Z3. RENEWABLE ENERGY

APPENDIX Z NET-ZERO ENERGY COMPLIANCE PATH Z3 RENEWABLE ENERGY. The building and building site shall be provided with renewable energy equal to the EUIP on an annual basis and calculated in accordance with Section Z2.1.1. Sources of renewable energy shall comply with Sections Z3.1 through Z3.3. Z3.1. On-site combustion. On-site combustion of fossil fuels shall not be permitted for the provision of thermal energy to the building except as specified by the code official. Z3.2. Acceptable sources of renewable energy. Acceptable sources of on-site renewable energy to be used on the building site include: Photovoltaic panels; Solar thermal systems; Wind turbines; and Biogas. No other source of on-site renewable energy is acceptable for building design, unless the rationale for its selection is approved by the code official. Z3.3 On-site renewable energy. Renewable energy shall be generated on-site wherever feasible. Before procuring off-site renewable energy, a building project must demonstrate one of the following: A minimum of 5% of the total building energy consumption shall first be met by an acceptable source of renewable energy installed on the building roof or site. For projects generating onsite renewable energy through solar photovoltaic systems, a minimum of 25% of total site area, including building footprint, shall be allocated for photovoltaic array and energy production. Exception: Where there is not adequate solar access as determined by Chapter 13 of the Energy Conservation Code-Commercial Provisions. Z3.4. Procurement of off-site renewable energy. The procurement of off-site renewable energy is acceptable only where the energy is procured from a qualified electricity supplier providing energy from Tier 1 renewable sources meeting the minimum percentages of the District of Columbia Renewable Portfolio Standard. Acceptable methods for the procurement of off-site renewable energy include any of the following or as approved by the code official: Owner shall provide the code official with documentation of a signed, legally-binding contract to procure off-site renewable energy through a power purchase agreement for a minimum period of 5 years for electricity generation from, solar or wind-generation facilities that are located within the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia. The owner remains subject to, and must comply with, the District of Columbia’s Renewable Portfolio Standard; Connection to a renewable energy microgrid; or Connection to a low-carbon neighborhood thermal energy system. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 6326 (May 29, 2020 – Part 2). The District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code (2017), referred to as the “Energy Conservation Code,” consists of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1) and substantial portions of Chapter 7 of ANSI/ASHREA/IES 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1), published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Residential Provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (International Energy Conservation Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Commercial Provisions (12-I[CE] DCMR) and the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Residential Provisions (12-I[RE] DCMR). The International Energy Conservation Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IECC2015. ASHRAE 90.1 is copyrighted by ASHRAE and therefore is not republished here. However, the text of ASHRAE 90.1 may be reviewed at: https://www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology. Portions of Chapter 7 of ASHRAE 189.1 are reprinted in the District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code Supplement by permission of ASHRAE and ICC. District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Commercial Provisions 12-I[CE] DCMR Appendix Z3