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Guideline P.2: Operations Process

Intent

To ensure that buildings perform optimally.

Required Performance Criteria

Develop and implement an SB 2030 Energy Efficient Operations Manual (EEOM). The EEOM defines tasks to ensure that each significant energy consuming device uses only as much energy as needed to serve its intended function. An EEOM is required for all projects meeting the following criteria, subject to the listed exclusions.
1. Applicable buildings meet any of the following criteria:
  1. Over 100,000 gross square feet (gsf) in size.
  2. Between 50,000 and 100,000 gsf with an EUI above 100 kBtu/sf.
  3. Fails to meet SB 2030 target during their second year of operation.
2. Exclusions:
  1. Buildings in which the EEOM program does not support the HVAC system types.
  2. Buildings under 50,000 gsf that meet their SB 2030 target in their second and subsequent years of operation.
  3. Buildings under 20,000 gsf.
  4. Buildings operated by agencies or organizations with substantially similar or more robust energy management procedures to the EEOM. These plans and procedures must be reviewed and approved by the B3 Guidelines Operations Team. These procedures are not required to be building specific.
Facilitate the completion of at least one post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of the project after the first 12 months of occupancy.
1. The Scan-Level Post-Occupancy Evaluation is required for available space types present in the project. This process is supported by the B3 Post-Occupancy Evaluation (B3 POE) process.
2. Buildings without supported space types at six months post-occupancy are exempt from this requirement. Projects may also be exempt if they do not meet the minimum required number of occupants or residents; more details are available at the B3 POE website.

Recommended Performance Criteria

Reserve 0.25% of total construction cost for contingency in order to meet the SB 2030 Energy Standard in Operations. As compliance with the SB 2030 program is required through ten years of operation, 0.25% of total construction cost is required to be set aside for efforts related to evaluating and remediating noncompliance in SB 2030 projects. This budget includes professional services over and above the services originally contacted for and additional construction costs that may be incurred to meet the SB 2030 Energy Standard if the project fails to meet the SB 2030 standard after the first year.

Meeting the Guidelines

P.2A:

For more information on completing and using the EEOM please visit: http://www.b3mn.org/operations/. The B3 Operations Team may be able to facilitate the creation of the EEOM for projects subject to the requirement. This facilitation and support will require availability and coordination of design and operation team members. To ensure the maximum available level of support is available to a project, please contact operations@b3mn.org no later than 60 days prior to the completion of construction.

P.2B:

There are three (3) levels of sustainable POE surveys (SPOES): Scan, Core, and Advanced. The required Scan survey is available for select building types and is free for state-funded projects adhering to B3 Guidelines. Complete details can be found at www.b3mn.org/poe/. Buildings with space types with no supported SPOES at 6 months post-occupancy are exempt from this requirement. Projects may also be exempt if they do not meet the minimum required number of occupants or residents. A contact will need to be established who will serve as the primary contact for the survey collection process will need to be established.

The goal of these evaluations is to standardize the methodology for studying a building’s performance from the occupant’s point-of-view, to provide feedback to the owners and operators, and to understand how the building performs in practice.