Which of the following should be used to normalize the building’s energy use?

A manufacturing plant is increasing units produced and the number of employees annually. The building is documenting compliance with Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, Case 2, Option 1. Path 2 Benchmark Against Typical Buildings Using Comparables.

Which of the following should be used to normalize the building’s energy use?
A . Relative production
B . Number of parking spaces
C . Gal. (I) of water used
D . Area (ft2 or m2)

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

When documenting compliance with Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, for a manufacturing plant that is increasing units produced and the number of employees annually, it’s crucial to use a normalization metric that accurately reflects the building’s energy use in relation to its operational output. Relative production is the most suitable metric in this scenario as it accounts for the output or productivity level of the manufacturing plant, providing a fair and representative measure of energy performance as production scales.

Normalization against relative production allows for an equitable comparison of energy use as it adjusts for changes in production levels or operational intensity, ensuring that the energy performance metric reflects actual efficiency improvements or declines.

Reference: The approach to normalize energy use by relative production aligns with the guidelines and methodologies outlined in the LEED v4 and v4.1 for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) reference guide, specifically under the Energy and Atmosphere category. This document details how projects should account for variations in operational parameters that affect energy consumption to ensure accurate benchmarking and performance assessment.