ASHRAE Headquarters

Succeeding in Sustainability

ASHRAE Headquarters

40% of all energy in the United States is used by buildings.

Only 2% of building stock is built new each

year.

The greatest opportunity to change energy consumption in

the built environment is through modification of

existing buildings.

In 2005, ASHRAE formed a plan to renew its headquarters building in Atlanta. The project was completed in June 2008:

ASHRAE succeeded in creating a healthy, productive and sustainable building,

ensuring a sustainability showcase for years to come.– 34,000 ft2

– Total cost of 6.2 million

– A- in As Designed category of ASHRAE’s Building Energy Quotient program

– Recipient of ENERGY STAR® – Awarded LEED Platinum in New Construction in

Version 2.2

Building Excellence

Goals of Renewal Deliver a healthy and

productive workplace Demonstrate commitment

to sustainability Create a living lab Provide a learning center

Commitment to Sustainability

The many resource-conserving features of the ASHRAE Headquarters building resulted in tremendous savings:– Total annual water consumption has been reduced by 67%– A 54% reduction in site energy use intensity– Thermal comfort satisfaction improved from 18% to 33%– Indoor air quality satisfaction improved from 26% to 77%

Energy Efficiency

The first floor is conditioned for heating and cooling using a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system with heat recovery. The system includes five inverter driven, outdoor DX heat pumps,

three ductless fan coil units, twenty-one branch selector boxes, and twenty-two ducted fan coil units operating on HFC 410A refrigerant (System Capacity 32 tons (113 KW) total).  

As part of the “living lab” concept, the building uses three separate HVAC systems

Energy Efficiency

The second level is conditioned using fourteen two-stage, 27-EER variable-speed ground-source heat pumps, with

a geothermal field of 12 400-foot-deep wells, and a closed-loop piping system.

As part of the “living lab” concept, the building uses three separate HVAC systems

Energy Efficiency

The pump shown is part of the ground source heat pump system and it helps to harness energy stored

near the surface of the earth to provide high-efficiency heating and

cooling for the 14 individual zones on the

second level.

As part of the “living lab” concept, the building uses three separate HVAC systems

The third system is a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), which provides 6,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of outside air

to the first and second floors for ventilation (30% more than required) and incorporates dual stage air-to-air heat recovery

desiccant heat wheels, variable speed supply and exhaust fans, DX cooling coils and MERV 13 air filters

As part of the “living lab” concept, the building uses three separate HVAC systems

Energy Efficiency

 

Local and centralized control hardware precisely manage the conditioned space allowing for total comfort, energy efficiency, and remote monitoring

Energy Efficiency

A Web-based direct digital control (DDC) system

provides integrated control of HVAC equipment from

multiple manufacturers, maintaining a comfortable,

healthful and energy efficient working

environment.

The parking lot luminaires were updated to reduce light pollution emanating from the site.

 

High-efficiency lighting lowers lighting power use by 25 to 35% and sensors automatically adjust usage based on occupancy

Energy Efficiency

The Building Automation System (BAS) provides a user interface for the living lab project, allowing researchers around the world to monitor performance and extract data for research purposes.

Energy Efficiency

ASHRAE has extensively isolated load types and sub-metered the building so the information can be monitored and used in the future.

ASHRAE used the enhanced commissioning process from ASHRAE Guideline 0 to ensure that the building performs

according to its design.

Renewable EnergyA 20-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel array on the roof produces electricity during daylight hours, which in turn is sold to the local electrical utility at a premium price.

If this power was instead

used to power the building, it is estimated it would offset 8% of the total building load.

Water Efficiency• Annual water consumption has been reduced by 64%

by using high-efficiency low-flow toilets, waterless urinals and solar water preheat of domestic hot water.

• The landscaping has also been configured to eliminate the need for irrigation.

Indoor Environmental QualityBuilding envelope

enhancements allow for increased

daylighting throughout the

building

Indoor Environmental Quality

The building employs low-emitting materials, such as furnishings and carpet, throughout to reduce indoor air

contaminants that are odorous, irritating or harmful to the comfort and well-being of occupants.

Indoor Environmental QualityA comfortable thermal

environment that supports the productivity and well-

being of all building occupants is provided by

adhering to the requirements of ASHRAE

Standard 55.

ReducedEnvironmental Impact

ASHRAE has increased the amount of vegetated open space by 45% above local code requirement to conserve valuable water,

reduce run-off, reduce heat island effects and help provide a more attractive site.

ReducedEnvironmental Impact

The heat island effect from the roof and parking lot have been reduced using a cool white reflective roof membrane with a

solar reflectance index (SRI) of 78 and a protective crust over half of the parking lot pavement with a SRI of 32.

.

ReducedEnvironmental Impact

Site runoff has been reduced by 34% and the rate of runoff by 30%. Runoff water is reduced by the green roof areas and

naturally filtered of pollutants a bioswale system, which gradually releases water back into the storm water system

to prevent overload.

Reduced Environmental Impact

ASHRAE is demonstrating how to extend the lifecycle of existing buildings, conserve resources, and reduce waste by

retaining more than 90% of the original structure and envelope.

ASHRAE protected the environment during the renovation process:– Diverted more than 90% of the construction waste

away from landfills and incinerators – 22% of total value of project materials made from

recycled content – Selected refrigerants and HVAC&R systems to

minimize ozone depletion and global warming 

Reduced Environmental Impact

TransportationASHRAE is actively encouraging alternative and fuel-efficient transportation means for its staff and guests:– on-site bike storage,

showers and changing rooms

– dedicated parking for low-emitting & fuel-efficient vehicles

– more than 5% of parking spaces reserved for carpools

• Energy efficiency: Standard 90.1-2004 • Thermal comfort: Standard 55-2004• Ventilation: Standard 62.1-2004• Energy in existing buildings: Standard 100-

2006 • Commissioning: Guideline 0-2005 • HVAC&R system commissioning: Guideline

1-2006

ASHRAE Guidance Followed

Thank You!

• ASHRAE Foundation• Automated Logic Corp.• ClimateMaster• Daikin• Georgia Power/Southern

Company• Trane

• Aircuity• Interface FLOR

• Mark Brandli, design principal/Richard Wittshiebe Hand

• Commissioning & Green Building Solutions (CxGBS) Inc.

• Dynamic Air Quality Solutions• EBTRON Inc. • Bill and Margaret Harrison• Northwrite• PolyCon• Thermal Gas Systems Inc.• U.S. Green Building Council

ASHRAE would like to thank the following companies and individuals who helped make this project possible