Super-efficient buildings: How low can you go?
- Marbek Resource Consultants, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
Trends and activities such as Demand Side Management programs (DSM), environmental awareness, the introduction of Total Quality Management (TQM), the Green Building Movement and Process Re-Engineering are changing the way buildings are being built. As a result of these forces of change, a number of designers, utilities and government agencies have initiated programs to establish the ultimate efficiency levels that can be achieved in new commercial construction through application of Whole Building or Integrated Design Approach (IDA). The concept of an integrated design approach to achieve super-efficient designs is not complex or expensive if done correctly. It does not require new sophisticated methods or techniques. The process is a back to basics approach that requires team work and integration of the architectural design with mechanical systems. The main objective is to optimize the design of the building by minimizing the loads and equipment size, as well as selecting the equipment with the highest available efficiency and finally, perform proper building commissioning to ensure that equipment and systems operate as originally intended. Here, the author reviews and describes the current programs, efforts and the concept of IDA, and looks at a hypothetical new high-rise office building and how a super-efficient design can be achieved.
- OSTI ID:
- 488904
- Journal Information:
- ASHRAE Journal, Journal Name: ASHRAE Journal Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 38; ISSN ASHRAA; ISSN 0001-2491
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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