ASHRAE Journal - September 2022 - 49

FIRST PLACE | 2022 ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARD CASE STUDIES
FIGURE 1 Monthly energy use.
* Optimized HVAC controls with VFDs and ECM mo5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
-
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2020 Modeled
based on needs.
When modeled and measured data from 2020
are compared, measured electric use (total of
78.61 kBtu/ft2·yr [892.74 MJ/m2·yr]) is consistently
lower than predictive modeling (total of 92 kBtu/ft2·yr
[1045 MJ/m2·yr]). Measured natural gas use (total of
62.94 kBtu/ft2·yr [714.78 MJ/m2·yr]) is consistently
higher than predictive modeling (total of 43 kBtu/ft2·yr
[488.3 MJ/m2·yr]). Results differ as the predictive
modeled loads were overestimated, due to occupancy
assumptions; generally, equipment and cooling loads
have been lower than predicted, resulting in cooling
savings but additional reheat loads and associated gas
use.
The project achieves 39.0% energy and 37.3% energy
cost savings versus the LEED v4 ASHRAE 90.1-2010
Appendix G baseline. LEED-accepted energy modeling
showed an EUI of 134.7 kBtu/ft2·yr (1529.7 MJ/m2·yr).
2020 metered data showed an EUI of 142 kBtu/ft2·yr
(1613 MJ/m2·yr). The ASHRAE Climate Zone 6, Labs
for the 21st Century benchmark is 272 kBtu/ft2·yr
(3089 MJ/m2·yr), which is twice the modeled and measured
EUI for this low-energy laboratory.
Key energy conservation measures contributing to savings
in the fi nal design include:
* Dedicated and variable outdoor air delivery to all
spaces with total energy heat recovery wheels paired
with blower coils units in critical spaces and active
chilled beams in noncritical spaces;
* Low air change rates in laboratories: four air
changes during occupied times with a 50% turndown to
two air changes during unoccupied times ;
* Radiant slab and perimeter heating;
* Economizing air rotation units in warehouse areas;
tors throughout;
* High-effi ciency condensing boilers;
* Premium air-cooled chillers for summer operation
and dry coolers for winter cooling loads;
* High-performance building envelope; and
* Optimized high-performance refrigeration systems
for the many walk-in coolers and freezers, including
fl oating head pressure controls, liquid subcooling, and
heat recovery for facility domestic hot water.
Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort
This facility processes human stool samples, and
therefore the primary indoor air quality (IAQ) concern
for this building is odor. The design team's core goal is to
avoid odor by capturing the odor at the source with fume
hoods and proper room pressurization to ensure odorous
air is not transferred to other occupied areas of the
facility. To date, there have been no odor concerns.
Other IAQ features to promote occupant health include:
* All occupied lab and offi ce spaces are served with a
dedicated outdoor air unit and full exhaust system;
* Spaces with odor risk are designed to be negative
pressure compared to adjacent spaces;
* Demand-control ventilation (with sensors in the
breathing zone);
* MERV 14 media fi lters;
* Humidifi cation systems with a 35% minimum
setpoint;
* Materials selected with the goal to minimize volatile
organic compounds and an air fl ush per LEED;
* Air infi ltration management through design and
envelope commissioning;
* Negative pressure bathrooms, showers, copy/print
rooms and café area to manage moisture/odors;
* Ventilation beyond Wisconsin state code; design
meets ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013.
Thermal comfort was also a major consideration. The
building is designed to ASHRAE Standard 55-2013. The
Center for the Built Environment tool and engineering
calculations are used to ensure occupant comfort during
both winter and summer operating conditions. Winter
and summer humidity setpoints are considerations in
these calculations. Perimeter heat is installed to ensure
comfort and manage radiant temperature near perimeter
offi ce curtainwall and laboratory exterior walls.
Additionally, radiant slab is a design feature ensuring
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 ashrae.o rg ASHRAE JOURNAL
49
Total MMBtu
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