Page 66 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 3

CASE STUDY NO. 13
LA ESCUELITA EDUCATION CENTER
Domestic Hot Water
A gas-fired boiler plant provides the hot water for heating and the domestic hot water supply, with some solar thermal providing additional hot water.
Plug Loads
New energy-efficient computer monitors, equipment and kitchen appliances were selected for purchase as required. Existing equipment was utilized only when essential. Occupancy sensors and daylight sensors for control of electric lights are used as appropriate.
Master System Integration and Control Systems
The control systems for these buildings are fairly complex because of the nature of the unusual systems for heating and cooling and the number of environmental sensors involved. The District required that the controls be sole-sourced to a designated vendor for the sake of continuity across all District facilities. This vendor was responsible for integrating all energy-related control systems according to the required communication protocols, including the energy metering system. The circuiting of the latter was then communicated to the provider of the energy dashboard (Lucid) that is used to report the metered data to the District for general use and to the building users for educational use.
The design team specified that each electric load type be installed on a separate panel, which can be separately metered and then provide data about energy use by category of use (lights, fans, etc.). Such categorization of energy use can be very useful during operation and occupancy of the building.
PHOTO: DALE LANG (Above) Gas-fired boiler plant.
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Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 3