Information Tools for Long-term Sustainability in Laboratories
James Coogan, P.E., Siemens
The concept of sustainability depends on a long view of operations and their impacts. For buildings, we need to focus on how they will operate, not just how we design and deliver them. It's the long-term operation that really determines our environmental impact.
Long-term management of environmental impact has at least three components, which include:
- Maintain function of systems.
- Maintain performance of systems.
- Improve operation over time.
A laboratory ventilation reporting package works through the building automation systems to deliver information to support those three objectives through the life of the system. It informs managers on effective function in terms of safety and comfort measures, as well as informing managers on actual flow rates in relation to predicted or "design" usage. All of this information is presented primarily as rolled-up summaries designed to highlight the problems. The supporting, detailed data are available for further inspection.
Assuming the system is maintained, and the data shows that it achieves the intended functions, a proactive manager will be looking for ways to improve performance. The Labs21 Program offers a wide menu of strategies and measures that might help, but the manager has to choose which ones will make a difference in this facility.
The reporting package supports this selection by analyzing the data over time and identifying the physical drivers for the air flow rates and energy use. This data enables managers of a facility to identify the improvement strategies that will work on that site.
James Coogan is a principal in product development and applications at Siemens Building Technologies. With more than 30 years designing microprocessor-based controls for mechanical systems, he has contributed products ranging from simple room controllers to Internet-based operator interfaces, resulting in several patents. Mr. Coogan has chaired several ASHRAE Committees, including Controls, Laboratory Systems, and Plant and Animal Environments. Mr. Coogan is a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association committee that revised the Z9.5 Standard: Laboratory Ventilation. Mr. Coogan participates in various programs for Labs21. His publications include technical papers on room pressurization and laboratory system commissioning. Mr. Coogan earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.