CCD-001: Energy Efficient Heating/Cooling Systems for Buildings

Buildings require heating and cooling systems to regulate and maintain comfortable temperatures within. These systems consume substantial amounts of electricity, fuels, water, and other material resources, and may emit sulphur oxides, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants. These, in turn, may lead to human health impacts, increased global warming potential, photochemical smog formation, and ozone depletion.

The EcoLogo^TM Program addresses these challenges by establishing strict requirements for energy efficiency, chlorofluorocarbon emissions (CFCs), and resource conservation. The net environmental benefit will be reduced human health impacts, less potential for smog formation, and diminished ozone depletion and global warming potential.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo^TM, energy efficient heating/cooling systems for buildings must:

• Must comply with all applicable safety and performance standards;

• For single building systems:

• Provide reduction in energy use of at least 30% annually, compared to a reference building;
• Consist of more than simple operation modifications, retrofits, and building envelopment upgrades;
• Must not result in increased use of CFCs and HCFCs for operation;
• Must not result in domestic, groundwater, nor surface water pollution; and
• Must not interfere with the operation of fire-control systems;

• For district-heating systems:

• Provide reduction in energy use of at least 45% for the sum of buildings serviced by the system;
• Provide reduction in energy use of at least 30% annually for each individual building, compared to a reference building;
• If utilizing a fossil fuel combusting generator, must use natural gas and not emit concentrations greater than:
  • carbon monoxide (CO) – 375 ppm,
  • nitrogen oxides (NO_X) – 65 ppm, and
  • total hydrocarbons - 2250 ppm;
• Must not result in domestic, groundwater, nor surface water pollution; and
• Must not interfere with the operation of HVAC or water supply systems; and
• For district-cooling systems:
  • Provide reduction in energy use of at least 70% for the sum of buildings serviced by the system;
  • Provide reduction in energy use of at least 50% annually for each individual building, compared to a reference building;
  • Must not result in increased use of CFCs and HCFCs for operation;
  • Must not result in domestic, groundwater, nor surface water pollution; and
  • Must not interfere with the operation of fire-control systems.