Building Optimization and Sustainability

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Building Optimization and Sustainability

• Cameron Symes, P.E.
• Estes, McClure Associates, Inc.

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Summary

• What is sustainable design?
• The sustainable design process
• Tools for sustainable design
• Building optimization and sustainability

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What is Sustainable Design?
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The Process
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The Process
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The Process

• Develop the vision early
• Design Charrette
• Sample goals 50 energy reduction from ASHRAE
  90.1, LEED Platinum, use daylighting throughout
  and include lighting controls, or all the above

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The Process

• Building Envelope
• Passive Solar Design
• Daylighting Design
• Windows and Glazing
• Insulation
• Natural Ventilation

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The Process

• Optimize site potential
• Optimize energy use
• Protect and Conserve Water
• Use Greener materials
• Enhance IEQ
• Optimize MO

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Tools - Daylighting
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Daylight Factor distribution snapshot of
available daylight inside the building
traditionally during overcast sky
Climate-based daylight metrics provide insight
to daylight quality and site location influence
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Tools Energy Modeling

• The dynamic thermal model of the building should
  serve as a basis for decisions from the
  beginning throughout the
• design process
• Schematic Design
• Reasonable assumptions made regarding internal
  gains, occupancy, lighting systems where
  necessary
• Baseline case developed to provide an eventual
  comparative basis for evaluating various design
  alternatives
• Absolute accuracy is not primary concern as long
  as assumptions are consistent between both cases
• Evaluate changes to building envelope, glazing
  building orientation, fenestrations, and HVAC
  system types
• Explore daylighting considerations obstruction
  shading analysis, solar penetration into
  floorplans, window shading features analysis
• Example below thermal performance comparison of
  different building fabric constructions

Life cycle cost analysis
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Tools Energy Modeling

• Detailed Design
• Building construction and MEP system selections
  have been narrowed down but iterations continue
  into this phase
• Specific building features and systems are
  fine-tuned and further evaluated among design
  consultants and shareholders
• Finalize structural, HVAC, lighting systems
• Modeling assumptions are removed as much as
  possible and replaced with best estimates to
  constitute Proposed Design
• Key design concerns are resolved. Example below
  CFD of atrium/common area in school to examine
  architects stratification concerns on second
  level

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Tools Energy Modeling

• Post-occupancy
• Implementation of building energy model can
  continue beyond occupancy to monitor occupants
  behavior and impacts on energy usage
• Energy model can be developed for optimization of
  existing buildings with same approach (ie. ASHRAE
  Level audits)

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Tools - Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Where is the money going?
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Building Optimization and Sustainability
If you plan for sustainability, design for
sustainability, and construct for sustainability,
but do not verify sustainability then you have
missed the mark.
HOW????
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Why Optimization?

• We want our buildings to operate as planned
• We want to improve the sustainability of existing
  facilities
• We want to minimize life cycle costs

We Tune Up Our CarsWhy Not Our Buildings?
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Is Your Building a Candidate for Optimization?

• Increased energy usage
• Comfort complaints
• IAQ issues
• OM problems
• Does not meet sustainability goals

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The Focuses of Optimization

• Mechanical systems
• EMCS
• Daylighting controls

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The Process

• Assessment
• Analyze design intent
• Analyze utility data
• Interview facility personnel
• Conduct building walk-through
• Review controls settings
• Monitoring testing
• Trend data from BAS
• Test balance
• Functional testing
• Condense problems into executable steps
• Implement selected solutions
• Document through final report

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Assessment

• Initial meeting w/ personnel
• Involve all parties
• Identify building problems issues
• List goals objectives of optimization
• Building walk-through
• Perform cursory observations
• Obtain existing drawings

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Functional Testing

• Develop testing plan
• Select equipment to be tested
• Determine expected or correct responses
• Change
• Parameters
• Set points
• Conditions
• Observe responses
• Document deficiencies

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Potential Deficiencies

• Inadequate initial design
• Improper equipment installation
• Lack of maintenance
• Incorrect air flows
• Incorrect chilled/hot water flows
• Improper controls programming/settings
• Faulty equipment or components

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Sample Improvements

• No cost
• Change MO practices
• Low cost
• Replace bad parts components
• Re-program controls
• Re-balance air and/or water flows
• Capital projects
• Equipment replacements
• Controls replacements

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Possible Benefits

• Better occupant comfort
• Improved IAQ
• Reduced energy use
• Fewer maintenance calls
• More efficient equipment operation
• Better systems reliability

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Case Studies
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DeGolyer Elementary

• 45,466 square feet
• Built 1960
• HVAC renovations 2004
• System 4-pipe CHW w/ VAV

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DeGolyer Elementary

• Issues reported
• Inconsistent temperature humidity levels
• Noisy HVAC equipment
• Unreliable HVAC controls
• Problems found
• Excessive air flows
• Non-functioning valves dampers
• Outdated components

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DeGolyer Elementary

• Results
• Reliable systems
• Reduced classroom noise
• Uniform temperatures
• Project details
• Deficiencies discovered 69
• Recommendations for correction 13
• Total cost 162,000
• Projected energy savings 25,000
• Payback 6.5 years

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Gonzalez Elementary

• 90,000 square feet, 2-story
• Built 2006
• HVAC systems RTUs

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Gonzalez Elementary

• Issues reported
• Uncomfortable indoor conditions
• Units uncontrollable through BAS
• Problems found
• Outside air dampers not functioning properly
• EMCS communication problems
• Inoperative RTUs
• Dirty filters coils

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Gonzalez Elementary

• Common controls one component
• Reliable front end graphics
• Safeties installed on RTUs
• Extended equipment life
• Immediate energy savings
• Consistent temperatures
• New startup logs

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Gonzalez Elementary
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Ferguson Junior High

• 128,000 square feet, 2-story
• Built 2000
• HVAC systems
• 4-pipe CHW
• Air-cooled screw chillers
• RTU on gym, computer labs, administration

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Ferguson Junior High

• Issues reported
• Inconsistent temperatures
• High humidity levels
• Unreliable HVAC EMCS
• High utility costs
• Problems found
• Inaccurate sensor readings
• Controls manually over-ridden
• Improper sequences of operation

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Ferguson Junior High

• Recommendations
• Correct sequence of operations
• Replace
• Bad valves
• Sensors
• Controllers

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Summary

• What is sustainable design?
• The sustainable design process
• Tools for sustainable design
• Building optimization and sustainability

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Questions?