The suggestions below are not numbered because each existing building situation is unique; implement the suggestions in the order that meets the needs and goals of the organization.
Strive to reduce your overall Energy Use Intensity (EUI) to 20 to 25 KBTU/SF/year.
- Increased Insulation - Satisfy currently adopted minimum code standards and seek to exceed standards as budget and implementation allow
- New R42 minimum composite rating with open or closed cell foam.
- Spray applied R42 minimum under decking
- Rigid closed cell foam or lightweight concrete above the roof decking.
- Evaluate the impacts on curbs/roof mounted devices on a case-by-case basis.
- New, high Solar Reflectivity Index (SRI) reflective roof membrane of 0.85 or higher.
- Mitigate existing solar orientation of glazing and building walls
- Motor-operated/sensor-controlled interior shading devices
- Green screens and/or Living Walls
- Utilize low maintenance/water demand plants
- Fixed exterior shading devices
- Landscaping e.g. strategic tree planting
- Films on windows
- Each solution will require a design solution specific to its location and requirements either by retaining a professional design team or enlisting the help of faculty/students.
- Evaluate lighting design and redesign on a cost-benefit basis. Consider formal evaluation and redesign if:
- Existing light levels far exceed IES standards or
- LED retrofit is anticipated to far exceed IES standards once implemented
- Update all lighting to LED fixtures.
- Eliminate all high wattage lighting, accent, safety, area, general and task.
- Targeted prioritization of areas/lighting types to maximize impact on consumption and demand savings is as follows:
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) exterior
- Halogen accents
- Common areas
- Office areas
- Classrooms
- Storage/Mechanical/Electrical/Elevator rooms
- Install multi-faceted controls
- Occupancy sensors
- Light harvesting sensors
- Occupancy schedules that match campus calendar and space use
- Sun controlled interior shading devices (should be biophilic patterned)
- Explore 5G LED lighting solutions that serve as routers to help solve WIFI issues in concrete buildings.
- Building scheduling software
- Lighting controls
- High efficiency HVAC controls
- Consistent programmed set points
- Optimized sequence of operation for existing building management controls, equipment staging, OA control, pump control, economizer controls, CO2 integrated controls, exhaust fans, cooling towers
- Regular maintenance schedule
- Coil cleaning
- Filter change out and upgrades
- Commissioning checklists for PM work on equipment
- Implement Campus wide - six Core Strategies
- Best-in-class Campus and Equipment Scheduling
- Consistent Space Temperature Setpoints
- Equipment Staggered Start
- Equipment Capacity Control
- Proper Equipment Maintenance
- Building Automation Operation
- Develop comprehensive baseline modeling of all built inventory
- Extensive documentation of actual energy consumption - daily, seasonally, annually and over multiple years (benchmarking)
- Analyze the cost-effectiveness of different measures
- Update on an ongoing basis
- Employ energy modeling on a case-by-case basis. Modeling is useful in these kinds of cases:
- To analyze the cost-effectiveness of different measures
- Weigh the levelized costs between efficiency and renewables
- Continue to document campus wide impact from short-payback projects that may not have engineering support
- Upgrade or replacement of existing HVAC Systems
- Equipment replacement energy evaluations
- DX cooling for all 24/7 zones
- Eliminate pneumatic building controls
- VFD’s and controls on all pumps and fans larger than 5 hp
- High efficiency chillers and controls – possible addition of VFD’s to existing chillers
- High efficiency boilers and controls
- Evaluate the use of VRF systems and other emerging technologies, considering impact of installation, accessibility and serviceability of associated controls, and total lifecycle cost analysis
- Enhanced indoor air quality strategies
- Demand Controlled Ventilation
- Evaluation of UV treatment
- Evaluation of Bipolar ionization
- Weatherization of building envelope
- Weather-stripping
- Sealants & caulking
- Thresholds, door sweeps, astragals
- Refurbish all aged and failing building sealants
- Where replacement is required of window and glazing systems due to system failure, replace with windows that have these minimum specifications
- Thermally-broken frames
- Insulated glazing
- U Value: ≤ 0.35
- SHGC: ≤ 0.30
- High performance glass – Southern Low E
- Utilize energy modeling to evaluate window retrofit/replacement options
- Identify operational methodologies to maintain energy efficiency and optimal performance
- Create a collaborative implementation plan between occupants, users and facility managers
- Identify or appoint campus schedulers that understand building mechanical systems and impact of space management on energy use; develop HVAC zone maps to inform scheduling decisions
- Provide training for facility management staff
- Develop online training modules to assist in training/distribution on knowledge
- Identify plug loads and engage user groups and occupants on methods to reduce the loads
- Use Smart Strips for plug load management
- Create behavioral education programs and incentives to engage occupants and users
- Institute purchasing processes that mandate energy efficient key equipment and replacement cycles to upgrade for efficiency
- Purchase and distribution of low-wattage personal heaters; rely on policy and best practices to limit or eliminate other devices.
