Mechanical Systems

for Sustainable Design

Presented by Nick Collins, PE, LEED AP

nickc@pae-engineers.com
Energy Use by Sector
25% Industrial
27% Transportation
48% Architectural
Energy Use – Where are the loads?

Typical Office Building

Baseline Energy Use

Cooling Domestic HW
9% 3%
Fans/Pumps
6% Lighting
27%
Equip. & Misc.
17% Heating
38%
Sustainable Mechanical Systems
1. Minimizing the heating and cooling loads on the building.
2. Installing the smallest, most efficient systems possible.
3. Use a renewable energy source.
Reducing Loads
1. Minimizing the heating and cooling loads on the building.
2. Installing the smallest, most efficient systems possible.
3. Use a renewable energy source.
Walls
Envelope Load
Reduction Ideas

1. Reduce building infiltration

2. Improve thermal wall
3. Increase stud spacing from
16”OC to 24” OC
4. Use external rigid insulation
High Performance Walls

The Institutional Wall The Commercial Wall The Residential Wall

Best Almost best and cheap Best residential and not cheap
Roofs

R19 – Code
R30 - ~6”
R50 - ~10”
Glazing

1. Orient the building to minimize energy use.

2. Design for passive solar heating.
3. Use high performance glazing:
• Low U-Value 0.4 or better
• Low Shading coefficient or SHGC
• 0.4 or better
• U-Value 0.54 code
• SC 0.57 code
Equipment Load Reduction
• CRT vs Flat Screen
• Desktop vs laptop
• Energy Star appliances

150w 75w 15w

Internal Loads - Lights

• Daylighting – the daylight replaces the electrical cooling load

• High Efficiency electric lighting (>1.0 watt/square foot)
• T8 lamps with electronic ballasts
• T5 lamps

+
Internal Loads - People
Building Orientation
N N

North – South
3 % Electrical Saving
17 % Gas Savings
5 to 6 % annual operating savings
Shading
Thermal Mass/Night Ventilation

• Lots of mass to absorb heat

• Large openings to allow air flow.
• Recommended - 30 air changes
per hour
Weather Analysis
Typical Frequency of Outside Air Dry Bulb Temperatures
All Hours, Jan 1-Dec 31

1600
1502

1366 1348 1358

1400

1200 Portland, Oregon

# of hours in Bin

1016
1000

784
800 Typical Outdoor Dry Bulb Temperatures
Full Year TMY2
600
497 110
400
Apr 1 Sep 30
326 300
100
200
Sept 2, 98 deg.F
119

0 6
73 90 53
4 5 3 0
0
Dry Bulb Temperature [deg.F]

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105
80
Highest Dry Bulb Temperature of Bin [deg.F]

Typical Wind Direction Frequency

70
8am-5pm, Apr 1- Sep 30
60
0.0
25%
337.5 22.5
20%
50
315.0 45.0
15%
40
292.5 10% 67.5

5% 30
270.0 0% 90.0 Jan 2, 24 deg.F Nov 29, 23.0 deg.F
20
247.5 112.5
10
225.0 135.0
0
202.5 157.5
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
9
7
5
3
1
1
9
17
25
33
41
49
57
65
73
81
89
97
10
11
12
12
13
14
15
16
16
17
18
19
20
20
21
22
23
24
24
25
26
27
28
28
29
30
31
32
32
33
34
35
36
180.0
Day of Year
Comfort
ASHRAE Summer
& Winter Comfort
Zones
Small and Efficient

Using HVAC mechanical systems to reduce loads by…

1. Minimizing the heating and cooling loads on the building.
2. Installing the smallest, most efficient systems possible.
3. Use a renewable energy source.
Small and Efficient
Can you make the system smaller?

SEER 19 SEER 13
54” high, 410 lbs 46” high, 265 lbs
 Mechanical Systems
• Air Distribution
• Heating
• Cooling COOLING
• Direct Expansion
HEATING
• Packaged Rooftop
AIR HANDLING • Hydronic
• Chilled Water
• Central • Conventional Hot
• Air Cooled
• Rooftop Water Boilers
• Water Cooled Central
• Penthouse or Inside • High Efficiency Hot
• Ground Water
• Distributed Air Handling Water Boilers (Gas)
• Direct and Indirect
• Fan Coils • Electric Heat
Evaporative Cooling
• Unit Ventilators • Gas Fired
• Distributed Heat
• Heat Pumps • Ground Coupled
Pumps
Heat Pump
Cooling Systems
Active Systems – Cooling
• Hydronic
– Water Cooled
– Air Cooled
• DX Refrigeration
 Cooling Systems

