Page 52 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 2

CASE STUDY NO. 8
IBEW-NECA JATC TRAINING FACILITY
Plug Loads
Because of the low energy demand achieved through building design, as is typical with ZNE buildings, the plug load for the building is a substantial fraction of the total load. To assist the client in minimizing this energy demand by all the equipment that would be used in the building, the design team analyzed the plug loads in their previous facility and made suggestions about replacing those items that were not at least Energy Star or equivalent.
A major decision with some impact was to replace all desktop computers that would be used as part of the program with laptops and other energy-efficient computer equipment. Given that the building was committed to a ZNE design, a cost study determined that the cost of additional solar PV panels to offset the electrical demand of current program computer equipment would be greater than the cost of simply replacing that equipment.
Other types of electrical equipment used in the training program have a relatively low electric de- mand or the time of use is short, thus not creating a significant increase in the overall plug load.
(Right) Plug Load survey form used to evaluate equipment energy consumption at the ex- isting facility and estimate plug load total for the new building. (Courtesy of EBS Consultants)
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Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 2