performance and make necessary improvements as the efficiency of systems or infrastructure decreases over time. Change is taking place in the way the industry measures energy savings—the shift is from a focus on kilowatt hours to a focus on BTUs per square foot, which is a more logical approach that can be considered early on in the renovation or construction process.

Change is a process that takes time, and NYSERDA is committed to educating owners and designers on the benefits of energy efficiency. We need to get them thinking about this automatically, and thinking about the true ROI by taking a longer view. Over time, energy efficiency will lead to DES which will lead to zero net energy buildings. It's an evolution that provides big benefits to all of us.

NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation that provides technical support and financial incentives to help commercial and industrial facilities in New York State increase energy efficiency and reduce operational costs. NYSERDA's Commercial and Industrial business offers four primary programs: Existing Facilities, New Construction, FlexTech, and Industrial and Process Efficiency. The views expressed in this column are his own.