Zero Energy Certification is awarded through a two-part process, including 1) a Ready Audit upon completion of construction and 2) a Final Audit after a 12-month performance period. This process allows for early recognition once systems are in place and performance-based verification to ensure that intended outcomes are achieved. Project teams submitting for a single audit should ensure submissions include all documentation required from both the Ready and Final audit documentation sections.
BASIC DOCUMENTATION
ZE-1 Energy Narrative + Schematic Drawing
READY AUDIT
A narrative which includes a basic schematic of the energy system, and describes the energy system, including:
- Building’s anticipated needs and operational issues
- All subsystems of the energy-using and energy-producing systems, including all areas that will be listed in the Energy Production and Demand Table.
- Descriptions of energy efficiency strategies incorporated.
- Energy production design strategies and schematics.
- Descriptions of all backup power systems, implementation, and anticipated usage per year.
- Confirmation of a lack of combustion in or connected to the project.
- Combustion-based DES 12 month phase-out plan, if applicable. Plans must describe a detailed timeline of the phase-out including anticipated dates and actions for the remaining life of the equipment, how changes will be implemented, and how the plan will be funded.
- Description of meter locations and/or electric drawings.
- Lessons learned from design and construction.
Project teams must provide summary reports from energy calculations to show that the building is projected to operate at the efficiency needed for achieving net zero performance.
ZE-2 Renewable Energy Generation Information
FINAL AUDIT
- A narrative describing how the renewable energy system(s) meet the certification requirements: are additional, from allowed sources, attributed to the project, educational, identifiable, and metered.
- Include the construction start date of each renewable system and the project construction start date. If the project construction start date follows the renewable energy construction start date, provide documentation showing that the systems were pre-planned for utilization and attribution to additional buildings.
- Include schematics and photos of systems if not already provided
- If the project does not have ownership of renewable systems, contracts must be provided proving an agreement of at least 15 years for renewable systems.
ZE-3 Energy Use Data
FINAL AUDIT
A brief narrative regarding the project’s energy use over the performance period, including lessons learned from building operations.
Twelve months of performance data in one of the following formats is required:
- Copies of utility bills for a continuous 12-month period, beginning with the designated start date of the performance period.
- Billing data spreadsheet from utility as verification that data is for the project.
- If utility data is not available, metered data from a private system such as a building management system may be accepted if it is accompanied by a letter from project engineer or consultant on their letterhead verifying that the provided data is correct.
If the project does not have energy bills (due to no connection to a utility or to being sub-metered from a larger-scale utility meter), also include:
- A letter, signed and stamped by the energy or mechanical engineer and cosigned by the project owner, substantiating that this is the case.
Additionally, if applicable, provide results of the first 12 months of the project’s combustion-based DES phase-out plan or documented advocacy. The results must include what steps of the phase-out plan have been completed and provide reasoning for any changes in the timeline provided during Ready Audit.
ZE-4 Energy Tracking Tables
FINAL AUDIT
Completed Energy Production and Demand Table based on 12 months of performance data.
ZE-5 Renewable Energy Generation Information
FINAL AUDIT
- Provide generation data in Energy Production and Demand Table based on 12 months of performance data.
- Documentation proving system’s production, including documents such as:
- Meter data.
- Utility bills.
- Allocation of energy generated when part of larger system.
- Include schematics and photos of systems if not already provided.
ZE-6 Case Study
FINAL AUDIT
Using the provided Case Study Template, all projects must provide detailed case study information describing the project team’s approach, highlighting any lessons learned or particularly rewarding outcomes.
At the time of certification, the case study information will be uploaded to the Institute’s website. These case studies are a means to celebrate Zero Energy Certified projects and to educate the public about the successful implementation of ILFI’s ambitious programs and framework.
EXCEPTION DOCUMENTATION
Projects that use Exceptions or compliance paths that are not standard for all projects require additional documentation per the below. Unless the exception is tied to the 12-month performance period, all exception documentation must be submitted at the Ready Audit.
ZE-a Exception Narrative
A narrative describing the project’s need for the Exception, the approach to and implementation of the alternative solution, and compliance with Exception requirements, including calculations when needed.
ZE-b Metering Data
Metering documentation or data showing compliance with Exception requirements.
ZE-c Technical Documentation
Legal, financial, or contract documents showing compliance with Exception requirements.
ZE-d Photographs
Photographs showing compliance with Exception requirements, including images of all components that will be changed from an existing state, or not readily visible by the completion of the performance period.
ZE-e Advocacy Documentation
Where required by the exception, documentation of advocacy must also be included.
