High Performing Buildings - Spring 2009 - (Page 30) T o TA l E N E R G Y U S E liGhTiNG RETRoCoMMiSSioNiNG Metric Annual Cost implementation Cost rebates Annual savings energy savings simple Payback lighting Controls — $ 4,865 $ 4,865 $ 5,557 — 0 Years ENERGY STAR Score As a prerequisite, we needed an ENERGY STAR® score of at least 60. We needed an even higher score to give us more LEED points so we could meet our Platinum goal. When we initially surveyed the building, our ENERGY STAR score was 29. We thought our building operated efficiently, but our ENERGY STAR score did not reflect that. Through submetering, we found that our data center — our main data center for the entire company — was a high-intensity energy use area, accounting for approximately 70% of our total energy use. Sub-metering allowed us to separate the data center energy load from the rest of the building. After implementing energy-saving measures, our new ENERGY STAR score was 93, qualifying us for the LEED prerequisite as well as eight additional LEED points. Metric Annual Cost implementation Cost rebates Annual savings energy savings simple Payback REdUCTioN Energy Savings Measures $ 457,361 $ 123,254 $0 $ 64,030 14% 2 Years out the data center was approximately 70,400 Btu/ft2. While this represents an efficient building, we wanted to continue to improve. With smart approaches to daily operations, we found we could save energy and money. A few of the ways we increased energy savings included: Daytime Janitorial Our janitors Retrocommissioning VSP implemented a retrocommis- sioning program to identify areas where the building systems were not operating as intended or could be optimized. Through this process, we learned a lot of opportunities existed for improvement. The following areas gave us the highest payback: Lighting Controls The lighting Energy Savings At the time of certification, the building’s annual energy use with- cleaned the building at night when it was largely unoccupied. This meant that our building was lit when it was occupied by very few people. Moving our cleaning schedule to daytime hours enabled us to shut down the building by 7 p.m. instead of late night/early morning. Optimizing Lighting and HVAC Controls Through retrocommission- control panel was not operating correctly. Lights were running 24/7, and more than 50% of the relays were bad. Sequences of Operations The Building 30% sequences of operations for our HVAC systems were not operating correctly. By making relatively minor adjustments, we achieved great savings. Data Center 70% ing, we identified areas where we could optimize our controls to operate more efficiently and effectively. Metering We installed submeters Thermal Comfort VSP managed space temperatures VSP found through submetering that its data center was a highintensity energy use area, accounting for approximately 70% of total energy use. to monitor electricity use of our café, data center, lighting panels and plug loads. based on complaints received. However, this was a reactive approach, and VSP knew it needed to change. Well before VSP began the LEED process, it set space temperature set point ranges. VSP also established a protocol for dealing with complaints in a way that 30 HigH Performing Buildings spring 2009
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