Resource used to design and construct healthy, high performance, green, schools in Hawaii. Includes prerequisites and credits appropriate to the year-round temperatures, rain and wind patterns, and humidity of the islands, as well as more distinct requirements, compliance pathways, and an extra credit for naturally-ventilated and conditioned classrooms to ensure that air quality and comfort were equivalently valued and achieved compared to those mechanically ventilated and conditioned.

Website developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help school districts and facility planners find the information resources they need to design new school facilities, and repair existing facilities. Topics include: high performance schools, school siting, pre-design, materials selection, HVAC, controlling pollutants, moisture control, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance, renovation and repair, portable classrooms, IAQ Tools for Schools.

Discusses the following: Codes and Standards; Potential for Natural Ventilation and Operable Windows; Selection of HVAC Equipment; Energy Recovery Ventilation; Location of Outdoor Air Intakes and Exhaust; Outdoor Air Quantity; Air Filtration; Ventilation Controls; Moisture and Humidity Control; Air Distribution; Exhaust Air; Designing for Efficient Operations and Maintenance; and Commissioning.

Compares the performance of conventional ductwork with recent advancements in fabric-based ductwork. The article focuses on the transient behavior of an on/off control system, as well as the steady state behavior of the two ductwork systems. Transient, fully three dimensional validated computational (CFD) simulations are performed to determine flow patterns and thermal evolution in rooms containing either conventional or fabric ductwork. The results conclusively show that fabric ducting systems are superior to the conventional systems in terms of efficiency. Observations from the data show that fabric ducting systems heat the room faster, more uniformly, and more efficiently. The increase in performance demonstrates the potential benefits of moving away from conventional systems to fabric systems for the construction of green buildings: particularly in conjunction with adaptive control systems. 41p.

Classroom ventilation is recognized as a fundamental environmental component associated with the education process and academic performance. This presentation discusses classroom ventilation challenges of a large K12 school district. The district has 179 schools serving greater than 140,000 students. Thirty-one of the district’s schools are known to have an absence of mechanical ventilation to some or all educational space. Unventilated classrooms result from four primary causations. 1) Passive ventilation included in original design and construction of schools is rendered inoperable by retrofit air conditioning systems without ventilation components. 2) Economizer mode only outside air intake limits outdoor air to a few hours per year if system operates. 3) HVAC technicians called to remedy occupant temperature complaints, resulting in part from HVAC systems beyond their useful life cycle, close outside air intakes increasing HVAC heating/cooling capacity. 4) Sealing outdoor air intakes to avoid coil freezing and minimize outdoor air component maintenance requirements. District Maintenance has removed sheet metal covers over air intakes and Capital Program Services has updated a number of complete HVAC systems correcting the condition at a number of sites. Thirty-one remaining sites are subject of debate relating to ventilation necessity, definition of ventilation adequacy in terms of quantification, building configuration limitations, fiscal considerations and prioritization of competing physical plant resource need. Inadequate attention to HVAC systems often result from both competing fiscal interests and inadequate technical competencies. School occupants are generally not trained to ascertain the effects of inadequate ventilation; temperature is most often voiced concern relative to HVAC. School districts do not generally consider ventilation effects on academic performance when developing operations and capital budgets. This presentation includes discussion on internal school district considerations relative to improvement in ventilation promoting research potentials and practitioner understanding of the dynamics associated with problem resolution. [Author's abstract]

In recent testing, Trane has been able to prove that the ANSI/ASA S12.60 recommended sound levels can be met in new and existing schools buildings with minimal or no added cost using off-the-shelf HVAC equipment and industry-accepted design and construction practices. Trane built a classroom in its mock-up facility and tested a single-zone air handling unit and packaged rooftop unit. This paper describes those tests, the conclusion, and the resulting recommendations. 10p

Previous research on the effect air-conditioning has upon the well being and performance of students has produced some very positive results indicating there is a relationship between the thermal environment and student achievement. Three hypotheses were developed to test the proposition that air-conditioned classrooms had an effect upon student performance. The present study used the 2001 student results of the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition in the 4th, 6th, and 9th grades to measure the effect air-conditioned classrooms have upon this performance. The mean scaled scores of the 10 subtests were used to make the comparison. The population of the study consisted of 10 school divisions in Virginia. Half of the school divisions had all of the buildings air-conditioned, while the other half had no air-conditioned buildings. Although only one statistical significant relationship was found through the ANCOVA, observations of other relationships indicated a recognizable difference between the 9th grade scores of students in air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buildings that was not present in the 4th grade scores. This leads to the belief that the longer students attend an air-conditioned building, the higher will be their achievement scores. [Authors' abstract]

Provides case studies for ten schools that variously improved indoor air quality, saved energy, and improved thermal comfort with Lennox equipment.

Provides information for public health professionals, building professionals, and others who seek scientific information about the effects of IAQ on people's health or work performance. School-specific sections include Temperature and School Work Performance, Ventilation Rates and School Performance, Ventilation Rates and Absences in Offices and Schools, and Daylight, View, and School and Office Work Performance.

Addresses the potential for aerodynamic and duct geometry contributions to noise generation, and solutions proposed to mitigate the sound. The case of a higher education lecture hall afflicted with audibly tonal background noise is cited. The ductwork, rather than the mechanical equipment, was responsible for the sound. Observations, measurements, and findings from the ductwork examination are presented, as are recommendations and implementation of the solution. Eight references are included. 6p.

