Page 53 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 2

IBEW-NECA JATC TRAINING FACILITY
CASE STUDY NO. 8
Building Control Systems
At the time of the design and construction of this project (2011-2013), an awareness had devel- oped of the potential problem issue of the coordinated design of the different control systems for the various energy systems in low-energy buildings. (See Volume 1, Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings, for a discussion of the particular problems with control systems in the earlier buildings of case studies #1 through #6. See also the discussion of this issue in the Introduction to this Volume 2.)
Since the client for the JATC Training Center was particularly knowledgeable about electrical systems and the emerging importance of control system design in advanced buildings, a spe- cialty subconsultant, known as the master system integrator, was added to the contractor advis- ing team in the design phase to address issues of smart building design and operation, control system commissioning, data collection and performance monitoring. By leading the way in the design process itself for this case study building, the client created a model for an approach to the coordination and design of modern building control systems for advanced low-energy build- ings, as well as performance measurement and reporting.
The master system integrator coordinated the design of all building subsystem control systems along with the detailed sequence of operations and created a non-proprietary controls network. He also made recommendations about energy metering for all subsystems, including the solar energy production subsystem, and created an overall monitoring program from a commercially available software package1. The monitoring program continuously collects all data, some of which is organized into a web-based energy dashboard for display on a flat screen in the build- ing lobby. Other building subsystem data can be accessed at any time for building operation and maintenance purposes using a user-friendly graphical interface.
Once the building construction was completed, the master system integrator continued to op- erate the monitoring program under a facilities maintenance agreement with the client. This continuity from design through early occupancy allowed the master system integrator to suggest operational changes to reduce energy consumption and to trouble-shoot equipment issues dur- ing the first two years.
1Opendiem, by Building Clouds.
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings, Volume 2 41
Diagram courtesy of Energy Etc