energy design resources design brief IMPROVING MECHANICAL SYSTEM ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER COORDINATION Summary Technological advances and economic pressure frequently join Tight design timelines can compromise the design team s forces to reduce the design and construction time for building ability to consider factors like life projects Narrowing the design window places intense pressure cycle cost distribution efficiency on the design team to produce construction documents as access quickly as possible As a result other factors like life cycle maintainability and system integration cost distribution efficiency access maintainability and system integration may not receive a thorough evaluation to provide contents the best overall solution to the design problem Who Should Read This Brief Failing to take these factors into account during the early stages of design can have long term negative impacts on the efficiency 2 Introduction to Integrated Design 2 of a building and its systems For example a constricted Early Design Planning Budgets and Efficiency 6 mechanical space will probably remain constricted for the life of Get Things Right on Paper 7 the building compromising the efficiency and maintainability of Understand and Estimate the Loads 8 years to come Correcting such a problem subsequent to Consider Psychrometrics 13 construction may be an economic and practical impossibility Understand the Architectural and Owner Requirements 13 the machinery and eroding the building s operating budget for while preventing it during early phases of design may have little first cost implication and yield substantial ongoing benefits Develop a System Configuration to Handle to Load 17 This design brief explores techniques that use the fuzzy Make Preliminary Equipment Selections 18 Identify Energy Efficiency Opportunities 24 Evaluate the System s Utility Requirements 26 Evaluate System s Physical Space Requirements 29 cycle cost profiles for consideration Assess Constructability and Sequencing 34 Ensure that the architectural elements of the building are Develop a System Operating Narrative and Points List 34 Right size building systems from the very start improving Identify Areas Where Detailing Will Be Important 36 energy efficiency as well as first cost Develop or Reassess Budgets 41 Conclusion 42 Notes and References 43 information available during schematic design as a foundation for establishing a project s design intent and making good longterm mechanical and electrical systems decisions Properly applied they allow the mechanical designer to Suggest more efficient system alternatives with better life configured to promote distribution system efficiency Coordinate with other team members to capture the additional savings that ripple out of these decisions Who Should Read this Brief This brief is targeted at HVAC designers Those new to the field will find that it outlines an approach to the design development process that includes an efficiency focus from the start and provides a firm foundation to carry the design successfully into contract documents construction and operation Experienced designers may find ideas that they can use to enhance the process they already have in place The brief may also be of interest to architects engineers in other disciplines owners and facilities personnel because it will provide insights into the interrelationships between their particular area of interest and HVAC systems Thus it will help them understand how their participation in an integrated approach to design and operation will provide persistent benefits in terms of efficiency and performance Introduction to Integrated Design The purpose of this design brief is to help HVAC designers optimize building systems and improve their integration with the overall building design right from the very start It may seem like the information available during schematics and design development lacks the details necessary to make firm HVAC design decisions However in many cases it is possible to come remarkably close to the final design requirements based on past experience and industry data tempered by available information The HVAC designer s participation in schematics and early design development frequently results in more efficient systems that are better integrated with the overall project requirements a definite benefit to all parties Modern buildings contain a vast array of highly specialized components from a variety of manufacturers all assembled into one interactive structure that aims to meet the needs of its owner Because these many components are physically connected or at least in close proximity they will each interact with one other and the surrounding environment For example the performance of a fan must be considered in the context of the duct system it serves including the impact of the filters heat PAGE 2 IMPROVING MECHANICAL SYSTEM ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER COORDINATION transfer elements economizer dampers terminal unit regulators and the integrity of the building envelope in the area it serves The integrity of the building envelope will dictate the performance requirements necessary for some of the air handling unit components The dimensions imposed on the duct system by the building structure will influence the performance parameters required from the fan to meet its design objective By changing one piece of the puzzle the designer impacts the entire system triggering changes elsewhere Thus integrated design1 and the system concept2 are important parts of any successful design process Integrated design and the system concept both address the interactions of various building elements and systems in order to optimize overall design When abiding by these design practices HVAC engineers don t simply design or select an airhandling unit They design an air handling system of which the air handling unit is an integral component along with its ducts terminal equipment return and exhaust fans control system and the building envelope and structure Similarly the architectural team doesn t design a skylight They design a daylighting system of which the skylight is a key component along with the building envelope and structure the building s orientation on the site lighting fixtures the lighting control system and perimeter and ceiling mounted HVAC equipment As an HVAC designer it is important to remember that for most owners and architects the HVAC
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