High-Performance, Low-Energy Vivariums

James J. Walker, P.E., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

As laboratories can consume ten times the energy of a standard office building, vivariums can use almost twice as much as laboratories. With this enormous level of energy and water consumption, conservation opportunities abound.

Drawing from 15 years of operating experience with a 30,000-square-foot small-animal vivarium, we have learned much about vivarium HVAC design and high-performance operation. This presentation will be of interest to designers interested in feedback from real operating experiences with state-of-the-art systems. Owners will learn how less-than-perfect designs can be corrected and enhanced without compromising vivarium operations. Failure is not an option with a system that protects the health of 22,000 mice at the center, valued at $11 million.

The AALAC accredited facility incorporates sustainable features including interstitial spaces, low wall exhausts, and micro-isolators. The center has implemented many upgrades to the vivarium over the past 10 years including correcting design deficiencies, conversion to micro isolators, and reducing energy and water consumption and heat recovery from ventilation and wastewater. Another recent improvement included the reuse of clean, washer wastewater in a cage pre-wash area, saving thousands of gallons of city water every day.

About a year ago, Fred Hutch commissioned a comprehensive study entitled "AH-B2 50 Year Plan" for the vivarium air handler for the purpose of extending the life, improving performance, and increasing energy efficiency of this critical system. A recent, catastrophic fan failure of one of the 150 HP fans inside the unit compelled us to implement many improvements identified in this very timely report. Improvements included high efficiency fan wheels, VSDs, high absorption humidifiers, final filter relocation, and modifications to reduce static pressure.

There were also tremendous maintenance benefits including replacing 15-year-old equipment with new, elimination of outdated and unsupported internal AHU components, solutions to humidification problems, internal corrosion, and wetted final filters. Additionally, these enhancements netted an annual energy savings of $17,000. Over the past 10 years, upgrades have extended the life of a 15-year-old facility, reduced energy and water use by $126,000, and have enhanced the environmental performance of this very critical facility.

Biography:

James J. Walker, P.E., has a Bachelor of Science. in mechanical engineering from Seattle University and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Washington. He has more than 30 years of professional experience as a mechanical engineer in manufacturing, consulting, engineering, and facilities engineering. As a consulting engineer working for a top architecture and engineering firm, he specialized in energy conservation starting in 1982, and continuing over a period of 15 years.

Mr. Walker is currently employed as the facilities engineer for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, where he has served for over 11 years. He is heavily involved with the implementation of water, gas, and electrical conservation projects and bringing cutting-edge conservation technologies into practice.

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