I'm looking for some feedback from anyone who has used EE4 and/or modeled a building against the MNECB 1997 in Canada.

1. How are the Energy Source Adjustment Factors used when modeling a building for LEED against the MNECB? It appears that these factors are meant to be multiplied by the total energy cost from each type of use. I see that at least in LEED Canada NC 1.0/1.1, the calculations for EQ p2 require 25% improvement in energy consumption (not cost) over MNECB. Presumably this requires use of the ESAF in that calculation. However, LEED also requires that calculations for energy savings are based on energy cost. When calculating energy costs, do you have to use the ESAF as well as the different utility rates? Or do you use the actual consumption (without using the ESAF) to figure the cost?

2. The code appears to require use of baseline systems that completely mirror the proposed systems - boiler for boiler, chiller for chiller, multi-zone for multi-zone. How have others found ways to show significant energy savings given this constraint? The newer versions of ASHRAE allow comparison of a proposed ground-source heat pump system, for example, against a boiler heating baseline system, or a VAV system against a packaged system, depending on various factors. But the MNECB and ASHRAE 90.1-1999 don't allow this. I am struggling to see how it would be possible to get more than 20-30% savings given these rules.

Thanks,

Anne Marie Moellenberndt PE LEED AP