NYC Green Schools Guide

The following Green Schools Ratings System Forms are an editable format of those provided in the 2009/2016/2019 Green Schools guides and are for the designer's use in making submittals to the SCA. These forms may differ slightly from those provided in the guides as they are updated when needed to correct errors that are found. Designers will be notified by A&E of the GSG Rating System applicable to their assigned project.

To view the Green Schools Rating System Forms, you will need Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel installed.

Energy modeling is required for all Green School Guide projects. While there are several modeling software platforms with varying degrees of strengths and weaknesses permitted by the energy code, SCA has determined that eQuest is the platform to be used on its projects. Previously the significance of modeling was to create a comparison of the percentage of energy savings against a baseline case for both GSG and LL86 of 2005 compliance. However, the Local Law 31 of 2016 mandate of an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) target has led the SCA to select one program so that variations in the modeling software algorithms and assumptions will not lead to schools meeting or not meeting the required targets.

The SCA has developed templates for use in project-specific energy modeling based on its prototypical design case and different size buildings for use with eQuest. The original set of templates based on ASHRAE 90.1-2013 was intended to meet the required 20% energy savings over ASHRAE 90.1-2013 as required by LL86 of 2005. However, the templates now need to be used to create a consistent means of determining the building's EUI using ASHRAE 90.1-2013. There is also a set of templates based on ASHRAE 90.1-2010 for Green Schools Guide Compliance.  Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) to meet LL31 of 2016 requirements need to be modeled by the design teams. For projects that required energy modeling but are based on earlier versions of ASHRAE 90.1, the templates can be revised to incorporate the provisions of the earlier ASHRAE 90.1 versions.

The intent of providing these templates is to give designers a guide to creating their own project-specific models so that the models are repeatable and use consistent information. A major item that is often guesswork by the designers is the occupancy schedule. The templates provide the information that is to be used. Using a uniform format and providing the information in the same manner as these templates will allow the Green Schools Guide Review Committee to more easily review the energy models presented with the green submissions. Designers are to provide their own modeling reports using the Sample Report below. When using the templates, if the designer notices a parameter at odds with the SCA design requirements or other issue they believe is not captured or captured incorrectly, please notify the GSG Review Committee through NYCGSG-Submissions@nycsca.org    

The eQuest How-to Guide for SCA Energy Models explains how to format the modeling report and is used in conjunction with the eQuest Input Summary for Energy Models, which provides the schedules and other data to be used in the model. As indicated, the data is applicable to the SCA's prototypical model and the designer will need to input project-specific parameters if something other than the prototype values are used. Energy modelers will need to update the building geometry to reflect the actual design and will need to verify all baseline fan power and efficiency calculations based on allowances and equipment sizes. Each of the zip folders contain the .inp, .pd2, and .pdl file for each size school.  The main difference between the "Large_School" and "Medium_School" files are the schedules, for which High Schools have extended hours. Again, these templates are a starting point to improve consistency among models.

The eQuest Pool Modeling Guide for SCA Energy Models is used in conjunction with the SCA eQuest How to Guide for SCA Energy Models and the eQuest Input Summary for Energy Models. This document provides modeling requirements for SCA capacity projects with pools or can be used and modified as necessary for CIP projects with pools that require modeling, either because prescriptive requirements cannot demonstrate compliance with the energy code or the project is part of a deep energy retrofit. 

Energy modeling for existing building electrification is found under the ‘Existing Buildings Sustainability’ tab.

• eQuest How-to Guide for SCA Energy Models
• eQuest How-to Guide - Appendix A Calculation
• eQuest Pool Modeling Guide for SCA Energy Models
• eQuest Input Summary for Energy Models
• LEED Hourly Cambium Demand Adjusted Energy Metrics Calculator
• Template files for use within eQuest:
  • PS/ECC Schools with Natural Gas Heating (for all primary school and early childhood center models):
    • PS_School_Design.zip
    • PS_School_GSG_Baseline.zip
    • PS_School_NYCECC_2020_Baseline.zip
  • PS/ECC Schools with Electric Heating (for all primary school and early childhood center models):
    • PS_Elec_School_Design.zip
    • PS_Elec_School_GSG_Baseline.zip
    • PS_Elec_School_NYCECC_2020_Baseline.zip
  • IS/HS Schools with Natural Gas Heating (for all intermediate and high school models):
    • IS_HS_School_Design.zip
    • IS_HS_School_GSG1 Baseline.zip (Schools150,000 ft2)
    • IS_HS_School_GSG2_Baseline.Zip (Schools 150,000 ft2)
    • IS_HS_School_NYCECC_2020_Baseline.zip
  • IS/HS Schools with Electric Heating (for all primary school and early childhood center models):
    • IS_HS_Elec_School_Design.zip
    • IS_HS_Elec_School_GSG1 Baseline.zip (Schools < 150,000 ft2)
    • IS_HS_Elec_School_GSG2 Baseline.zip (Schools > 150,000 ft2)
    • IS_HS_Elec_School_NYCECC_2020 Baseline.zip
  • Weather files (this zip file contains the following files; please extract before using):
    • NY_New_York_J_F_Kennedy_TMY3.bin
    • NY_New_York_Laguardia_TMY3.bin
    • NY_NewYork_Cent-Park_TMY3.bin

In order to provide a consistent format for relaying information from an energy model for review by the Green Schools Guide Committee, an energy model report template and energy model report sample is provided. The Energy Model Report Template (EN-1), which is in MS Excel, is patterned after the Department of Buildings EN-1 document and contains both SCA GSG review tabs, which are in teal and include a review checklist, and the DOB’s EN-1 tabs, which are in orange that designers may use for their own reference in creating the EN drawings for filing. The teal tabs are to be printed and included with the modeling output reports to be submitted in GSG submissions or other similar energy model submissions such as for deep energy retrofits. The modeler is to ensure the information provided in the tables, at a minimum, is included in their own EN-1 report that they must provide on the drawings if they do not want to use the orange EN-1 tabs from the template. 

• Energy Model Report Template/EN-1 v7 – 2020 NYCECC (ASHRAE 90.1-2016) Baseline
• Energy Model Report Template/EN-1 v6 – 2020 NYCECC (ASHRAE 90.1-2016) Baseline
• Energy Model Report Sample

The eQuest Results Checklist Report annotated example shows locations of where the information in the Output Checklist, as provided in the template, is listed in the report, using reference numbers.

• eQuest Results Checklist Report Annotated Example

In addition to the teal tabs from the Energy Model Report Template (EN-1), the GSG submission is to include the following eQuest energy modeling reports:

• Report - BEPS: Building Energy Performance
• Report - BEPU: Building end use breakdown by fuel type
• Report - ES-D: Utility costs
• Report - LV-B: Summary of Spaces
• Report - LV-D: Details of Exterior Surfaces
• Report - LV-H: Details of windows
• Report - LV-I: Details of Constructions
• Report - SV-A: System Design Parameters for HVAC (1 for each system)
• Report - PV-A: Plant Design Parameters
• Report - PS-E: Energy End-Use Summary for All Meters (one report for electricity, one for fuel)