Energy Efficiency in Jamaica’s
Building Code:
The Building Envelope
1. Background to Jamaica’s Energy
Efficiency Building Code
• Buildings should all have Net-Zero Energy
Consumption in 33 years time to avoid
irreversible detrimental consequencies of
Climatic Change, however Jamaica is yet to
have a mandatory Energy-Efficiency Building
code after 34 years.
• The current Energy Code is voluntary and was
developed in 1995 (22 years ago).
1. Background of the Energy Efficiency Building Code
West-Facing Elevation of the PCJ Headquarters
1. Background of the Energy Efficiency Building Code
South-facing Elevation of the PCJ Headquarters
2. Assessing the Code
To evaluate the effectiveness of the code, the
actual energy consumption was determined
for existing office buildings:
• The average consumption for 17 large
buildings was 23.8 kWhr/sq.ft.
• The average consumption for 82 small office
buildings was 20 kWhr.sq.ft.
2. Assessing the Code
• Comparable computer models were created;
• Annual and peak electrical consumptions were
divided into system loads;
• System loads from highest to lowest were:
Cooling Plant, Lighting, Fans, and Equipment;
and
• Peak cooling loads were also broken-down
into components but there were differences
between the large and small offices.
2.Assessment of the Code
Peak cooling loads for large office buildings from highest to lowest were:
ventilation, solar, conduction, lighting, occupants, and equipment.
2.Assessment of the Code
Peak cooling loads for small office buildings from highest to lowest were:
ventilation, solar, lighting, conduction, occupants, and equipment.
2.Assessing the Code
Changes were made to the buildings to comply
with the code and the results were:
• The energy consumption of the large office
building was reduced by 30%; while
• The energy consumption of the small office
reduced by 36%.
2. Assessing the Code
Changes were made to the base buildings to
exceed code requirements, and the results
were:
• The energy consumption of the large building
was reduced by 62%; while
• The energy consumption of the small building
reduced by 57%.
3. The Building Envelope
The envelope comprises the external walls and
roof of a building with any associated
openings:
• It cannot influence consumption of the
equipment, but this is approximately 7% of
annual consumption, and 9% of peak electrical
consumption.
3. The Building Envelope
• With regard to the cooling plant, it cannot
affect occupant and equipment loads which
are 12% for small buildings and 15% for large
buildings; and
• It can only influence lighting (whether directly
or as a cooling load) by using daylight.
3. The Building Envelope
To comply with the building code, the following
changes were made to the envelope of the
base building:
• Insulation was added to the roof;
• Special glasses and/or shading were used for
windows; and
• Walls were light-coloured so that they were
very reflective
4. Conclusion
• The Bureau of Standard’s deadline for
comments on the mandatory energyefficiency building code ended last month;
• That code is based on the 2009 International
Building Code, which gets revised every 3
years and now has a green building
component; and
• A regional building code is presently being
developed.