ASHRAE Journal - March 2023 - 36

2023 ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
was designed with a high thermal resistance to reduce
the passive load of the building.
The outside air is supplied by air exchangers: a heat
wheel in the office area and an enthalpy cube in the
industrial area. The dedicated outdoor air system is
distributed independently of the heating/air conditioning
in the spaces, reducing the energy use of the fans.
The outside air distribution is carried out by displacement
ventilation, reducing the quantity of fresh air in
the offices, the classrooms and workshops because of its
distribution efficiency 20% higher than typical dilution
supply as defined in ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2017.
In the workshops, there are 20 welding stations,
each with a sensor that activates the individual vent
hoods. The exhaust system is variable speed, allowing
a minimum airflow at all times based on use. The air is
exhausted to an outdoor dust collector and returned to
the air exchanger.
FIGURE 1 Energy usage (2020).
60,000
40,000
50,000
20,000
30,000
10,000
considerably increases their efficiency and makes it possible
to reach an annual production of approximately
210,000 kWh, bringing the project closer to the net-zero
targets.
The office building and the classrooms also have radiant
heated floors and displacement ventilation for
outside air supply. Air conditioning is supplied through
decentralized fan coils, allowing each space to individually
control temperature and saving fan power when not
in use.
The production of hot and cold water for heating and
air conditioning is carried out by an optimized heat
pump system. Pumps carry water from water-to-water
(geothermal) and air-to-water (aerothermal) heat
pumps to all areas of the building. The use of a heat
transfer fluid instead of air reduces the energy consumption
due to the fans, and the heat pumps' COPs
improve energy efficiency.
The roofs support some 439 bifacial photovoltaic
panels, which benefit from both direct sunlight and
sunlight reflected by the white roof. This type of panel
36
ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.o rg M A R CH 2023
Indoor Air Quality
To ensure the best air quality, the heat recovery ventilators
are fitted with high efficiency filters (MERV 13),
and CO2 sensors are installed in all densely occupied
spaces to regulate the required fresh air intake. The
relative humidity is maintained by a vapor humidifier
inserted in the fresh air ducts, as well as humidity sensors
installed strategically throughout the building.
The humidity and temperature setpoints were set
using ASHRAE Standard 55-2010. In the offices the clo
values were estimated to be on average 1.1 and met levels
to be 1. In the workshops, clo were similar, but met levels
were higher as people are generally standing and working
with heavy equipment per Normative Appendix A,
Activity Level of the Standard. All the spaces were analyzed,
and temperatures in each space can be adjusted to
suit individual comfort requirements.
The radiant temperature asymmetry was analyzed and
found to be within acceptable ranges, causing a 4% dissatisfaction
rate according to ASHRAE Standard 55-2010.
Displacement ventilation was selected for all occupied
spaces in the buildings including the warehouses. This
type of ventilation creates a cleaner, higher-quality air
zone for the occupant when compared to traditional air
supply methods. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors
provide adequate air quality by increasing airflow
when the level exceeds the setpoint.
With the radiant hot water floor as the heating source,
the risk of combining and redistributing various odors
in the rooms is completely avoided since no air is transferred
from one room to another.
All the airflow rates were calculated using ASHRAE
Standard 62.1-2010. A zone air distribution effectiveness
(Ez) value of 1.2 was used, since only air cooler or at
the same temperature as the room is ever supplied near
the floor with and exhausted near the ceiling per Table
6.2 of the standard. Displacement ventilation also offers
optimal comfort for the occupants because of the low
airspeed, which doesn't expose them to drafts.
Particular attention was paid to the selection of other
interior finishing materials with low volatile organic
compounds (VOC) emissions.
kWh
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ASHRAE Journal - March 2023

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