A New Paradigm: High Performance Integrated Systems

A primary example of the integrated approach employed by this collaborative process is the utilization of a raised floor system for the project. The raised floor application represents a new paradigm for HVAC and electrical/lighting/teledata systems design: in addition to maximizing electrical/teledata flexibility with state-of-the-art quick-release cabling and floor boxes, the cavity between the structural slab and the raised floor plane creates a supply air plenum. Relocatable floor-mounted diffusers are provided in every workspace allowing for individual air volume, hence, temperature control. Furthermore, these "Krantz" diffusers are designed to provide an air flow which stratifies cool/warm air at around 6’-6" above the finished floor. Since primary energy demand is in cooling mode, the ambient supply air temperature can be increased by approximately 5º, thereby reducing chiller size. Furthermore, the control of air volume at diffusers in each work station allows for supply to be a constant temperature/constant volume system, thereby eliminating the complexities and inefficiencies of variable air volume (VAV) units and fan systems while providing individual control of thermal comfort to each occupant. Also, since the entire floor cavity acts as a supply plenum, horizontal duct runs are eliminated. Zoning occurs at the building perimeter simply by installing break-metal dividers along the 2’-0" X 2’-0" grid of the floor’s support system. Since the building was planned around modular furniture components with aisles along perimeter walls, no work stations are subjected to the fluctuating temperatures of the perimeter "air envelope."

The ceiling now becomes free of supply air diffusers and encloses a ductless return air plenum. More importantly, this uninterrupted ceiling plane acts as a reflecting surface for pendant mounted indirect illumination, a system of split task/ambient lighting. By utilizing state-of-the-art high reflectance ceiling tiles, ambient lighting can be reduced from the originally specified 100 foot-candles at the work surface to only 30 foot-candles. Accordingly, the number of required light fixtures is significantly reduced, thereby reducing electrical energy consumption due to lighting by 50%. Furthermore, the heat load generated by these lights is also decreased, which in turn further reduces required chiller capacity. Indeed, according to DOE-2 (Department of Energy) computer simulations, lighting-generated BTU’s can be reduced by more than 50%. Task lighting is provided at the work surfaces and is controlled by motion sensors to further reduce energy consumption during periods when spaces are unoccupied. As a result, these integrated technologies also provide dramatically improved light and air quality. This translates directly into highly positive impacts on the comfort and productivity of office workers while simultaneously and dramatically reducing energy consumption. Clearly, the integration of these systems could not have occurred without the collaborative process discussed above.

A brief synopsis of other notable components and attributes of the project’s high-performance integrated systems design includes:

• A gas-fired absorption chiller with no compressors and no ozone-depleting refrigerants.
• The raised floor air plenum reduces ceiling cavity depth by eliminating duct/piping conflicts with structural components, thereby allowing for a more comfortable 9’-0" ceiling height with increasing the building’s enclosed volume.
• Engelhard/ICC Desiccant wheels are installed at the air handlers for dehumidification and humidification recovery; these eliminate the need for energy-hungry inefficient humidification control systems and displace 25 tons of latent cooling load.
• Argon filled low-emissivity glass is utilized at windows to augment insulating capacity.
• T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts and strategically located motion sensor switching in conference rooms, toilet rooms, and all workstations reduce electrical power consumption.
• Solar orientation of the building’s form reduces heat gain and augments natural illumination of interior spaces. This is further enhanced by a combination of solar shades and south facing "light shelves", depicted in the photo below, which shade summer sun and bounce natural light across the ceiling plane deeper into open office spaces.
• Armstrong high reflectance ceiling tiles, 10% more reflective than conventional ceiling tiles, augment indirect illumination and natural daylighting from the light shelves, while also providing improved acoustical qualities through greater sound absorption and attenuation properties.
• The Atlantic raised access flooring system with Interface carpet tiles maximizes flexibility by providing relocatable, quick-disconnect floor mounted electrical/teledata boxes with easy access to power and teledata distribution cables beneath.
• AMP Inc. (Access Floor Workstation Modules): Located at each workstation, work area, and in each office, these state-of-the-art floor-mounted boxes consolidate power, voice and data into a single access point and include quick disconnect manufactured cabling for maximum flexibility. AMP pioneered this technology and in March, 1998 received the electronics industry’s nationwide top Corporate Award for Environmental Progress.
• Ledalite PerfForm indirect lighting fixtures eliminate reflected glare on computer monitors, thereby diminishing eye strain.
• The split task/ambient lighting scheme in conjunction with natural daylighting, reduces typical office building electrical lighting load by over 50% to a target of 0.85 watts/SF.

Finally, annual energy costs for this project were examined and modeled by DOE-2 computer simulations; these simulations analyzed various alternatives and their combinations throughout the design process. The resulting integrated design of the components discussed above, according to these simulations, reduces annual energy costs for this project from $1.54 per square foot (as modeled for conventional construction) to $0.74 per square foot; this equates to an annual energy cost savings of over 50%.

