Baseline Economizser Requirement for Data Center Rooms

Hirak Patel

LEEDuser Basic Member

4 thumbs up

September 12, 2012

Hi, I am modeling Airport Traffic Control Tower project for LEED 2009 and I have question regarding economizer requirement. We have data center rooms which are served by CRAC units. We are not allowed to use air side economizer due to humidity concerns by client. Per Appendix G3.1.2.6A table, baseline system shall be included with air side economizer. Therefore, it is making baseline systems more efficient. I was wondering if anybody is aware of any exception which would allow us to not model air side economizer for spaces such as data center in baseline system when proposed system does not have air side economizer. Thanks Hirak

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Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Mon, 09/17/2012 - 13:24

I am not aware of any exceptions. ASHRAE 90.1-2010 is the same as 2007. The one exception refers to open refrigeration cases and sounds like a potentially similar rational to yours. Perhaps this could be the basis for submitting a LEED Interpretation?

Torsten Biernat

Baumann Consulting

LEEDuser Basic Member

3 thumbs up

Thu, 04/12/2018 - 06:56

I am currently creating the proposed design and baseline model for an Air Traffic Control Tower (LEEDv4: NC, 8600 ft2, Location: Germany). The tower has an air cooled server room with a connected electrical load of 22 kW (cooling setpoint: 75°F). The server load accounts for half of the buildings total cooling load. According to ASHRAE 90.1 App. G the process load should be identical for baseline and proposed design. However, the cooling energy to get the waste heat out of the building differs significantly. Per Appendix G, system 3 should be used for the baseline system. The proposed design uses fans coil units connected to an air cooled chiller with a low COP of 2.2. In addition there is currently no option to utilize free cooling due to the building construction. The baseline system uses „free cooling“ from November until May which results in a significant lower cooling energy use and low energy cost savings. Hirak, what was the final strategy with your ATC project?