ATLANTA — Wind turbines, subcooled glycol/water, geothermal wells, reuse of coil condensation water, and a central heat pump water heating system are among the innovative measures used in the five buildings that recently received ASHRAE Technology Awards.
The awards recognize outstanding achievements by members who have successfully applied innovative building designs. Their designs incorporate ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and IAQ.
Benjamin Skelton, president of Cyclone Energy Group in Chicago, received first place in the new commercial buildings category for the Walgreens Net-zero Store in Evanston, Illinois. The store is designed to achieve net-zero energy and features 840 roof-mounted solar panels; two 35-foot-tall wind turbines; geo-exchange energy obtained by drilling 550 feet into the ground below the store; LED lighting and daylight harvesting; CO2 refrigerant for heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment; and energy-efficient building materials.
Dylan T. Connelly, associate for the Integral Group in Oakland, California, received first place in the existing commercial buildings category for DPR Construction’s San Francisco Net-positive Energy Office. DPR Construction occupies the building and has a 10-year lease with an option for 10 more years.
The design includes a 118-kW rooftop photovoltaic system, all electric systems, operable skylights, building-management-system-controlled ceiling fans, enhanced daylighting, and living walls. A net-positive-energy office building was achieved by reducing energy loads through the use of efficient HVAC and electrical systems and by installing photovoltaic and solar thermal systems on the roof to produce more energy than the building consumes. The retrofit project reduced its initial carbon footprint by more than 70 percent.
Nicolas Lemire, president and principal of Pageau Morel and Associates in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, received first place in the new educational facilities category for the Anne-Marie Edward Science Building at John Abbott College, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
Energy diversification is accomplished with the use of geothermal wells, electrical heating and cooling, natural gas hot water heating, and solar preheating. Potable water consumption is reduced with the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures, and resources are maximized through reuse and recuperation.
Ken Warren, capital project manager, Port of Seattle, received first place in the new industrial facilities or processes category for the Sea-Tac Airport Pre-Conditioned Air project.
The system includes pre-conditioned air plant (PCAP) piping and air handlers to provide cooling and heating for airplanes during boarding and deplaning to reduce costs for airlines, improve air quality, reduce noise, and increase energy efficiency. The reductions realized through the project include annual savings of an estimated 5 million gallons in fuel, a $15 million savings in airline fuel costs, 40,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases, 73 tons of nitrogen oxides, and noise pollution from aircraft parked at the gates operating their auxilary power units.
Jonathan M. Heller, principal engineer of Ecotope Inc. in Seattle, received first place in the residential category for the Stack House Apartments. Using a central heat pump water heating system, ductless heat pumps for 40 percent of the apartment units and common spaces, and rainwater catchment and reuse for urban agriculture on the roof, the apartments are achieving exceptional efficiency levels. For more information, visit www.ashrae.org/news.
Publication date: 1/18/2016
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