Page 31 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 1

PACKARD FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
CASE STUDY NO. 1
Plug Loads
During the early design phase, when energy analysis indicated that a large portion of the electri- cal load to be supplied by the solar photovoltaic system would be plug-in equipment loads, or plug loads, the design team realized that a better understanding of this type of load was needed in order to size the system properly. Following the concept of investing in energy efficiency to reduce the cost of the renewable energy production system, it became clear that identification of all equipment and selection of the most energy efficient type for the new building would provide the most cost-efficient design.
The team looked at typical office equipment, including desktop computers, servers and other types of common devices, in order to recommend low-energy brands and types of machines to be installed in the new building. The EPA rating ENERGY STAR® was found to be a reliable indicator for low-energy performance. From this research, an inventory of equipment was estab- lished that reduced the plug load by 50% compared to typical office buildings.
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 1
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(Left) Plug Load Study result. (Diagram courtesy of EHDD Architecture)