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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficient Entities


Why Considering Buildings as a “System” is the Future of
Assessing Energy Efficiency in Canada and Beyond

While not a tangible product that we can see and touch, the – from small tools to large appliances and HVAC systems –
presence of energy efficiency provides massive benefits for has been beneficial, there are untapped opportunities that
the environment and the economy. This is something that the can be realized through looking at buildings as entities with
Canadian government recognizes, and other countries can, and many necessary components, all working together to reach
likely should, pay attention. Federal investments in innovative greater energy efficiency. This concept of the building system
energy efficient projects drive economic growth, contribute adds a third ‘E’ to energy efficiency when it comes to assessing
to our clean energy future and create new, middle-class jobs buildings – energy efficiency entities.
for Canadians. 1 If the nation is going to meet its 2030 climate
change goals, then energy efficiency is one of the quickest Somewhere between focusing on the energy efficiency of
contributors, and this is especially pertinent to buildings of all building components and focusing on the efficiency of the
sizes. While the shift towards choosing energy efficient products building as a whole is the concept of assessing building systems.

1
Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada Invests in Energy-Efficient Building Infrastructure. (9 October, 2018). Retrieved from: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-
of-canada-invests-in-energy-efficient-building-infrastructure-696228281.html

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ENERGY EFFICIENT ENTITIES

A building systems approach considers achieve reductions across all sectors of


the interactions of components, such the economy, aims to drive innovation
as appliances and equipment, within and growth by increasing technology
and among building systems, as well as development and adoption to ensure
interactions among multiple buildings, Canadian businesses are competitive
and between the building and the electric in the global low-carbon economy, and
grid.2 This systems perspective is critical includes actions to advance climate
to influencing significant cost-effective change adaptation and build resilience to
future energy savings and contributions climate impacts across the country. 4 The
to environmental protection within the built environment is an important part
built environment. of this plan. Buildings and communities
must be smart and sustainable, and this
Much progress has been made on means becoming highly efficient.
improving building energy efficiency
over the last several decades by In July of 2018, British Columbia’s
focusing on the efficiency of individual Ministry of Environment and Climate
building components and, more Change published ‘Clean and Efficient
recently, the efficiency of the building Buildings’ which outlines a series of built-
as a whole.3 However, to date there environment policies and actions that the
has been no significant work done to province is considering including in its
“Buildings and
develop standards to serve as a quality forthcoming Clean Growth Strategy. In
communities must be benchmark for assessing the energy addition, the province has the BC Energy
smart and sustainable, efficiency of building systems – until now. Step Code, an optional compliance
and this means CSA Group® is actively working towards path in the BC Building Code that local
becoming highly standards in this important direction, and governments can use to incentivize or
efficient. ” with decades of experience in the testing require a level of energy efficiency in new
and certification of various building construction that goes above and beyond
components for energy efficiency, as the requirements of the BC Building
well as with state-of-the-art laboratories Code.5 These specific mandates have
across the globe, we can help make prompted leaders in the industry to start
the future of building systems that run thinking about how to best support a
cleaner and more economical bright. future with a more sustainable and clean
running built environment.

The Mandate Landscape for


Canada The Role of Standards in “EEE”
In Canada, federal and some provincial Standards can go a long way in
mandates, such as recent developments establishing guidance and best
in British Columbia, have brought the practices for assessing the energy
need for proactive measures to utilize efficiency of these entities better known
energy efficiency to combat climate as building systems. CSA Group has
change and boost the economy. The already developed or is in the process
Government of Canada produced the of developing various standards and
‘Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean guidance documents in the area of
Growth and Climate Change’. This is a building energy efficiency. These include:
plan that outlines an approach to pricing • B u i l d i n g
Energy Estimation
carbon pollution, and measures to Methodology Series of Standards

2
Alliance to Save Energy. Building Systems Efficiency. (29 March, 2018). Retrieved from: https://www.wbdg.org/resources/
building-systems-efficiency#rcas
3
Alliance to Save Energy. Building Systems Efficiency. (29 March, 2018). Retrieved from: https://www.wbdg.org/resources/
building-systems-efficiency#rcas
4
Government of Canada. Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. (21 November, 2018). Retrieved from:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/pan-canadian-framework.html
5
Government of British Columbia. Energy Step Code. (2018). Retrieved from: https://energystepcode.ca/

