What’s Left Over: Process Loading in High Performance Buildings

As an increasing number of buildings aspire to significant energy reduction and higher Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certifications, it is clear that non-regulated process loads are the single greatest remaining opportunity in high performance design. Historically outside the purview of state and national energy design standards, the performance of transformers, elevators, escalators, process systems, and consumer information technology underscore a significant challenge and rising opportunity. This paper examines the impact of non-regulated loads on high performance buildings, ranging from first cost to energy performance and occupant behavior.