Section 407-400-8 - PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE ALTERNATIVEA. Scope This Section establishes criteria for the design of buildings in terms of the building's annual energy usage.
B. Analysis Criteria 1. Compliance with this Section requires an analysis of the annual space conditioning energy usage, hereafter called "energy usage", of the proposed building design and a comparison of such usage with the energy usage of a standard building design.2. A proposed building design will be deemed to meet the requirements of 10 MRSA §1415-G(3) if the energy usage of the proposed building design is not greater than that of a standard building design. The standard design shall be based on the criteria specified by 10 MRSA14153 ), and this rule for insulation levels, infiltration controls, and ventilation.3. The standard building design shall be substantially identical to the proposed building design in the following respects:a Function and design requirements;b Size, shape, geometry, and orientation;c Operating schedule, temperature, humidity, ventilation and footcandles; andd Internal heat gains from occupants and equipment.C. Analysis Procedure 1. The energy usage of the standard building design and the proposed building design shall be determined through use of identical energy analysis procedures.a The energy usage shall be expressed as total Btu usage per year of conditioned floor area for both the proposed building design and the standard building design.b The energy usage from various energy sources shall be converted to Btu per year of conditioned floor area for the purposes of comparing the annual energy usage.2. The analysis procedure shall account for the operation of the building and its systems through a full year operating period.3. The analysis of the annual energy usage of the standard building design and the proposed building design shall be based on the same outdoor weather conditions including temperatures, solar radiation, wind, and humidity of typical days in the year representing seasonal variation.D. Documentation The analysis of the annual energy usage of the proposed building design and the standard building design shall be prepared by a licensed architect, engineer, or State certified energy auditor. The analysis shall provide technical data on the proposed building design, the standard building design, and the data used to verify that the requirements of this Standard are met.
65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 400, § 8