High performance Strategies to improve Albertus Magnus Bldg.

HVAC Systems:
1. Centralized Air Conditioning System One major improvement of the building can come from the replacement of it individual window AC units, to a more energy efficient Centralized Solar Air Conditioning. Centralized air conditioning systems have a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) compared to individual window units. The application of a Centralized AC unit would mean a faster means of humidifying an enclosed, space and the lessening and eliminating of the problems that arise from window units such as noise pollution, classroom disruption and natural light obstruction. a.) Centralized Solar Air Conditioning Technology - Solar air conditioning units harness the power of the sun to gather and store energy, for the process needed to humidify the air quality of a space. Basically this technology uses electrical energy from photovoltaic cells to power the air conditioning system, thus making it highly sustainable. Solar air conditioning units offer environmental benefits including lower grid demand and load shifting during peak usage, reduced electricity costs, fewer power outages, off-the-grid capabilities and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Solar air conditioning units come in two basic types: hybrids and chillers: A hybrid system combines photovoltaic technology (PV) with direct current (DC). It automatically switches between solar and battery power as needed. When it's set to hybrid mode, these systems charge their batteries when the sun is shining; when it isn't, the system runs on battery backup while charging its batteries via alternating current (AC) power. Solar-powered absorption chillers, also known as evaporative coolers, work by heating and cooling water through evaporation and condensation. Chillers cool the air by blowing it over watersaturated material -- solar energy is used to power the fan and motor. 2. Displacement Ventilation Is a room air distribution strategy where conditioned outdoor air is supplied at floor level and extracted above the occupied zone, usually at ceiling height. supplies conditioned cool air from an air handling unit (AHU) through a low induction diffuser. The cool air spreads through the floor of the space and then rises as the air warms due to heat exchange with heat sources in the space (e.g., occupants, computers, lights). The warmer air has a lower density than the cool air, and thus creates upward convective flows known as thermal plumes. The warm air then exits the zone at the ceiling height of the room. Diffuser types vary by application. Diffusers can be located against

a wall (wall-mounted), at the corner of a room (corner-mounted), or above the floor but not against a wall (free-standing) The goal of these systems is not to cool the space, but to cool the occupants. Cool air flows along the floor until it finds warm bodies. As the air is warmed, it rises around occupants, bathing them in cool fresh air. Air quality improves because contaminants from occupants and other sources tend to rise out of the breathing zone rather than being mixed in the space. Similarly, cooling loads decrease because much of the heat generated by occupants and equipment rises out of the occupied zone and is exhausted from the space.

Lighting Systems:
Another aspect the Albertus Magnus Building could improve on is its lighting. Although the building has some well lighted spaces, it has many darker spots and the majority of the rooms commit to active energy usage. Particularly the lighting wherein classrooms, during day time, still use artificial lighting rather than using natural light coming from the windows, thus not making it very energy efficient. The windows are mostly covered by blinds and/or shades so that there would not be a concentration of heat and glare in the rooms. A good way to solve this problem is to implement a lighting systems and technologies that will help make the building more energy efficient. 1. Low E Glass Windows Low-emissivity glass (or low-e glass as it is commonly referred to) is a type of energyefficient glass designed to prevent heat from entering and escaping through the windows. Low E windows retain the temperature within a room by reflecting heating agents from the rays of the sun. These glass windows have coatings that reflect radiant infrared energy, thus tending to keep radiant heat on the same side of the glass from which it originated, while letting visible light pass. This results in more efficient windows because radiant heat originating from indoors in winter is reflected back inside, while infrared heat radiation from the sun during summer is reflected away, keeping it cooler inside. Glass can be made with differing thermal emission ratings, but this is not used for windows. Certain properties such as the iron content may be controlled, changing the thermal emissivity properties of glass. This is "naturally" low thermal emissivity, found in some formulations of borosilicate or Pyrex. Naturally low-e glass does not have the property of reflecting near infrared (NIR)/thermal radiation, instead this type of glass has higher NIR transmission, leading to undesirable heat loss (or gain) in a building window. 2. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is a fluorescent light bulb that has been compressed into the size of a standard-issue incandescent light bulb. Modern CFLs typically last at least six times as long and use at most a quarter of the power of

