Maximizing Energy Incentives Revit® Corner

Maximizing Energy Incentives During Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly curtailed construction activity throughout the United States, thus reducing the number of projects pursuing lighting energy incentives from local utility companies. Utility energy incentives, when applied to lighting systems, are intended to promote energy efficiency, reduce the overall consumption of building electricity, provide future flexibility, and increase the life span of lighting systems within new and existing buildings. The reduction of energy incentives projects has increased the available incentives allocated annually by utility companies. Several clients have identified this opportunity, through the assistance of design engineers and utility companies, and have evaluated the existing conditions of lighting systems, future renovations, and financial implications for their buildings. Once a building has been identified for energy incentives by the client, several design and construction challenges must be met in order to complete the project. These challenges include, but are not limited to, equipment availability, implications to existing building systems, existing building conditions, and phased construction. This may sound excessive, but with proper coordination and direction, the project can be completed on time and within budget. To better understand the requirements to complete a lighting energy incentive project during the Covid-19 pandemic, let us explore a few real-life project examples.

Corporate Garage in Urban Location This project consisted of an existing, nine-story, employee parking facility in Hartford, Connecticut. Originally constructed in 2009, the parking garage was identified by the client’s energy conservation department, in coordination with Kohler Ronan and Eversource Utility Company, as a prime candidate for the high-performance energy rebate. The Eversource high-performance tier lighting rebate requires DLC/Energy Star-listed lighting fixtures, one control strategy per lighting fixture, two control strategies across the whole project, and a DLC-listed network lighting control system. Once the design requirements were established, the design engineers verified existing building conditions, with the assistance of owner’s as-built information, and existing maintenance records. This extra level of coordination allowed the design team to create a constructable set of contract documents that addressed design requirements and existing field issues.

AT A GLANCE

• Premium Wireless Networked Lighting

Control System • DLC/Energy Star Approved LED Lighting

Fixtures • Remote Access to the Lighting Control

System • Energy Monitoring of Lighting System • Warranty on Project Installation and

Products • Reduced Maintenance Cost • Increased Lighting System Life • Utility Lighting Rebate o Library $471k o Academic Building $67k o Garage $195k

Based on energy incentive requirements and the existing building assessment, the design team specified lighting fixtures and a wireless network lighting control system that was ideal for the project and client. The final level of coordination involved reviewing the contract document to generate a feasible construction schedule that accounted for phasing, parking capacity requirements, and safety. With the assistance of the owner, contractor, and design team, a viable schedule was approved.

Since this project was designed pre-Covid, sourcing the material was not a concern. However, as the Covid-19 pandemic occurred during the second half of the construction phase, the project team did experience material/shipment date hurdles. In order clear these hurdles, the team produced alternative solutions that incorporated locally sourced materials as well as design options that eliminated the need for additional components. The fluid communication between all parties ensured that the project would be completed on time and within budget. Furthermore, the client received an energy rebate that accounted for 36% of the total construction cost.

University Library and Academic Building A Connecticut university recently undertook partial renovations to two existing campus buildings: a library and

REVIT® CORNER

CHECKING THE VERSION AND BUILD NUMBER

Before a project is started in Revit (regardless of software year) the BIM Manager should make sure that all team members are working on the latest version and build of Revit. The version and build number should be verified with the host (typically he Architect) prior to setting up the consultant(s) model. Ensuring all users are up to date and on the same build number will help to eliminate issues with model shares, Synchronizing to Central and overall model performance. To check the build number simply expand the “Help” (question mark) drop down menu in the upper right hand corner and select “About Revit”.

The dialog box below will open. The version and build info is located in the upper right hand corner as highlighted.