Benchmarking Laboratory Design: A Business Case for
Right-Sizing
Bill Brewer and Carson
Maxted, Duke University Occupational Environmental Safety Office
Right-sizing is the development of building design parameters that
are based on, among others, load analysis data. This practice, when
properly applied, can reduce energy use, create significant cost
savings and diminish carbon dioxide emissions. When applied to high-performance
laboratories with tremendous energy and resource requirements, right-sizing
can result in significant environmental benefits. During this study
we recorded and analyzed plug-load energy use in selected laboratories
on Duke University's campus to determine if actual plug-load demands
significantly differ from those currently used to design and size
air handling systems in high performance laboratories. The results
indicate that right-sizing based on actual data may be beneficial
in designing and sizing air handling systems in high performance
research and teaching laboratories. The data may also be used as
the basis for a new plug-load benchmark for laboratory design. Conclusions
from these findings also point out the need for additional research
and policy development.
Labs21 Connection:
Plug-load data was collected from laboratories similar to high
performance laboratories that are being designed for a new science
center to help determine appropriate air handling design. This study
is one the first to gather actual plug-load data to influence air
handling design features.
Biographies:
Bill Brewer has been the Director of Environmental Programs
in the Occupational Environment Safety Office at Duke University
over the past 4 years. Prior to joining Duke, Bill was the Director
of Environmental and Safety Engineering at NCR Corporation. Dr.
Brewer held academic and research appointments in the Department
of Environmental Health at Wright State University and at East Tennessee
State University. Bill received a Bachelor of Sciences degree from
Clemson University, as well as a Masters of Sciences degree in Environmental
Systems Engineering and earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences
from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Carson Maxted received his undergraduate
degree in Biology from Pomona College in 2002. His interest in demand-side
energy issues developed during his time in Southern California.
With a concentration on the interface between business and the environment,
Carson completed his Master's Degree in Environmental Management
from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at
Duke University in 2005. His work, supported by an EPA internship
during the summer of 2004, and subsequent plug-load analysis have
led to additional work on benchmarking.
Back to the Agenda
|
