Systems Approach to Improved Facility Energy Performance
EW-201150
Objective
The objective of this project is to demonstrate a systems integration approach to building retrofits which will reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability in an existing barracks at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Three complementary high performance building systems will be integrated into the retrofit design of the barracks facility. The intended result is that the facility will be more energy efficient and will provide the occupants with a more comfortable, healthy, and mold/mildew-free environment than would be realized using conventional retrofit approaches. If successful, the documented approach and lessons learned will be applicable to many other new and existing buildings throughout the Department of Defense (DoD).
Technical Approach
The project will demonstrate an integrated retrofit that incorporates building envelope requirements with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) and radiant heating and cooling to achieve 20% more reductions in heating and cooling energy compared to standard renovations. Higher quality, liquid applied air and moisture barrier materials will replace building envelope materials currently specified for the Barracks Upgrade Program. These improved materials, combined with careful attention to envelope construction details, will achieve a significantly tighter building envelope, a reduction of unconditioned air and moisture infiltration, and a smaller heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) load.
Diminished air and moisture infiltration also will enable downsizing of the DOAS system. The downsized DOAS unit will include total energy recovery, which will significantly reduce the energy requirements as compared to that of the DOAS currently installed. Finally, good interior humidity control will enable replacing the fan coil units with radiant heating and cooling systems, which will reduce energy consumption further.
Benefits
The integrated retrofit approach is expected to reduce the heating and cooling energy by 10% compared to a standard retrofit. This results in annual energy savings of approximately $65 K per building. The integrated system will be simpler and more easily maintained than the systems currently being installed. Overall, the system will maintain occupant comfort, minimize the risk of mold and mildew problems, and reduce facility energy usage and maintenance costs. The approach is expected to achieve a simple payback of approximately six years and a savings-to-investment ratio of 1.5 over 10 years and 2.5 over 20 years.
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Mr. James Miller
U.S. Army ERDC-CERL
Phone: 217-373-4566
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.