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Laboratory Building Energy Analysis

Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR


Course Outline

This three hour online course discusses energy efficiency strategies included reducing the air flow during unoccupied periods, variable-air-volume systems; lower static pressure drop in the air distribution system; energy recovery by enthalpy wheels, heat pipes, and run-around loops; evaporative cooling; and more accurate accounting for plug loads.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.


Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:


Intended Audience

This course is intended for mechanical engineers.


Benefit for Attendee

Attendee of this course will be able to understand more thoroughly some cost effective ways to reduce energy use and costs in laboratory buildings.


Course Introduction

The source document for this course is an energy analysis that was performed to evaluate selected energy efficiency measures for a generic laboratory building.  Using a computer model, the analysis compared results for a base case laboratory with results for laboratories in four different climates—those of Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, and Seattle.  The analysis focused on efficiency strategies designed to reduce the considerable amount of energy used in ventilating, cooling, and heating laboratory buildings.


Course Content

This course is primarily based on Laboratories For The 21st Century – Energy Analysis Publication DOE/GO-102003-1694 – April 2003:

Laboratory Building Energy Analysis

(http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/33410.pdf)

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

Measured and predicted energy use data from laboratory case studies were used to tune the simulation models.  The simulation models in this study are within 5% of the electricity use measured in the Labs 21 case studies (2001).  Energy efficiency strategies included reducing the air flow during unoccupied periods, a variable-air-volume system; lower static pressure drop in the air distribution system; energy recovery by enthalpy wheels, heat pipes, and run-around loops; evaporative cooling; and more accurate accounting for plug loads.  This study did not address strategies, such as reducing lighting loads and solar heat gain..  This study also did not quantify the impact of high-efficiency equipment such as chillers, boilers, fans, pumps, and motors.


Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

United States Green Building Council – www.usgbc.com
US Department of Energy – www.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory – www.nrel.gov


Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.