Page 65 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 1

IDeAs OFFICE BUILDING
replaced their desktop machines with laptops plus two smaller flat screen monitors. The laptops use less energy but the power required for the second monitor eliminated the energy savings.
Desk telephones that normally appear as a plug load component are not used in this building. Instead, IDeAs staff use a voice-over-IP system and connected headsets.
The primary plug load is computer equipment as other plug loads such as radios and tape play- ers have disappeared as internet streaming has emerged. This trend, plus changes made during the post-occupancy period (to be discussed below), has lowered the plug load significantly over the past five years.
Renewable On-Site Energy Supply
A building integrated solar photovoltaic system (“BIPV system”) is built into the single-ply PVC roof membrane system. This system avoids the many roof penetrations necessary to attach a PV panel support structure. However, this also required that the owner purchase the system. A third-party lease arrangement (PPA) was considered initially but was not a viable option in 2006. The choice of a BIPV system from an early manufacturer of this type of product involved a risk for the building owner regarding the service and warranty of the system over a standard period of time (20 years). When the building was designed, however, other options had the perceived greater risk of water leakage from multiple roof penetrations. (As it turned out, the manufacturer of the BIPV system entered bankruptcy in 2010, putting the system warranty into question.)
A second type of panel, a laminated mono-crystalline photovoltaic panel, is used as the shading canopy for the south-facing storefront glazing.
CASE STUDY NO. 3
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 1
49
PHOTO: EHDD