I am in the process of simulating a 21 floor building, divided into three uses: offices, school, and retail space. None of the floors are planned and the offices have yet to be designed. If I simulate the proposed building with the baseline HVAC system (per ASHRAE 90.1 appendix G defined criteria) there will be little energy improvement. The only thing at our control is lighting. Has anyone been in this similar situation? any help will be greatly appreciated.
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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5901 thumbs up
September 20, 2010 - 9:03 am
Lighting in these types of spaces will account for 20% to 40% of the total energy cost. Do you control all of the lighting or just the lighting outside the tenant spaces? If all then you can often get to the minimum savings with good lighting design alone. If just the common spaces it will be far more challenging.
How about the thermal envelop, window configuration, daylighting, and many other energy saving opportunities which exist outside HVAC? How about modifications to the proposed HVAC system like energy recovery, demand controlled ventilation, etc.?
The real purpose of running the simulation is to explore the possibilities during design.
Darren White
2 thumbs up
September 20, 2010 - 9:37 am
The problem is that the owner decided to certify the building after the design phase, towards the beginning of construction. We can only address the thermal envelope and lighting. the tenant spaces our outside of our control, however the owner is putting a strong emphasis on sustainable spaces. Any other suggestions?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5901 thumbs up
September 20, 2010 - 10:21 am
As far as lighting in the tenant spaces is concerned, you can claim savings in that area but the owner would need to include tennant guidelines limiting the allowable lighting power denisty in those spaces. There is a CIR on the subject.
Always harder getting started late in the game. Good luck.