Looking for Examples: Wet Lab Bldgs w/ Reduced Fossil Fuel Consumption

Hi All,

Jacob Knowles from BR+A reached out with a request and I’m passing it on to you all.  Jacob’s contact info is at the bottom of this so you can respond to him directly or respond here and I’ll forward it on:

We are working on assembling examples of large wet lab buildings that employ strategies to greatly reduce fossil fuel consumption.  We plan to gather these examples and then share them with those who contribute examples and those who connect us with people who have relevant examples.

Some of this information can currently be found on websites and by digging through conference presentations (which we are doing), but we are not aware of a single authoritative resource that provides a clear summary on what is being done at the cutting edge of the industry.

We know it is difficult to compare different lab buildings in terms of energy consumption, since there are many programmatic factors that impact energy intensity in labs.  Therefore, we are focused on finding examples of lab buildings that include the systems and strategies that greatly reduce fossil fuel consumption.

To be specific, the minimum thresholds are as follows:

1. research lab building (not primarily teaching lab building)
2. ≥50,000 GSF
3. ≥40% of occupied square feet is lab
4. ≥20% of occupied square feet is wet lab or vivarium

Includes at least one of the following strategies that offsets at least 25% of annual fossil fuel heating:

1. heat pump system (ground-source, air-source, net metered heat recovery chiller connected to campus chilled water loop, heat recovery chiller with large-scale thermal storage, etc.).  Note: a heat-recovery chiller with small buffer tanks does not qualify.
2. low-carbon fuel (biomass, biofuel, anaerobic digester, etc.)
3. passive / renewable heating system (earthtube, solarwall, solar thermal, etc.)

AND, at least one of the following strategies:

1. air-side heat recovery with ≥60% heating effectiveness (Konvekta or enthalpy wheel)
2. hydronic supplemental cooling systems in the labs (fan coil, chilled beam, chilled ceiling panel, chilled slab, etc.) to prevent cooling loads from driving the make-up air rate
3. “free” reheat system, such as a “wrap-around” coil to provide ≥5˚F of reheat for lab make-up air, without requiring input from the building heating plant

If you have an example, please include the following info:

1. general: building name, owner, location, lab type and square footage
2. phase: design, construction, or operation
3. sector: commercial, government, or academic institution
4. indicate if the non-fossil-fuel heating system is located at a separate central plant
5. indicate if the example is confidential; any sensitive information may be omitted

Once we identify examples, we will likely request additional information, to create more useful case studies, if possible.  We will then share our findings with anyone who contributes.

Regards,
Jacob

JACOB KNOWLES
Associate Principal
Director of Sustainable Design 
617.925.8376 direct
617.460.4694 mobile
jknowles@brplusa.com

BR+A CONSULTING ENGINEERS
10 Guest Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02135
617.254.0016
brplusa.com