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A primary example of the integrated approach employed by this collaborative process is the utilization of a raised floor system for the project. The raised floor application represents a new paradigm for HVAC and electrical/lighting/teledata systems design: in addition to maximizing electrical/teledata flexibility with state-of-the-art quick-release cabling and floor boxes, the cavity between the structural slab and the raised floor plane creates a supply air plenum. Relocatable floor-mounted diffusers are provided in every workspace allowing for individual air volume, hence, temperature control. Furthermore, these "Krantz" diffusers are designed to provide an air flow which stratifies cool/warm air at around 6’-6" above the finished floor. Since primary energy demand is in cooling mode, the ambient supply air temperature can be increased by approximately 5º, thereby reducing chiller size. Furthermore, the control of air volume at diffusers in each work station allows for supply to be a constant temperature/constant volume system, thereby eliminating the complexities and inefficiencies of variable air volume (VAV) units and fan systems while providing individual control of thermal comfort to each occupant. Also, since the entire floor cavity acts as a supply plenum, horizontal duct runs are eliminated. Zoning occurs at the building perimeter simply by installing break-metal dividers along the 2’-0" X 2’-0" grid of the floor’s support system. Since the building was planned around modular furniture components with aisles along perimeter walls, no work stations are subjected to the fluctuating temperatures of the perimeter "air envelope."

The ceiling now becomes free of supply air diffusers and encloses a ductless return air plenum. More importantly, this uninterrupted ceiling plane acts as a reflecting surface for pendant mounted indirect illumination, a system of split task/ambient lighting. By utilizing state-of-the-art high reflectance ceiling tiles, ambient lighting can be reduced from the originally specified 100 foot-candles at the work surface to only 30 foot-candles. Accordingly, the number of required light fixtures is significantly reduced, thereby reducing electrical energy consumption due to lighting by 50%. Furthermore, the heat load generated by these lights is also decreased, which in turn further reduces required chiller capacity. Indeed, according to DOE-2 (Department of Energy) computer simulations, lighting-generated BTU’s can be reduced by more than 50%. Task lighting is provided at the work surfaces and is controlled by motion sensors to further reduce energy consumption during periods when spaces are unoccupied. As a result, these integrated technologies also provide dramatically improved light and air quality. This translates directly into highly positive impacts on the comfort and productivity of office workers while simultaneously and dramatically reducing energy consumption. Clearly, the integration of these systems could not have occurred without the collaborative process discussed above.

A brief synopsis of other notable components and attributes of the project’s high-performance integrated systems design includes:

• A gas-fired absorption chiller with no compressors and no ozone-depleting refrigerants.
• The raised floor air plenum reduces ceiling cavity depth by eliminating duct/piping conflicts with structural components, thereby allowing for a more comfortable 9’-0" ceiling height with increasing the building’s enclosed volume.
• Engelhard/ICC Desiccant wheels are installed at the air handlers for dehumidification and humidification recovery; these eliminate the need for energy-hungry inefficient humidification control systems and displace 25 tons of latent cooling load.
• Argon filled low-emissivity glass is utilized at windows to augment insulating capacity.
• T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts and strategically located motion sensor switching in conference rooms, toilet rooms, and all workstations reduce electrical power consumption.
• Solar orientation of the building’s form reduces heat gain and augments natural illumination of interior spaces. This is further enhanced by a combination of solar shades and south facing "light shelves", depicted in the photo below, which shade summer sun and bounce natural light across the ceiling plane deeper into open office spaces.
• Armstrong high reflectance ceiling tiles, 10% more reflective than conventional ceiling tiles, augment indirect illumination and natural daylighting from the light shelves, while also providing improved acoustical qualities through greater sound absorption and attenuation properties.
• The Atlantic raised access flooring system with Interface carpet tiles maximizes flexibility by providing relocatable, quick-disconnect floor mounted electrical/teledata boxes with easy access to power and teledata distribution cables beneath.
• AMP Inc. (Access Floor Workstation Modules): Located at each workstation, work area, and in each office, these state-of-the-art floor-mounted boxes consolidate power, voice and data into a single access point and include quick disconnect manufactured cabling for maximum flexibility. AMP pioneered this technology and in March, 1998 received the electronics industry’s nationwide top Corporate Award for Environmental Progress.
• Ledalite PerfForm indirect lighting fixtures eliminate reflected glare on computer monitors, thereby diminishing eye strain.
• The split task/ambient lighting scheme in conjunction with natural daylighting, reduces typical office building electrical lighting load by over 50% to a target of 0.85 watts/SF.

Finally, annual energy costs for this project were examined and modeled by DOE-2 computer simulations; these simulations analyzed various alternatives and their combinations throughout the design process. The resulting integrated design of the components discussed above, according to these simulations, reduces annual energy costs for this project from $1.54 per square foot (as modeled for conventional construction) to $0.74 per square foot; this equates to an annual energy cost savings of over 50%.

Return to "Pennsylvania's First Green Building"