High Performing Buildings - Spring 2008 - (Page 59) Ongoing and real-time monitoring for the renewable energy, conventional energy and high-efficiency systems was installed during construction. A real-time display with graphics conveys space temperatures, setpoint deviations and radiant slab temperatures. and is equipped with high-efficiency motors, an enthalpy economizer and embedded network controls. Monitoring and Visualization Ferreira’s team designed and built its own system, now known as Noveda Technologies™, providing graphics, real-time energy and building systems monitoring, diagnostics, and a tracking system. The system provided necessary information to achieve and surpass the goal of a net zero electric commercial building. Following the success of 31 Tannery, Ferreira began deploying the system in its commissioning work. Occupant participation was an unexpected benefit of displaying the energy use and building information. A social dynamic began the day the kiosk system was placed in the front lobby. People turn off lights if a room is vacant more than a few seconds and turn off computers during lunch and before leaving for the day. They quickly close doors in the summer and winter to conserve cooling and heating. The changes occurred with- out any instruction from management. No one was told to be more efficient. Instead, people wanted to participate because they could see the results of their actions on the lobby monitor. Even visitors to the building are engaged in the lobby kiosk by the visualization of the energy being produced by the solar electric system and of the building’s efficiency. Some people actually return to the building to check the lobby kiosk to see how the building is performing on a particularly sunny or snowy day. Independent studies from various universities to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and DOE have stated that a monitoring and visualization system can have an immediate impact of 5% to 15% on reducing energy use and improving efficiency. This has been true for 31 Tannery Project. Energy savings projections were exceeded by almost 20%, and it is estimated that up to 5% of the additional savings can be attributed to the human factor. Spring 2008 ENERGY USE AND COST F O R 3 1 TA N N E R Y P R O J E C T IN 2007 Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Btu/ft2 4,923 7,086 5,360 1,492 (836) (1,178) (731) (329) (226) 492 2,534 6,230 24,817 $ 3,989 4,554 3,406 1,869 569 609 (1,670) 477 528 496 1,435 5,107 21,369 HIGH PERFORMING BUILDINGS 59
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