The Responsible Allocation of Resources: Energy, Water, and Budget
Gabriela Kleiman, HDR Architecture
Susan Donkers, HDR Architecture
Laboratory owners and managers are faced with a dizzying array of competing interests for their budget resources. How can the needs of scientists and researchers be balanced with space and budget constraints? What are the responsible methods for meeting the federal sustainability mandates and third party sustainability rating systems? Where should the budget be allocated? What is the focus?
The focus, as will be presented by a senior laboratory planner and a sustainable design manager in this technical session, is the utilization of an integrated design process during each design phase that first meets the operational needs of the user through efficient laboratory planning and programming, then analyzes building performance through whole building simulation, and culminates with a cost model. The resultant effect is integrated information centered on the lifecycle operation of the facility: a series of use, sustainability, and cost metrics that allow owners to be in control of the design outcome.
With the Energy and Policy Act of 2005 mandating a reduction in energy use intensity, Executive Order 13514 guiding the disclosure and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and Executive Order 13423 calling for a reduction in water consumption intensity, it is ever more necessary for project teams to use the guiding principles of high-performance and sustainable buildings (HPSB). The session will indicate many of the HPSB guiding principles and how they were employed. How the integrated design process is intended to reduce the lifecycle operational cost of the facility, such as how modeling ventilation air can prove that automatic fume hood sash sensors will produce an attractive return on their investment. How producing renewable energy feasibility metrics allows owners to consider fossil fuel reduction. That whole building energy analysis can indicate heat recovery of exhaust air is warranted. And that a measurement and verification plan will guide the location of building level metering and ensure the ability to monitor operational performance.
This presentation will provide perspective on how laboratory managers are notified during the design process and how the impact of their space and use decisions reverberate over the lifecycle of the facility. This information allows laboratory managers to ensure a responsible allocation of resources.
Biographies:
Gabriela Kleiman is a senior laboratory planner with HDR Architecture. Her expertise includes client management, as well as multi-year forecasting, programming, laboratory design, user group management, and equipment selection and layout. Ms. Kleiman has worked with several clients in the higher education and government sectors, most recently with Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Susan Donkers is a sustainable design project manager with HDR Architecture, focused on water and energy reductions in buildings and on campuses. Ms. Donkers implements sustainable systems thinking into design projects, utilizes energy modeling and renewable energy feasibility studies to ensure government sustainability mandates are being met, and advises teams on Labs21 and LEED® compliance.