an equivalent incandescent bulb. CFL's are the replacement bulbs for incandescent bulbs for its high energy efficiency workability. An incandescent bulb that uses 75 watts can be replaced with a CFL bulb that only uses 20 watts. CFL's have a long life span from about 8000- 15000 hours, compared to 1000 hours that an incandescent bulb has. Each CFL over the course of its life saves 450 pounds of carbon from being produced. This is a powerful savings considering that the average home has between 30-50 sockets, according to the EPA. If only thirty sockets were replaced with CFLs that would be a savings of 13,500 pounds or 6.75 tons of carbon. The average small car uses 3.55 tons of carbon per year, changing your light bulbs would be like almost taking two small cars off the road for a year. Replacing one incandescent bulb with one CFL bulb keeps 450 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in America used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average-sized power plants, reducing CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide, and high-level nuclear waste. CFLs do contain 5 milligrams of mercury according to the EPA. The mercury is used to make the CFLs more energy efficient, but can be harmful if released into the environment. CFLs actually reduce mercury because mercury is a byproduct of power generation. Since less power is needed for CFLs the total mercury is less then, if an old incandescent light bulb was used.

Rainwater and usage:

harvesting

- Another strategy to make the Albertus Magnus Building a High Performance building is to implement a rain harvesting system that supports the potable and clean water needs of the structure. The relevance of storing water for functional purposes related to the operations of the building are as follows: Rainwater is an economical alternative to public water, especially for exterior water uses such as landscape irrigation that require minimal filtration. Although initial equipment installation can be significant, long-term costs are minimal. Rainwater can supplement limited ground water resources. With reduced extraction rates, low-yield ground water wells and springs can last indefinitely. Rainwater can also supplement surface water resources threatened by rapidly growing municipal water use. Rainwater collection could significantly reduce water extraction rates from rivers during critical summer months, ensuring adequate water remains to support native ecosystems. Rainwater can be used as the alternative water supply for building operations such as flushing, irrigation and sanitation. Also it could be used in maintaining the building with its surroundings such as landscaping and cleaning. Rainwater is not regulated by municipal water restrictions. During periods of drought, rain water can protect investments in landscaping, garden ponds, and swimming pools. MECHANICS OF COLLECTING RAINWATER FROM ROOFS: Its possible to collect rainwater from roofs, parking areas, pavement, lawns, and almost any other surface, but roofs typically yield the

best quality water at the lowest cost. The type of roof surface is of little consequence when rainwater is collected for irrigation or other exterior water uses, but when rainwater is collected for interior water uses, it is preferable to use relatively inert materials such as painted metal, terra cotta tile, cement tile, stone, and elastomeric membranes instead of composite shingles, bituminous membranes, and asphalt coatings. However, rooftop debris usually poses a greater water-quality problem than the roofing material, and water from any roof can be treated to drinking-water quality without great expense. Gutter and downspout sizing for rainwater collection can follow standard practice, although it is preferable to be somewhat conservative to minimize the potential for overflow due to improper installation or settling. Gutter cap systems can be used to reduce the maintenance of pre-filters, but should not be considered as substitutes for pre-filters. Rainwater systems are most economical when all the rainwater is conveyed to a central site for prefiltration, storage, and pumping. Piping should be sized using conventional stormwater practice which means 4 pipe will suffice for most residential systems but 6 or larger pipe will be required for most commercial systems. A pitch of one-eighth to one-quarter inch per foot is recommended, but this sometimes poses a design challenge because the allowable burial depths of pre-filters and underground tanks are limited. Pipe connections should be watertight to prevent both water loss and infiltration.