High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013 - (Page 8)

testament to the truth of Carl Elefante’s assertion. When the Alliance purchased the building, its fourth and fifth floors already had been converted to office space and housed about 30 workers. The lower floors were used by the neighboring bookstore for storage. While the building was functional, it was not high performance — and high-performance buildings are crucial to sustainability, the essence of the Alliance’s mission. The renovation that followed reduced energy use, demonstrated resource efficiency and incorporated sustainable materials. The project received an ENERGY STAR rating of 85 and two LEED certifications in 2006: Gold for Existing Buildings and Silver for Commercial Interiors. 8 The renovation, which took place from 2005–06, encompassed a range of strategies and improvements in several resource areas: Energy and Atmosphere The Center replaced over 1,000 40 W T-12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts with 32 W T-8 lamps and high efficiency electronic ballasts, reducing lighting energy use by over 40%. The new lamps contain 50% less mercury and phosphorus, eliminating the need to be disposed of as hazardous waste. The lamps are dimmable, either manually or, in the case of the lights on the fifth floor, by automatic photosensors that adjust output according to daylight levels. Passive infrared occupancy sensors throughout the building turn lights on or off depending on human presence in the room. The building’s aging HVAC system consists of a 50-ton direct-expansion rooftop air-handling unit, two variable air volume units, diffusers, two exhaust fans, electric radiant heating panels and the associated controls. The control system was changed from pneumatic (air pressure) temperature controls to computerized direct digital controls (DDC) to set heating and cooling levels. The DDC system allows customization of the temperature and airflow HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 1 3 Above The Alliance Center is driven by its mission to promote sustainability and selects tenants with similar missions. This maximizes the benefits of co-location. Left More than 1,000 people a year tour the Alliance Center to see green construction in a rehabilitated historic building. The purpose is to inspire adoption of resourceefficient measures in businesses and homes. Bottom left Meeting rooms throughout the Alliance Center are available to tenant organizations and allied non-profit, forprofit and government groups. in zones throughout the building, and monitors the internal climate, minimizing energy costs without sacrificing comfort. System managers can change settings online. The DDC LoAd ShEdding Unless overidden by the operators, the Alliance’s direct digital controls system will shed load by cutting out individual heating units according to a programmed sequence of operations. This feature helps reduce costs, as the local electric utility has a tiered rate system and per-kWh charges increase over a particular threshold. Due to unseasonably cold weather (highs in the single digits), the demand limit was raised two times in 2011 to properly heat the building. While the Alliance views building performance as extremely important, building operators are not willing to sacrifice occupant comfort/productivity for energy gains. This experience further supports the planned replacement of the existing HVAC system with a highly efficient system that uses less energy.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013
Commentary
Contents
Alliance Center
Malaysia Energy Commission HQ (Diamond Building)
IAQ in HPB Case Studies
EcoCommercial Building, Noida
25 York Street
Technology
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013