23.+High+Efficiency+Buildings

Authors: Jeremy Gregory, Michael Vrtis, Sam Bell, Alec Van Huele

A high efficiency building (HEB) is defined as a structure or system that utilizes the available technology and natural surroundings to reduce demand on the system. A modern building demands water, energy, and resources during its life cycle (Infrastructure, 2012). Depending on the location and function, buildings require different amounts of water, energy, and resources. By carefully integrating different technologies such as alternative energy sources and energy regulators the demand required on the system can be reduced resulting in a HEB. To better explore HEB the chapter will focus on:
 * Small Scale High Efficiency Building
 * Large Scale High Efficiency Building
 * Retrofitting Existing Buildings into High Efficiency Buildings

= = = Small Scale High Efficiency Building = Rancho Margot is a paradigm for small scale high energy efficient systems. Rancho Margot uses different technology to reduce energy demand on the local energy grid. Energy efficient technologies at Rancho Margot include compact fluorescent light bulbs and vegetation on rooftops. Growing plants on the rooftops helps the building remain relatively cooler during the day. The electricity at Rancho Margot is generated from small hydroelectric turbines placed on nearby streams. The hydro-electric power is then used for all electronic appliances, cooking, and lighting. Warm water for showers and the hot tub is heated by decomposing composts. As the organic material decomposes temperatures within the compost pile rise to around 170 F. Rancho Margot has run PVC piping through their compost piles. Water is then heated as it runs through the pipes within the compost piles. Innovative and unique solutions like the manuer water heater work well on small scales but to replicate this idea in an urban environment would be difficult.



As previously mentioned in "Chapter 8- Material Balances and Flow Analysis", infrastructure building materials have environmental impacts of their own. The Earthship Biotechture houses are known for using material from the surrounding area and making use of products that have been previously used. The primary building materials are recycled automobile tires, aluminum cans, plastic cans, and glass cans. All other building materials must use little or no manufactured energy. Many of the other materials are highly recyclable and biodegrade. Earthship houses make a conscious effort to not ship materials long distances. When materials are shipped long distances this contributes to large amounts of carbon emissions. Even though the Earthship houses are HEB, they don’t look very aesthetically pleasing. It would be difficult to build these habitat system on a larger scale because of aesthetics and the structural limitations of the recycled materials. (Reynolds, 2012).



Some hotels in Costa Rica have managed to reduce resources on a small scale in a similar way to Earthship houses. Hotel Allegro Papagayo lowers carbon emissions during construction and lowers carbon emission and waste during operation. During construction they received the majority of their building material from Costa Rica, which helped lower the amount of carbon emissions by transporting the material only a short distance. During operation they also purchase more than 50% of their food from Costa Rica. This also lowers carbon emissions by transporting food a short distance. The government also requires that all hotels near the ocean have a gray water treatment facility, attempting to limit grey waste from entering the ocean.



=Large Scale High Efficiency Buildings =

Applying the small scale ideas to larger applications, some buildings have integrated innovative technology, such as solar and wind power generation, in an effort to reduce energy demand on a larger system. The Pearl River Tower in China is an example of this. Despite the high initial construction costs, the building is operating efficiently and is considered to be one of the world’s greenest skyscrapers. Some of the energy efficient technologies used include the following:
 * Radiant cooling: Takes the place of normal ventilation and air conditioning to cool office space by using water.
 * High performance glazing: Used to help insulate the building’s interior.
 * High efficiency lighting and equipment: Used to help maximize the use of natural light and lower water usage by using low flow toilets and sinks.
 * Chiller, generator, and exhaust air heat recovery: Used to better insulate the building so that the building remains cool throughout the year.
 * Solar Energy: Energy is used as heating for the dehumidification system
 * Wind Turbines: Used for added reliable energy during the night and when weather is overcast.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Hydrogen fuel cells: Used to store the excess energy. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">(Yashaswini, 2011)



<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">The 222 Main office building is a local application of large scale high efficient buildings. Located in downtown Salt Lake City, the 222 Main has incorporated many water reducing technologies into an office building. To reduce water use in the interior of the office building, the building utilizes low flow fixtures.The low flow fixtures reduce water use by 40%. To reduce water use on the exterior of the office building, the building utilizes water efficient landscaping. Non-potable water is used for landscape irrigation. The water efficient landscaping reduces water use by 50%. All of these water reducing technologies have helped the 222 Main office building receive a Gold LEED Certification award (Partners, 2010). These technologies are now being used in more buildings in Utah and other dry areas because it helps lower the water demand on the system.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">As the water, energy, and material continue to increase demands on the system, new ways will need to be developed to create better HEB. Other buildings such as the 222 Main building utilized other high efficient technologies that were expensive. These expensive technologies increased the lease rates for businesses. The high lease rates at 222 Main originally had a hard time attracting business (Partners, 2010). Although other implications may arise from building HEB’s they are a key component to lowering the energy, water, and material demand that is required on the world.

=<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Retrofitting to High Efficiency = <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">HEB integrate different energy reduction technologies during the planning, construction, and operation of the building. Some of the different technologies associated with energy reduction are power generation, light sensors, and insulated windows. New York City just finished retrofitting the Empire State Building into a more energy efficient building. Some of the technologies used to retrofit the building and save energy include the following retrofits (Clinton, 2011). <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Within the first year of operation the Empire State Building exceeded expectations by saving $2.4 million. Not all of these retrofits were complete during the first year of operation. It is expected that when all the retrofits are complete the building will be 38% more energy efficient and save $4.4 million annually. Because of the retrofits, the annual energy costs should decrease from $11.4 million to about $7 million annually. These retrofits make the building more energy efficient (Casey, 2012). Because of the economic benefits more and more buildings are now adding these energy reduction technologies.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Sensors for controlling lighting and air flow.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$1.76 million annual savings
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Power generation and updating control systems
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$1 million annual savings
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Rebuilding the electric chiller plant
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$675 thousand annual savings
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Replacing all 6,514 windows to improve insulation
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$410 thousand annual savings
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Installed barriers behind building’s radiators to prevent heat from escaping.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$190 thousand annual savings
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Tenants are given energy-use benchmarks.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">$396 thousand annual savings

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Works Cited ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Casey, T. (2012, June 4). A Year of Green Progress for the Empire State Building. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from TriplePundit: http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/2-4-million-energy-savings-for-empire-state-building/ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Clinton, B. (2011, June 27). Newsweek. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from Empire State Building Official Site: http://www.esbnyc.com/documents/110627_newsweek.pdf <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Infrastructure, Z. P. (2012). Envision. Washington, DC: Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Partners, H. (2010, November 23). Electronic Tenant Handbook. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from 222 Main: http://www.222main.info/pdf/222Main.pdf <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Reynolds, J. (2012). Earthship Biotechture. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://earthship.com/ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Sarte, S. B. (2010-09-23). Sustainable Infrustructure: Guide to Green Engineering and Design. Kindle Edition: John Wiley and Sons. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">University, S. (2006, Winter). Stanford Green Dorm Feasibility Report. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from Stanford University Green Dorm: http://www.stanford.edu/group/greendorm/greendorm/feasibility_study/GD-minireport_060405_forSCREEN.pdf <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Yashaswini. (2011, October 21). Pearl River Tower. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.iaacblog.com/selfsufficientbuilding/files/2011/01/Yashaswini-Case-studies.pdf