Global Ecology Research Center: Reducing Energy &
Embodied Carbon Emissions by 50%
Scott Shell, AIA, EHDD Architecture
Peter Rumsey, Rumsey Engineers
The Department of Global Ecology for the Carnegie Institution of
Washington challenged us to design a laboratory that addressed their
research areas, such as global climate change. This presentation
will describe our efforts to reduce carbon emissions due to energy
use and embodied in materials by over 50%.
The most significant reductions were due to improved energy efficiency,
with energy models indicating a better than 50% improvement over
California's Title 24. The building has a narrow 40' floor plate,
with labs on the first floor, and naturally ventilated offices on
the second floor. The thin section allows the entire building to
be daylit, including proper orientation, sunshades, light-shelves,
and daylighting controls. The lobby was designed as an indoor/outdoor
semi-conditioned space using a passive cool tower to ensure adequate
comfort on hot days.
Embodied carbon emissions were reduced by almost half by using
55% flyash concrete throughout. Salvaged wood cladding and casework,
and recycled aggregate were other key materials.
Findings:
We calculated carbon emissions associated with electrical and gas
use, and with the major materials used for construction. As expected,
we found that energy use was the dominant factor affecting carbon
emissions. However, as an extremely energy efficient building, the
embodied emissions associated with materials became a more significant
component. These are dominated by concrete, with structural steel
and reinforcing steel also making significant contributions. Other
materials, including finishes, were responsible for only a small
percentage of carbon emissions. This suggests that designers should
pay attention to structural materials and efficiency in addition
to the current focus on interior finishes for green buildings.
We also found that compared to our utility's very low rate of carbon
emissions per kWh, natural gas use was also a significant source
of carbon. Rates of carbon emissions by utility or state are available
on the web for others wishing to make these calculations.
The building was completed in March of 2004, and we are beginning
to gather actual energy consumption data to verify our expected
performance and the energy modeling.
Labs21 Connection:
The mechanical system has a number of innovative technologies:
- Chilled water is produced using a "night sky" roof
spray system that radiates heat to the cool night sky. The chilled
water is collected via the roof drainage system and stored in
a thermal energy storage tank for use the following day.
- The chilled water is used for space cooling via a radiant floor
slab throughout the building. The main conference room required
additional cooling with radiant panels on the ceiling. The chilled
water also feeds the main air handler for the lab ventilation.
- Lab ventilation is provided through a very low-pressure drop
duct system. Ventilation rates are set back at night after 10:00
pm if the occupancy sensor controlled lights are also off.
- Outside air is tempered with a heat exchanger to the general
lab exhaust.
Biographies:
Scott Shell, AIA, is a Senior Associate at EHDD Architecture.
Along with directing the sustainable design component of many EHDD
projects, Scott has managed and designed some of the firm's most
complex institutional work. He has organized a number of conferences
and seminars on green design strategies, particularly the use of
flyash concrete and daylighting for people in the building industry,
including the Green Building Conference, the Pacific Energy Center
in San Francisco, and the ACI/CANMET Conference. Scott has also
authored a number of papers on various sustainable topics. Scott
received his Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University, as
well as a Master of Arts and Humanities from Stanford University,
and Doctoral Studies in South Asian Studies from the University
of Chicago.
Peter Rumsey has over 20 years of experience in the engineering
and energy field, and is a nationwide leader in sustainable and
efficient design of government, scientific and private sector critical
environments, such as laboratories, clean rooms, data centers and
research facilities. Peter's passion of energy efficient and sustainable
design issues has led him to publish several papers on HVAC energy
efficiency. He is the author of a column in Environmental Design
and Construction magazine discussing and debating sustainable design
issues. For Critical Environments, Peter wrote an article on Laboratory
Efficiency in the ASHRAE Journal and was a team leader in a Data
Center Efficiency Design Charette for the Rocky Mountain Institute.
He is a Certified Energy Manager and a member of the ASHRAE Cleanrooms
Committee (TC9.11). In 2002, he was awarded the Energy Engineer
of the Year Award from the Bay Area chapter of the Association of
Energy Engineers. Peter has a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical
Engineering from UC Berkeley.
Back to the Agenda
|
