High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008 - (Page 52)

Z e r o W at e r D i S c h a r g e The spectral office is a zero water discharge building with 100% rainwater harvesting where rainwater is discharged through wells into underlying aquifers. An in-house 10,000 l sewage treatment plant has been installed for waste and soil. Because there are no municipal sewage mains in the area, the plant is essential and helps in recovering the treated water for gardening, air-conditioning cooling towers makeup and flushing. municipal water intake is 6500 l per day. The sum of gray and black water generated in the building is 5554 l per day, which is sent to the plant. The treated water from the plant is apportioned 4700 l per day for cooling tower makeup, 1620 l per day for flushing and 854 l per day for gardening. The solids will be pumped out of the plant annually and used as manure. Building Management System The services systems operations are coordinated through a Webbased advanced building management system. Only two operation staff members are employed to handle day to day tasks. The operation parameters can be accessed from any of the 150 workstations in the building and provide feedback to occupants. The feedback has been useful in upgrading the HVAC system for winter heating. At ambient temperatures below 24°C (75°F), the building operated in free-cooling mode with a 100% open fresh air and exhaust air damper at all air-handling units. These have been corrected for the winter heating mode operation by energizing the heating coils at ambient temperatures below 20°C. Municipal Water Supply 6500 L per day Storage tank Payback Prior to construction of the building, analysis of the total construction cost was carried out to determine the anticipated additional impact due to incorporation of energy-efficient measures such as the high-efficiency chiller, energy conservation strategies for airhandling units, lighting controls, low-e double glass, wall insulation and the sewage treatment plant. The cost of the green building was $1.1 million, approximately 8% above a similar conventional building. The energy simulation predicted a payback period of less than four years. With rising energy costs and anticipated greater energy savings than predicted, the payback period may be reduced to three years. Domestic Use 6060 L per day Miscellaneous 340 L per day Utilities 100 L per day Sewage treatment Plant 7174 L per day toilet Flushing 1620 L per day Landscaping 854 L per day Soft Water to air-conditioning Makeup cooling towers 4700 L per day 52 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 0 8

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008
Contents
Lessons Learned
Green on a Budget
ASHRAE Sets Example: ASHRAE Headquarters
The Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life
Spectral Services Consultants Corporate Office
Advertising Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008