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PROVI DI NG EFFECTI VE ENERGY STRATEGI ES FOR PUBLI C AND PRI VATE BUI LDI NGS I N I LLI NOI S

SMART ENERGY DESIGN ASSISTANCE CENTER


ENERGY SMART TIPS SEDAC
The Smart Energy Design Assistance Center performs energy assessments on various building types. Each building type has
diferent energy requirements. SEDACs Energy Smart Tips help building operators identify energy cost reduction measures.
Consider the efect on the bottom
line of saving a third of a buildings
utility costs. Most buildings use 10%
to 30% more energy than necessary
and have major opportunities to save.
Energy savings of 30% are attainable
with a comprehensive approach to
operations, maintenance, repairs.
High-rise buildings typically serve a
handful of purposes: Condominiums,
hotels, ofces, retail spaces, parking, or
a mix of these functions. With height
comes energy intensive processes
such as air conditioning the core of
the building year round, elevatoring,
and pumping potable water up the
building. In addition, each functional
type has several unique energy
challenges. Many typical energy cost-
saving upgrades for low-rise buildings
can be used on high-rises. High-rise
specifc techniques are also available.
Choices made by building operators
play a large role in the cost of running
a building: Efective control of energy
costs depends on good decisions
about the operation of existing
systems as well as regular physical
maintenance and repairs. A major
benchmarking study in New York
showed variations of 20%-30% in
energy usage between physically and
functionally similar high-rises that
were diferently operated.
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This brochure discusses the most
common energy-wasters found
in high-rise buildings as well as a
selection of well-established and
innovative ways to fx them through
upgrades and repairs to mechanical
systems, ventilation systems, lighting,
and the building envelope. It also
identifes resources to help owners
and operators save money.
For personalized help with your
building, contact SEDAC directly.
At SEDAC, we can recommend the
right energy saving options for your
particular building. We can assist in
comparing projects for their return
on investment and payback periods.
Some options are so efective they
can have paybacks of less than 1 year.
We can also identify incentive funding
to shorten the payback of other
benefcial projects for your building.
1
http://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2010/
data/papers/1998.pdf
High-Rise Building Systems
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Old and inefcient boilers and chillers are common
culprits in building energy waste. The fans, motors, and
pumps that run distribution systems are also guilty;
SEDAC often fnds this equipment running constantly,
even when there is no need. An unscheduled or poorly
programmed building automation system (BAS) can also
undermine eforts to reduce energy costs.
BOILERS
Before an existing boiler system
reaches the end of its useful life,
take the time to assess a high-
efciency replacement. Incentives
are available to help cover the
incremental costs of high-efciency
systems - but they are only available
if you are replacing a working boiler! Your options will be
more limited if you wait until the boilers fail.
Consider switching to a modular system if your building
is currently heated by one or two very large boilers. In a
modular system, a series of smaller boilers is installed. A
modular system more efciently handles heating loads
in non-peak load conditions, which make up most of the
CHILLERS and COOLING TOWERS
Cooling accounts for a large
percentage of the energy costs of tall
buildings; many require cooling year-
round. High efciency chillers can
make a huge diference in operating
costs. New chillers can range in
efciency from as low as 1.25 kW/ton to as high as 0.38
kW/ton. In other words, buying low-end equipment can
lead to operating costs that are 250% higher than if you
had purchased high efciency equipment!
2
Also consider
a series of modular chillers when looking at replacement
of a large chiller. These small units can ft in a freight
elevator and are easier to maintain and replace.
Next, look for cost savings in the operation of your
equipment. Similar to heating, the basics of managing
cooling costs with controls and operational changes starts
with turning equipment of when not needed, followed
by fnding optimum operating temperatures.
A thorough analysis of the cooling loads, optimum chiller
sequencing, and loading schedule will provide the basis
for chiller plant improvements. Installing automatic chiller
scheduling controls will allow the building operators to
minimize chiller plant operating costs and shut down the
chiller plant when there is no cooling load.
Once the operating schedules are optimized, consider
automatic chilled water outdoor air reset controls. These
controls, like boiler controls, adjust the water temperature
based outside temperature, and save energy costs during
milder weather.
Cooling towers are a fnal piece of the chiller plant that
should be improved. Water conservation means energy
savings, so it makes sense to look into retroft kits.
2
www.progress-energy.com/assets/www/docs/business/chiller-fact-sheet-052005.pdf
FANS, PUMPS, & COMPRESSORS: VFDs
Motors that run fans, pumps, and
compressors are found throughout your
buildings HVAC systems. These motors
are a common culprit in wasting energy
because they operate at a constant speed
regardless of the needs of the system.
Throttling devices like control valves and outlet dampers
are sometimes used, but these are both expensive and
wasteful.
A much better solution exists; control devices called
Variable Frequency Drives are very efective at reducing
motor waste. VFDs are quite economical as well and tend
to have quick paybacks for motors larger than 5-10 hp
that operate 2,000 hours or more annually.
VFDs can be installed in many locations in an HVAC
system. Some popular choices for saving energy are:
Chilled water pump motors
Air handling unit (AHU) fan motors
Cooling tower fan motors
Hot water boiler pumps
Exhaust fans
heating season. This technique can save 5%-7.5% of the
boilers annual gas usage.