Strive to reduce your overall Energy Use Intensity (EUI) to 20 to 25 KBTU/SF.
- Before the design phase is started, conduct design charettes with all key stakeholders to ensure that the energy efficiency goals are supported and achieved:
- Owners
- Administration
- Staff (Facilities)
- Architects
- Engineers
- Contractors and Sub-Contractors
- Follow green standards of choice (certification is optional)
- Design buildings to respond to regional environmental criteria, e.g. passive solar design.
- Design building as close as feasible to an east / west long axis
- Orient large expanses of glazing to augment natural daylight strategies
- Eliminate or provide minimal glazing on the west elevations
- Green screens and/or Living Walls
- Utilize low maintenance/water demand plants
- Fixed exterior shading devices
- Landscaping e.g.:
- Strategic tree selection and planting
- Understory plantings to encourage cooling and hardscape mitigation
- Plan pathways, seating and public spaces to take advantage of plantscape and natural ventilation
- Design to maximize illumination of spaces with natural daylighting e.g.:
- North facing clerestories
- Architectural light shelves
- Skylights
- Daylit corridors and large atrium public spaces adjacent to glass walls and/or transom lights (windows?)
- Develop comprehensive baseline modeling
- Project energy consumption - daily, seasonally, annually and over multiple years
- Analyze the cost-effectiveness of different measures
- Update on an ongoing basis
- Employ energy modeling is useful to:
- Analyze the cost-effectiveness of different measures
- Weigh the levelized costs between efficiency and renewables
- Comply with IECC 2018 at a minimum
- If possible, achieve the following distribution:
- HVAC: 0.90 w/SF (~50% of load)
- Lighting: 0.35 w/SF (~20% of load)
- Plug Load: 0.55 w/SF (~30% of load) – Use advanced power strips to reduce load
- Weigh the levelized costs between efficiency and renewables
- Insulation
- All insulation shall be R42 minimum composite rating with open or closed cell foam.
- Spray applied R42 minimum open cell or closed cell under decking
- Rigid closed cell foam or lightweight concrete above the roof decking.
- New high Solar Reflectivity Index (SRI) reflective roof membrane
- 0.95 or higher.
- Consider implementing Living Roof designs
- Incorporate PV Solar arrays
- Upgrade proposed HVAC Systems to highest efficiency that is cost effective
- Equipment energy evaluations
- DX cooling for all 24/7 zones
- VFD’s and controls on all pumps and fans larger than 5 hp
- High efficiency chillers and controls – possible addition of VFD’s to existing chillers
- High efficiency boilers and controls
- Evaluate the use of VRF systems
- Enhanced indoor air quality strategies, e.g. increased CFM rates, UV filtration
- Design air distribution systems utilizing displacement ventilation
- Incorporate operable windows and natural ventilation to the greatest extent possible
- Utilize stack effect ventilation (?) ***Added explanation needed***
- Window and glazing systems shall meet these minimum specifications
- Thermally-broken frames
- Insulated glazing
- U Value: ⋜ 0.35
- SHGC: ⋜ 0.30
- High performance glass – Southern Low E
- Utilize energy modeling to evaluate high performance glazing options
- All lighting shall be LED fixtures.
- Eliminate all high wattage lighting, accent, safety, area, general and task.
Note: Add standard watts per square foot to Building Standards
- Install multi-faceted controls
- Occupancy sensors
- Light harvesting sensors
- Occupancy schedules that match campus calendar and space use
- Sun controlled interior shading devices (should be biophilic-patterned)
- Explore 5G LED lighting solutions that serve as routers to help solve WIFI issues in concrete buildings.
- Building scheduling software
- Lighting controls
- High efficiency HVAC controls
- Consistent programmed set points
- Optimized sequence of operation for existing building management controls, equipment staging, OA control, pump control, economizer controls, CO2 integrated controls, exhaust fans, cooling towers
- Regular maintenance schedule
- Coil cleaning
- Filter change out and upgrades
- Commissioning checklists for PM work on equipment
- Implement Campuswide - Six Core Strategies
- Best-in-class Campus and Equipment Scheduling
- Consistent Space Temperature Setpoints
- Equipment Staggered Start
- Equipment Capacity Control
- Proper Equipment Maintenance
- Building Automation Operation
- Identify operational methodologies to maintain energy efficiency and optimal performance
- Create a collaborative implementation plan between occupants, users and facility managers
- Identify or appoint campus schedulers that understand building mechanical systems and impact of space management on energy use; develop zone maps to inform scheduling decisions
- Provide training for facility management staff
- Develop online training modules to assist in training/distribution on knowledge
- Identify plug loads and engage user groups and occupants on methods to reduce the loads
- Use Smart Strips for plug load management
- Create behavioral education programs and incentives to engage occupants and users
- Institute purchasing processes that mandate energy efficient key equipment and replacement cycles to upgrade for efficiency
- Purchase and distribution of low-wattage personal heaters; lean on policy and best practices to limit or eliminate other devices.