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ENERGY EFFICIENT ENTITIES

• Building Commissioning for Energy standards including ENERGY STAR®. In


Using Systems Standard addition, CSA Group offers a one-stop
• Thermal Bridging Calculation experience by being able to verify a range
Methodology Standard (in progress) of products at once including appliances,
consumer electronics, home and building
• Existing Building Commissioning
products, HVAC equipment, lighting,
for Energy Using Systems Standard
office supplies, plumbing fixtures, and
Standard(in progress)
motors.
• Building Energy Estimation Software
Tool Project (in progress)
• Energy Modelling Standard (proposed) Verifying Energy Efficiency for
Major Elements of the Entity
“Verifying the energy Based on the success of these There are several critical elements that
efficiency of a wide activities and the growing interest contribute to overall energy efficiency
from stakeholders for standards of a building system – some major ones
range of products is
development in this area, CSA Group being heating and cooling systems,
a long standing area
organized a stakeholder engagement lighting, and office equipment. In order to
of expertise for CSA meeting on building energy systems achieve peak efficiency, these elements
Group” (BES) in November 2018. With incredibly should meet specific criteria.
positive outcomes and feedback from
stakeholders in attendance, it was Innovative technologies for the
agreed that CSA Group would proceed heating, ventilation, air conditioning
with the creation of a new BES focused and refrigeration (HVACR) of Canada’s
Technical Committee (TC). This is the homes and buildings (including
first critical step in getting the right commercial and recreational facilities),
people and industries involved in the are required to enable market-feasible
development of detailed guidelines for net-zero energy solutions by 2030 and
thorough assessment and measurement to reduce electrical demand at peak
of BES, contributing to great strides in times.6 Among the strategies cited as
reducing energy consumption in the built the top ways to get better HVAC energy
environment. efficiency are investing in energy efficient
HVAC equipment, using programmable
controls, and being vigilant about
The Testing & Certification maintenance. 7 This brings forth the
Capabilities that Support question of how does one determine
“EEE” the level of energy efficiency of HVAC
While the concept of assessing the equipment? Testing to current energy
energy efficiency of the building system is efficiency standards can help. CSA Group
still in its early days, verifying the energy has earned recognition from the U.S.
efficiency of a wide range of products Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
is a long standing area of expertise for as an ENERGY STAR® Testing Facility
CSA Group. In fact, we have more than 30 and Certification Body (CB) who can
years of energy efficiency leadership in help HVAC/R products qualify for the
verifying compliance with local, national, EPA ENERGY STAR® Program.
and international energy performance
standards and requirements, and Lighting is also a significant contributor
our testing services encompass the to energy consumption in buildings.
complete set of energy efficiency Upgrading to LED lighting can help
reduce energy use by 75% compared

6
Natural Resources Canada. HVAC and Energy Systems. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/
housing/research/3937
7
Roseone, Michael C. Top 11 Ways to Get Better HVAC Efficiency. (24 April, 2018). Retrieved from: https://aristair.com/blog/top-
11-ways-to-get-better-hvac-energy-efficiency/

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ENERGY EFFICIENT ENTITIES

to incandescent lighting.8 LED lighting powered by cleaner energy? Photovoltaic


must meet key performance and safety (PV) energy is rising in popularity.
standards and CSA Group has a long Used to convert energy from the sun
history of expertise in both standards into electricity, PV systems are a safe
and testing for lighting. We understand and reliable source of solar electricity
the sweeping changes that impact the that produces no on-site pollution or
industry and the critical importance of emissions. PV has experienced strong
meeting demanding requirements for commercial growth in recent years,
safety and energy efficiency. We are evolving from a niche market of small-
leading the market in the development scale applications to a mainstream
of standards in lighting products that electricity source.9 PV systems incur few
help ensure consumer safety, as well operating costs and can be installed on
as operability, efficiency, reliability, and any kind of building, such as residential,
performance of the electrical system. Our commercial, industrial, and institutional.
testing & certification programs include
testing to CSA, UL/ANSI ENERGY In the built environment, photovoltaic
STAR®, CEC, and other North American systems can be split into two market
regulations. segments:
1. Building-applied photovoltaics (BAPV)
Finally, the equipment that make - where the PV system is added to an
enable everyday office processes and existing building (e.g. conventional
procedures – from laptops and tablets to rooftop applications); and
“There are many commercial printers and computer power
2. Building-integrated photovoltaics
benefits to including supplies - also require considerable
(BIPV) - where the PV system can
Building Integrated energy to operate. CSA Group can be included as part of building
certify products in accordance with
Photovoltaics (BIPV) components to become an integral
many international standards through part of the building skin.10
in a building systems our recognitions and global services
approach. BIPV such as the Energy Efficiency Verification There are many benefits to including
can contribute to (EEV) and ENERGY STAR®, and hold BIPV in a building systems approach.
developing net-zero accreditations from respected bodies BIPV not only produces on-site clean
electricity without requiring additional
energy buildings, and worldwide such as Standards Council
of Canada (SCC), Occupational Safety land area, but can also impact the energy
since they can actually
and Health Administration (OSHA), consumption of a building through
generate energy, they daylight utilization and reduction of
Department of Energy (DOE), and
have the potential to National Resources Canada (NRCan). cooling loads.11 In essence, BIPV can
produce ROI. ” contribute to developing net-zero energy
buildings. Building owners actually enjoy
Testing Expertise that Supports lower electricity bills and as well as a solid
Clean Sources of Energy for reputation as being “green” and pioneers
the Built Environment in innovation. Since BIPV can actually
turn building elements, such as a roof,
Optimal BES efficiency goes beyond the
into an energy generating asset, then
obvious system elements to encompass
they actually have a return on investment.
alternative sources of energy. After
all, what can make for a more energy CSA Group has extensive expertise in
efficient building than one that is testing PV components, and has even

