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Sustainable Buildings

Asset Types

Focus Area

Energy and Carbon

Topic

Energy and Carbon Assessment

Question #

E1.1b – Landlord informs, tenant manages energy

Question

Does the landlord conduct visual inspections of tenant-managed energy systems each year?

Applicability

Not Applicable to Office or Healthcare Buildings

Answer

Yes or No

Description

Assessments allow building management to identify opportunities for operational optimization and capital upgrades, focusing on the highest impact systems and areas.

The purpose of the visual inspection is to identify potential energy savings opportunity, and provide general condition oversight.

Requirements

The Mechanical Systems Condition Assessment, must cover the following:

  1. Conduct a visual inspection of the tenant-managed energy systems that serve tenant leased spaces, covering the following as applicable:
    – Lighting (interior and exterior)

    – HVAC (cooling, heating, air distribution, ventilation and exhaust systems)
    – Heating, chilled, condenser, and domestic water systems and associated pumps
    – Refrigeration
    – Onsite power generation equipment, including renewable energy systems
    – Uninterruptible power supplies, power distribution units, and critical power systems
    – Data centers and information technology infrastructure
    – Plug loads (including office equipment, personal computers, appliances)

  2. Cover a group of tenants who lease at least half of the total building area
  3. Share visual inspection forms with tenants

Documentation

  • Most recent visual inspection forms of tenant spaces
  • Communication where the results of the visual inspection were shared with tenants
  • Demonstrate that the inspections cover at least half of the area of the building

BB3 Equivalent

New in BOMA BEST 4.0

Lead

In-house

References

Crosswalk

TBD

Other Notes

None

Applicability

Not Applicable to Office or Healthcare Buildings

Answer

Yes or No

Description

Assessments allow building management to identify opportunities for operational optimization and capital upgrades, focusing on the highest impact systems and areas.

The purpose of the visual inspection is to identify potential energy savings opportunity, and provide general condition oversight.

Requirements

The Mechanical Systems Condition Assessment, must cover the following:

  1. Conduct a visual inspection of the tenant-managed energy systems that serve tenant leased spaces, covering the following as applicable:
    – Lighting (interior and exterior)

    – HVAC (cooling, heating, air distribution, ventilation and exhaust systems)
    – Heating, chilled, condenser, and domestic water systems and associated pumps
    – Refrigeration
    – Onsite power generation equipment, including renewable energy systems
    – Uninterruptible power supplies, power distribution units, and critical power systems
    – Data centers and information technology infrastructure
    – Plug loads (including office equipment, personal computers, appliances)

  2. Cover a group of tenants who lease at least half of the total building area
  3. Share visual inspection forms with tenants

Documentation

  • Most recent visual inspection forms of tenant spaces
  • Communication where the results of the visual inspection were shared with tenants
  • Demonstrate that the inspections cover at least half of the area of the building

BB3 Equivalent

New in BOMA BEST 4.0

Lead

In-house

References

Crosswalk

TBD

Other Notes

None

Scoring

Essential
Focus Area Energy & Carbon
Topic Energy and Carbon Assessment
# E1.0a – Walkthrough Energy & Carbon Assessment
Question Has a walk-through Energy and Carbon Assessment been completed in the last five (5) years?
Applicability Not Applicable to Light Industrial or Open-Air Retail Buildings
Answer Yes
Description

Assessments allow building management to identify opportunities for operational optimization and capital upgrades, focusing on the highest impact systems and areas. 

To generate recommendations for no- and low-cost energy conservation measures (ECMs) and carbon reduction measures (CRMs) as well as more capital-intensive upgrades, assessments should include estimates of potential savings for proposed measures, and consider implementation costs. Measures selected for implementation can then be added to plans and budgets.

Requirements

The Energy and Carbon Assessment Report, must cover the following: 

  1. Building and system description and review, interviews with building O&M staff – If the site visit was completed remotely, describe steps taken to become familiar with the building’s construction, equipment, operation, and maintenance to demonstrate that the assessment acurately reflects on-site conditions. 
  2. Energy utility history (at least 12 months of continuous data, typically the previous 24-36 months of data) for each energy source
  3. Carbon emission history (at least 12 months of continuous data, typically the previous 24-36 months of data) for each carbon source (see References and Other Notes)
  4. Baseline energy consumption and carbon emissions with benchmarking
  5. Low- and no-cost energy conservation and carbon reduction measures, with high level costing, simple payback and anticipated savings Also see Other Notes.
Note: Energy use data does not have to be included. The focus here is on gaining a sense what end-uses consume the most energy and what opportunities / challenges exist to improve the energy performance of that end-use. Questions about the energy use data, measurable impact and analysis of trends follow in subsequent sections.
Documentation Walk-through Energy and Carbon Assessment Report
BB3 Equivalent Best Practice 2 – Has an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Assessment been conducted in the last five (5) years?
Lead In-house
References ASHRAE Level I Audit: https://www.techstreet.com/ashrae/standards/ashrae-211-2018?product_id=2016437 Energy Star Carbon Emissions: https://portfoliomanager.energystar.gov/pdf/reference/Emissions.pdf Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM) Global Pathways: https://www.crrem.org/ 
Crosswalk TBD
Other Notes The assessment methodology should at least align with an ASHRAE Level I Audit. Refer to Energy Star for carbon emission calculations. If other carbon emission factors are used, explain reasoning and factors applied.
Scoring Essential