Water Cooled Chiller

• First Cost: Greatest first cost.
• Energy Cost: Lowest Energy cost.
• Maintenance: Equipment is highly
reliable - chiller life is 27 years.
• Comfort: Provides the best in
comfort - quiet operation.
Cooling Systems

Air Cooled Chiller

• First Cost: Lower than water cooled
chiller.
• Energy Cost: Higher than a water
cooled system.
• Maintenance: Average maintenance
cost option - average life of 17
years.
• Comfort: High level of comfort.
Heating Systems
Active Systems – Heating
• Hydronic
– Hot water boiler
– High efficiency boiler - condensing
• Electric heat
• Gas fired
 Heating Systems
Hydronic Heating Systems – Standard Efficiency Boilers 80%
• Energy Cost: Mid range, between electric heat and high efficiency hot water.
• Maintenance: Requires little maintenance.
• Comfort: Excellent comfort.
 Heating Systems
Hydronic Heating Systems –
High Efficiency Boilers up to 96%
• Energy Cost: Low energy consumption
and costs.
• Maintenance: Requires more maintenance
than standard boiler.

• Comfort: Excellent comfort.

Heating Systems
Electric Heat
• First Cost: Low first cost.
• Energy Cost: Very high. This will
represent a 100% to 150%
increase in energy cost due to
rate differences between gas and
electric.
• Maintenance: Low maintenance.
• Comfort: Step control on electric
heaters. Acceptable comfort.
Heat
Basic Chilled Water System
Heat
Out

Cooling Tower
Chiller

Heat
In

Cooling Coil
 Ground Water Cooling System

Chiller

Heat
Out

Heat
• Ground water system with In
extraction and insertion wells.
• No Boiler or Cooling Tower
• Ground water is used for heating Cooling Coil
and cooling. Ground Wells
Basic Boiler Heating Water System

Heat
Heat
Out
In

Boiler Heating Coil

 Ground Water Heating System
Chiller Heating Coil

Heat
Out

Heat
In

Ground Wells
Water Source Heat Pump Heat Heat
In Out

Heat
Pump

Boiler

Heat Out

Heat In
Cooling Tower
Ground Source Heat Pump Heat Heat
In Out

Heat
Pump

Boiler

Heat Heat
In Out
Ground Source Heat Pumps
GS heat pumps extract geothermal energy to condition buildings.
Very low energy consumption.

Winter Summer

• Winter – moves heat from the earth to the building.

• Summer – moves heat from the building to the earth.
• Automatic controls are used to reverse the direction of the heat transfer.
Radiant Flooring
• Consistent heating
• Low energy usage
• Slow response time
Radiant Ceiling Heating/Cooling
• Consistent heating
• Low energy usage
• Low mass means faster response time
Heat Recovery System
Dedicated Outside Air System - DOAS
•Heat Wheel
•Plate and Frame
•Run around Loop
Natural Ventilation
 Natural Ventilation
Advantages
• Simple
• Lower first cost
• Lower operating cost
• User satisfaction
• Elimination of mech. refrigeration
• Less environment impact
• No mechanical noise
Disadvantages
• Temperature & humidity unregulated
• No filtration
• Initial cost higher – if backup AC
provided
• Exterior noise can be a problem
• Less flexible air intake location
• Rain
Natural Ventilation
Mechanical Integration
Can this building be naturally ventilated?
Renewable Resources
Using HVAC mechanical systems to reduce loads by…
1. Minimizing the heating and cooling loads on the building.
2. Installing the smallest, most efficient systems possible.
3. Use a renewable energy source.
Geothermal
Biomass
Solar
Wind
Biodiesel
Final Results
Typical Office Building
Baseline Energy Use

Cooling Domestic HW
9% 3%
Fans/Pumps
6% Lighting
27%
Equip. & Misc.
17% Heating
38%

Before
Final Results

Savings
51%
Lighting Heating
15% 8%

Equip. & Misc.

17%

Fans/Pumps
5%

Cooling Domestic HW Cooling

9% 3% Domestic HW
Fans/Pumps
1% 3%
6% Lighting
27%
Equip. & Misc.
17% Heating

After
38%
Summary
Mechanical Systems
• Review loads and reduce to lowest possible amount
• Select most efficient system possible
• Renewable energy source

Questions:
• What did you learn?
• Any surprises?