8
BDC. 7 simple ways to improve energy efficiency in your building (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/
business-strategy-planning/manage-business/pages/how-aim-net-zero-energy-efficiency.aspx
9
Natural Resources Canada. Solar Voltaic Energy in Building. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/
buildings/research/solar-photovoltaic/3907
Natural Resources Canada. Solar Voltaic Energy in Building. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/
10

buildings/research/solar-photovoltaic/3907
Natural Resources Canada. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/
11

buildings/research/solar-photovoltaic/21280

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ENERGY EFFICIENT ENTITIES

started to receive requests for testing — are a solution to this challenge, and are
of BIPV. Each of CSA Group’s labs in being increasingly combined with solar
Albuquerque, New Mexico, Vancouver, installations to maximize value. They
British Columbia, and Kunshan, China, support the integration of distributed
demonstrates a depth of technical energy resources (DER) including
knowledge and attention to detail that is PV and wind in the built environment.
essential to establishing PV as a viable These resources generate intermittently
and sustainable energy source. and variably due to weather, cloud cover,
season, and time of day. Energy storage
Certification, performance, and reliability systems decouple load from generation
testing on PV products currently and support the use of DERs, allowing
conducted include: a constant supply of electricity when it
• PV Modules and BIPV products is needed to decrease reliance on the
electricity grid and increase reliance on
• Batteries and other energy storage
systems local generation.

• PV racking systems for rooftop As a global leader in testing and


systems certification for solar-plus-storage
• PV inverters and charge controllers systems, CSA Group has the capability
to test the individual components, as well
CSA Group’s customized testing services as the installation and performance of
are designed to examine PV products the system as a whole. Offering testing,
under conditions that accurately simulate inspection, and certification of cells,
solar energy service. We use: batteries, inverters, and energy storage
• Advanced technology solar simulators systems for safety and performance
to precisely reproduce high intensity helps establish CSA Group as a one-
light stop expert source for PV testing and
certification.
• Environmental chambers to evaluate
performance in controlled temperature
and humidity
The Journey to Clean and
• Alight-soak chamber to simulate Efficient Energy for Buildings
extended sunlight exposure
The benefits of working towards an
• International Elec trotechnical
efficient BES go beyond environmental
Commission (IEC) testing capabilities
to help ensure conformity with goals – they actually boost the financial
international safety and performance bottom line for building owners and
standards open the doors for manufacturers of
energy efficient building components to
• An expansive outdoor testing area to
compete on a different level. The future
evaluate PV modules on fixed racks
and dual-axis trackers says it’s not enough to simply offer the
fastest computers, the most powerful
Energy storage is a particularly interesting HVAC systems, or the brightest longest
area when it comes to moving towards lasting lighting systems. They must
greater energy efficiency in a building also offer the most energy efficient
system. As solar energy use grows and products, and to do this manufacturers
becomes more available, one of the must be able to demonstrate that their
challenges that arises is how to balance products have been tested to accepted
power consumption and supply. Energy benchmarks and guidelines.
storage systems — i.e. batteries used to
collect energy and provide power when, With a century of rich experience in
for example, the sun is not shining, or at standards development – including
peak times when more power is needed paving the way for the first BES standard
- and a drive for embracing innovative

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ENERGY EFFICIENT ENTITIES

ways to test and certify emerging


technologies – such as PV and energy
storage – CSA Group is poised to
help. With our standards and testing
services, we can assist manufacturers
of energy-driven building components
get their products into the hands of
built environment stakeholders who are
actively pursuing the many benefits of
an energy efficient building system – in
essence, creating an entity that both
saves them money and supports a
cleaner environment.

Contact Us
To learn more about our global
testing and certifications services,
contact us today.

866 797 4272


certinfo@csagroup.org
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csagroup.org 01/2019

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