Initial Building A Form

Project A Refined Building Shape Study

The initial building shape study (Shape Study 2) has been refined to incorporate basic daylighting controls into the base case model. All other model definitions of the initial study remain the same. The addition of daylighting controls will provide further insight into the effect of building shape on overall building performance. The results of this study are reported according to predicted site and source energy use. 

Project A Initial Building Shape Study

We have used eQUEST to make initial inquiries (Shape Study 2) into appropriate energy-efficient building configurations. Starting with an absolutely "dumb" square box basic information has been used to define the initial base case:

1. 5000 sqft office/warehouse building

- Office-1800 sqft (40%)

- Warehouse-3000 sqft (56%)

- Restrooms-200 sqft (4%)

2. Phoenix, AZ TYM2 weather data location

3. HVAC-DX coils with natural gas furnace

4. No daylighting

5. Square footprint (70.7ft x 70.7ft)

6. Perimeter zone depth - 15ft

7. Floor to floor height - 17ft

8. Metal frame construction (R19 insulation)

9. One door on each facade

10. Double pane clear glazing with aluminum frames (without thermal breaks)

11. Window to wall ratios

- North/South - 32.6%

- East/West - 10%

12. No exterior window shades

13. Building operates 7 days/week from 7am to 4pm

Based on the above described base case a number of different building configurations have been parametrically modeled in eQUEST using the EEM wizard. The results of this shape study have been summarized according to predicted site and source energy use.

Energy Star Benchmarking - Project A

This information is for reference only due to certain limiting factors inherent in the Target Finder benchmarking system. This is because Target Finder in it current form is geared to handle office and warehouse buildings larger than the 5000 sqft (Project A) building.

Initially we did not understand that Target Finder was geared to relatively large (5000 sqft or larger) office/warehouse structures. This represents a major limitation of the usefulness of Target Finder to us in this particular project. Because our buildings are smaller than Target Finder allows, the accuracy of its results are questionable. For these reasons, we will use our eQUEST energy models for any further benchmarking activities.

APS EPR-5 Pilot Program and Rate Structure

Grid electric power supplied by APS

This facility will fall under the APS E-32 rate schedule.

We plan to take advantage of the APS EPR-5 pilot program which allows net metering for on-site renewable power generation.

Codes, Codes, and more Codes

SRP or APS

APS in White
SRP in Gray

Our site is APS Electric

Get With The Program

Building A Programing

Square Footage: 4000-5000

General:
North side, Large windows, entrance
East side, large entrance, capable of fire truck access
South side, windows
West side, solid with smaller entrance
Maintain language with other fire department training buildings

Algae Processing, in order of operation

Outside:
-Harvesting of algae from trenches
-Initial water extraction

Indoors:
-Drying (approximate size 5’x20’ 200 sqft)
-Pressing (approximate area 1000 sqft)
-Holding Tanks (approximate 160 sqft)
-Oil separator (approximate 80 sqft)
-Separate holding tanks for separated liquids (200 sqft)

Outside:
-Biodiesel storage tanks
-Biodiesel pump

Other indoor functions:
-Office/testing/research space (approximate 1500 sqft)
-Storage space (approximate 500 sqft)
-Bathrooms/showers/lockers (approximate 120 sqft)
-Circulation space (as needed for production)



Algae Biodiesel


Algae drying equipment


Close up of algae dryer


Press set up for large volume Biodiesel production, much larger than we will be doing in this facility but it gives you the idea.


Press for removing lipids from Algae

Holding tanks for pressed Algae lipids


Oil separator and holding tanks for separated liquids

Nice retro gas pump with Biodiesel logo


This is an schematic of a Biodiesel plant. Obviously its for a much larger production facility but our smaller facility will have many of the same parts.

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