Upgraded boiler controls and accessories are another
great way to save energy costs. Outdoor air reset controls
(to reduce water temperatures); oxygen trim controls (to
improve combustion efciency); and stack economizers
(to capture waste heat) are all efective at improving the
impact of your energy dollars.
Steam trap maintenance and regular boiler tune-ups are
often ignored, but ofer simple and efective cost savings.
There are great incentives available for these solutions.
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
LIGHTING VENTILATION
Lighting is one of the simplest places to start cutting
energy costs in your building. There are two main
ofenders: Inefcient lamps (like T12 fuorescents)
and leaving lights on unnecessarily.
LIGHTING CONTROLS
Lights can be switched of by occupancy sensors,
vacancy sensors, daylighting sensors, timers, BAS
controls, and conscientious people. Check the back
page for Behavior Change Tips.
Daylighting sensors can control the perimeter
spaces in a high-rise, while allowing the interior
spaces to be artifcially lit. Occupancy and vacancy
sensors are perfect for spaces like ofces, conference
rooms, storage areas, and restrooms. In stairwells
and hallways, consider bi-level lighting controlled
by occupancy sensors that reduce light levels when
nobody is around.
DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION
CO
2
sensors tied to the ventilation system are a
great way to save energy costs. When people are
present and producing CO
2
, ventilation is provided in
accordance with occupancy levels. When CO
2
levels
are low, ventilation levels can be lowered.
ENVELOPE
High-rise walls and windows have a few places
where energy dollars often leak out. These include
air leaks as well as gaps in insulation. If the doors in
your building are hard to open (or wont stay closed),
uncontrolled stack efect (hot air rising and escaping
out leaks in the top of the building) may be to blame
and wasting money as well.
ENVELOPE UPGRADES
Air sealing is a simple, efective place to save energy
dollars. Focus on leaks at the bottom and top of the
building to limit the stack efect, as well as air sealing
vestibules, elevators, stairwells, and rooftop access.
If insulation is missing behind baseboard heaters and
radiators, the problem is simple to fx with a refective
insulating layer. Window replacement in a high-rise is
costly, but there are low-e flms, shades, and ways to
add panes of glass from the inside (without removing
original windows) that are worth consideration.
Constant volume ventilation and exhaust systems are
an easily overlooked cause of building energy waste.
Providing fresh air to people and venting stale air is a
necessity - but it should be done judiciously.
EXHAUST MODULATION
Constant volume exhaust fans from kitchens and
bathrooms can waste huge volumes of conditioned
air when allowed to operate regardless of need. Save
heating and cooling dollars in your residential high-
rise by linking exhaust dampers to the light switch or
occupancy sensors in kitchens and bathrooms. VFD
drives then modulate air fow based on static pressure
in the exhaust stack.
LIGHTING RETROFITS
Two obvious cost savers: Replace both
incandescents and out-of-production T12
linear fuorescents with more efcient lamps
and ballasts. A lighting retroft starts with
a survey of existing lighting; this inventory
makes it possible to apply for incentives for
retrofts. Then, a lighting expert can design
replacements while considering lighting
power density needs. Remember, 1:1 replacement
can result in overlighting and is not necessarily the
best solution!
While not an energy-saving
measure in itself, having a
lighting designer identify over-
lit areas in your building can help inform decisions
and boost savings in a future lighting retroft.
CHECK LIGHTING POWER DENSITY (LPD)
ENERGY SOLUTIONS ENERGY SOLUTIONS
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
www.SEDAC.org | 1-800-214-7954 | info@SEDAC.org
Smart Energy Design Assistance Center
1901 S First Street, Champaign, IL 61820
SEDAC
SEDAC is sponsored by the
Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity
in partnership with investor-
owned utilities to achieve energy
efciency savings in buildings
throughout the State of Illinois.
SEDAC is an applied research
program at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign.
SEDAC works in collaboration with
the 360 Energy Group and the
Energy Resources Center at the
University of Illinois at Chicago.
SEDAC PROGRAMS
WHO WE ARE
Energy Assessment
Public Sector Retro-Commissioning
New Construction Design
Assistance
Public Sector New Construction
Incentive Review
Public Housing Efcient Living
Training and Outreach
Energy Incentive Guidance
ENERGY SMART RESOURCES
October 2013
ComEd and Ameren Illinois Energy Efciency Programs
Free programs ofering technical suggestions and fnancial incentives.
www.comed.com and www.actonenergy.com
Buyer Guide for Energy Efciency Products
Locate ENERGY STAR products
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_fnd_es_products
Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efciency
Federal tax credits for renewable energy and energy efciency.
http://energytaxincentives.org/
Combined heat and power (CHP) is an integrated system located at or near a
building or facility. It can economically generate part of a buildings electricity
needs, and provide hot water, heating, cooling, and dehumidifcation as well.
COMBINED HEAT AND POWER
CHP units for high-rises can be strategically located at the point of energy
use, in the basement, or on the rooftop. On-site generation is fuel efcient,
versatile, and can double as a stand-by generation system. Typically, the
most efcient design sizes a CHP system to meet heating loads and treats
the electricity generated as a by-product.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Changing how people use energy in a high-rise building may seem like an
area building owners and operators cant afect. However, a growing body
of expertise built on social science research reveals ways to change buildings
so that people are encouraged to save energy and energy dollars.
Successful programs provide residential end-users with information on their
energy use, with comparisons to other users. If possible, feedback as to
whether their usage is improving can be a powerful motivator. Goal setting
and rewards are also popular tactics.
For commercial end-users, benchmarking energy usage and implementing
a building energy dashboard are two ways to provide information to help
change how businesses operate and maintain their energy-using equipment.
Photo credits:
www.sxc.hu
www.delhi-industries.com/hvac-blowers.html
www.olymspan.com
www.johnsoncontrols.com

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