Page 31 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 3

THE J. CRAIG VENTER INSTITUTE
CASE STUDY NO. 12
Heating, Ventilating and Cooling Systems
The key strategy to the reduction of energy use in laboratories is to set the number of air changes per hour (ACH) designed into the operation of the mechanical systems at the level that provides the best health outcomes and no more than is needed. The designers of JCVI call this approach “right sizing”.
By separating the offices from the laboratory spaces, the design team already reduced the amount of air changes that would be required for the office space from what it would have been if they were joined together in the same building. The second part of the strategy was to address the total number of ACH for the laboratory itself.
When the JCVI design process was begun, typical design standards for laboratories called for a constant minimum of 10-12 ACH. This also allowed for a certain flexibility when reconfiguring
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings, Volume 3 17
PHOTO: BRUCE DAMONTE