NECB 2020 recognized as alternative path in LEED v5

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Canada’s National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) has been recognized as a valid path for the demonstration of energy efficiency in LEED for over two decades. CAGBC is pleased to announce that the latest recognition is now available under LEED v5 Building Design + Construction (BD+C), for the determination of energy efficiency in both New Construction (NC) and Core & Shell (CS).

Country-specific Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) are called Regional ACPs (or RACP) under LEED v5. The RACP for Canada’s NECB 2020 is broken out both by the prerequisite versus the credit and also the by NC vs CS: 

• LEED v5 BD+C: NC – Canadian Minimum Energy Efficiency with NECB

• LEED v5 BD+C: CS – Canadian Minimum Energy Efficiency with NECB

• LEED v5 BD+C: NC – Canadian Enhanced Energy Efficiency with NECB

• LEED v5 BD+C: CS – Canadian Enhanced Energy Efficiency with NECB

These RACPs allow LEED v5 BD+C project teams to utilize NECB 2020 in place of ASHRAE 90.1-2019 to demonstrate compliance for both EA prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Efficiency and EA credit 3: Enhanced Energy Efficiency, however, similar to past versions of LEED, RACPs are optional; project teams can choose to utilize ASHRAE 90.1-2019 or the NECB 2020 pathway. 

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EA prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Efficiency  

For EA prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Efficiency, both NC and CS follow the same direction. To document compliance, project teams document simply compliance with NECB 2020 through the RACP but with one additional condition of an ‘envelope backstop’.  

What is an Envelope Backstop? 

The building codes have been improving in thermal envelope performance over time. These measures are specifically laid out in the prescriptive requirements in the code. However, energy modelling pathways in the code allow projects to use lower-performing envelope systems, while meeting code overall through the use of improved mechanical or lighting systems. Things like increased glazing ratios, or the presence of thermal bridging such as for balconies, may prevent projects from meeting the prescriptive envelope requirements.   

For project teams using ASHRAE 90.1-2019, there is an additional requirement to meet Addendum cr, which limits building envelope trade-offs; ASHRAE 90.1-2022 has this requirement incorporated into the standard itself. 

NECB 2020 RACP 

For project teams utilizing the new NECB 2020 RACP, there is an additional condition in the RACP for a similar ‘envelope backstop’. Project teams have the option of meeting the prescriptive thermal requirements of NECB 2020 Part 3 (specifically section 3.2) or using one of two paths that allow for ‘trade-offs’ with limitations: a Weighted Average Envelope Backstop or a Modelled Envelope Backstop.  Users will notice the percentages applied in the NECB 2020 RACP are significantly more than those allowed under the ASHRAE 90.1-2019 path; these higher percentages account for the fact that prescriptive NECB values are, on average, about 30 percent more stringent than those of ASHRAE, and the NECB also makes a more thorough accounting of thermal bridging (NECB prescriptive values include all thermal bridges, such as balconies, window to wall transitions, slabs, parapets, etc.). The NECB 2020 RACP also provides a relaxation on the percentages for taller structures, that are likely to be the most challenged based on their typical construction types. 

EA credit 3: Enhanced Energy Efficiency  

For EA credit 3: Enhanced Energy Efficiency, full points are available to project teams using ASHRAE or the new NECB RACPs. Those using ASHRAE 90.1-2019, can do so under Option 1. Prescriptive Path or Option 2. Energy Simulation. 

LEED v5 BD+C:NC NECB 2020 RACP  

Under LEED v5 BD+C:NC, the NECB 2020 RACP provides a combination of those options. The ten available points are split between regulated loads and process loads. Regulated energy loads are as defined by NECB 2020 Clause 1.1.1.2: That is, energy used specific to heating, ventilating or air-conditioning, service water, and lighting, and the provision of electrical power systems and motors, excluding process loads. Unlike the LEED v4 NECB 2011 ACP which had 11 specific conditions, this new NECB 2020 RACP for LEED v5 has only two specific conditions, related to outdoor air rates and service water heating. Project teams can achieve up to six points for using Path 1 for regulated loads. To achieve the other four points in recognition of efficiencies with process loads, project teams have the choice of three different cases to demonstrate compliance within the credit’s Option 1. Prescriptive Path, Path 2. Plug and Process Loads (PPL), as follows: 

• Case 1. Plug Load Management (1 point) 

AND/OR 

• Case 2. Efficient Plug and Process Load Equipment (1-4 points) 

OR 

• Case 3. Plug and Process Load Exceptional Calculation (1-4 points) 

Project teams will find that Case 3’s Exceptional Calculation Method is similar to how energy modellers currently account for process loads under LEED v4 using NECB. 

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LEED v5 BD+C:CS NECB 2020 RACP  

For LEED v5 BD+C: CS projects, the approach is the same as with NC projects using the NECB 2020 RACP, except that there is a differing point threshold for regulated loads, and there is additional flexibility on the distribution of points between regulated loads and process loads due to the variance in terms of what is in scope for Core & Shell. Regulated loads can achieve six of the available seven points, but process loads can achieve three extra points to a maximum of seven points overall. Additionally, there are two cases available for Plug and Process loads: 

• Case 1. Plug Load Management (1 point) 

AND/OR 

• Case 2. Efficient Plug and Process Load Equipment (1-3 points) 

Additional highlights: 

• Note that the NECB 2020 RACP (both NC and CS) only applies to ‘new construction’ projects; that is, it does not apply to BD+C ‘major renovation’ projects. Due to the differences in accounting for the energy modelling of existing buildings between ASHRAE 90.1-2019 and NECB 2020, major renovation projects are directed to use ASHRAE 90.1 for demonstration of compliance. 

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CAGBC thanks its Energy and Efficiency Technical Advisory Group (E&E TAG) and USGBC staff for their long hours of development work on this RACP.

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