High-performance medical and educational building design: Sustainable buildings/energy efficiency

The design of high-performance medical and educational projects are challenging and need to meet specific standards, codes, and trends. A major trend is designing buildings that are energy-efficient and sustainable.

By Consulting-Specifying Engineer June 30, 2016

Respondents

Joseph A. D’Alù, PE, LEED AP, CEM, Division Manager, RMF Engineering, Charlottesville, Va.

TG Davallou, LEED AP, Partner, Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers, San Francisco

Sean Donohue, PE, LEED AP, Director, Colorado Springs, Jensen Hughes, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Anthony B. Preteroti, Associate Vice President, CannonDesign, Grand Island, N.Y.

Teresa Rainey, PE, LEED Fellow, Director of High-Performance Design, EYP Architecture & Engineering, Washington, D.C.


CSE: Energy efficiency and sustainability are often a request from building owners and chief information officers. What net zero energy and/or high-performance systems have you recently specified on high-performance campus projects?

Davallou: We used geothermal systems, an enthalpy wheel, and PV for Ohlone College. This was the first community college to achieve LEED Platinum certification in the U.S. It is now a net zero building. Delta Products headquarters is also considered a net zero building with geothermal systems, heat-pump chillers, slab radiant cooling, chilled beams, and PV.

CSE: Many aspects of sustainability (power, HVAC, etc.) require the building facility team to follow certain practices to be effective. What, if anything, can an engineer do to help increase chances of success in this area?

Preteroti: When lighting control systems are installed, meeting with those who manage the systems is extremely important. A system can offer all the capabilities in the world, but if the client/user does not want to or know how to use it, then it will become a source of frustration for everyone. Have clients meet with vendors during the design process to become familiar with the systems, and choose features that meet their goals. Commissioning the system is important for proper functions and ensuring it’s working as intended. When a system is installed, facilitating training helps users understand how the system functions and operates, and how they can tune the system to fit their needs.

Davallou: An engineer should provide test data to the facility engineer for past sustainable projects.

CSE: What types of renewable energy systems have you recently specified to provide power for such projects? This may include PVs, wind turbines, etc.

Davallou: We included PV and geothermal in all College of Marin campuses and Mission College. We used geothermal systems, an enthalpy wheel, and PV for Ohlone College. This was the first community college to achieve LEED Platinum certification in the U.S. It is now a net zero building. Delta Products headquarters is also considered a net zero building with geothermal systems, heat-pump chillers, slab radiant cooling, chilled beams, and PV.

CSE: Many aspects of sustainability (power, HVAC, etc.) require the building facility team to follow certain practices to be effective. What, if anything, can an engineer do to help increase chances of success in this area?

Preteroti: When lighting control systems are installed, meeting with those who manage the systems is extremely important. A system can offer all the capabilities in the world, but if the client/user does not want to or know how to use it, then it will become a source of frustration for everyone. Have clients meet with vendors during the design process to become familiar with the systems, and choose features that meet their goals. Commissioning the system is important for proper functions and ensuring it’s working as intended. When a system is installed, facilitating training helps users understand how the system functions and operates, and how they can tune the system to fit their needs.

Davallou: An engineer should provide test data to the facility engineer for past sustainable projects.

CSE: What types of renewable energy systems have you recently specified to provide power for such projects? This may include PVs, wind turbines, etc.

Davallou: We included PV and geothermal in all College of Marin campuses and Mission College.