Advises on a variety of building features that impact energy consumption. The publication opens with a discussion of life cycle costing, building modeling, and performance verification. Subsequent sections cover building orientation, architectural design, building materials, plumbing, HVAC systems, building controls, and lighting and power systems.. The publication describes varieties of systems available under each category, advises on their costs, and illustrates the energy impact of each. 27p.

Helps schools and school districts "green" their existing facilities and achieve LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The guide outlines the process for navigating LEED certification for existing schools and provides details on how to conduct organizational assessments,educate and train staff, initiate the certification process, and manage a campus- or district-wide plan. It is designed to be used in concert with additional resources contained in the Green Existing Schools Toolkit (www.usgbc.org/k12toolkit). 85p.

Provides guidance for systematic development and implementation of a plan for commissioning building HVAC and Plumbing systems. The book is divided into three distinct parts: standards, process, and procedures. This third edition details the requirements for Whole Building Systems Commissioning and includes HVAC Systems, Building Envelope, Electrical Systems, Special Electrical Systems, Plumbing Systems, and Fire Protection Systems. 100p.

Guides the maintenance staff in assessing HVAC products, practices, and equipment that affect indoor air quality, either positively or negatively. The checklist is used in conjunction with a background information document, found at http://epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/kit/checklists/ventchklstbkgd.pdf 13p.

Summarizes results of studies showing statistically significant student performance increases in classrooms where ventilation rates were increased. 2p.

Chiller replacements at the University of Texas El Paso help meet the demands of expanding campus facilities and research programs.

Northwestern High School in Maple, Wis., which was built in 1937, got a new lease on life when the oldest portions of the building were removed and other sections were repurposed. This major renovation included demolishing the steam heating system, relocating the boiler room and replacing the old equipment. One chiller was installed to serve four air-handling units. This project resulted in a reduction in EUI of 40 kBtu/ft2/yr.

Ball State University's geothermal heating and cooling system will save $2M per year and produce a host of environmental benefits.

Describes how to control energy use by integrating the mechanical, lighting, and other building systems so that each system can be scheduled and the systems can work together and monitor performance.

Discusses good maintenance of cooling towers, temperature control, and specific applications.

Discusses mechanical system maintenance, including conducting assessments that identify various maintenance needs such as recommissioning, carrying out inspections as well as preventive and corrective maintenance, and retraining maintenance technicians.

Article discusses the current state of mechanical systems and energy efficiency, in the context of green buildings. It focuses on energy recovery wheels, also known as enthalpy wheels, as being important components of energy recovery ventilation technology.

Considers the benefits and costs of redundancy for chillers for classroom buildings.

In a head-to-head comparison, the induction system fared better than ground-coupled heat pumps on capital costs and peak-time electricity use. Case study of the Bethel School District in Pierce County, Washington.

Emphasizes need for determining the type of emergency likely to occur in a facility's setting and to anticipate access to appropriate portable cooling needs. Calculations for accurate required needs are essential.

Introduces comprehensive monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx), a process to ensure that all building systems are "in tune." Its three components are: permanent energy information systems and diagnostic tools at the whole-building and sub-system level, retro-commissioning based on the data this generates, and ongoing commissioning that ensures efficient building operations and measurement-based savings accounting. Particular attention is given to the importance to a well-maintained chiller.

Discusses the negative effect of classroom noise on teaching and learning, standards for classroom acoustics, and HVAC design that minimizes noise while using less energy.

Describes benefits of direct digital control (DDC) of HVAC systems, and its application at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The ability to view real time data from several buildings, monitor equipment performance, improve occupant comfort, and save energy are described.

Case study of Philadelphia’s Kappen Aquatic Center at the Overbrook School for the Blind. The energy efficient design saves an estimated 43 percent of the 25,000-square-foot facility’s energy costs compared to a conventional natatorium. The majority of the savings comes from off-peak energy loading, architectural building envelope features such as insulated concrete forms, and a HVAC dehumidification system.

Details the design of a school HVAC upgrade that included a geo-solar system. Engineers designed a system that was architecturally integrated, offering students a unique learning tool. The article includes charts that illustrate energy use and the anticipated time for the recovery of the investment is discussed.

Advises on cost-savings methods that also achieve green goals in planning for consistent and dependable indoor air quality, and reduced construction, energy, and maintenance costs. Topics include cooling tower systems, evaluation of project bids, solar hot water, sewage treatment plants, school kitchens, and insulation of classroom ductwork. Case study of Hillsborough County School District, in Tampa.

Advises on using termporary cooling technology, addressing prioritization of areas to cool, the possibility of moving activities rather than using cooling equipment, right-sizing of equipment, and types of equipment available.

Addresses current trends in the invisible components of building systems: foam duct insulation, greener energy systems, and water resource conservation. The article highlights Pennsylvania State University steps to establish an Energy Innovation Hub to be located at Philadelphia Navy Yard Clean Energy campus.

Addresses the problems associated with deteriorating boilers and domestic water heaters before the end of their rated service life. Some systems are good candidates for retrocommissioning, which provides excellent data gathering for use by technicians.

Advises on the collateral planning for energy conservation and HVAC maintenance. Routine HVAC maintenance procedures that can save energy are described and mandated.

Makes the case that the most advanced studies in ventilation indicate strongest benefits from demand control ventilation (DCV), which continuously measures the indoor environmental quality and then varies the amount of air brought into the lab throughout the day. DCV enables the system to not only save energy when occupancy levels are now and the air is "clean," but also to increase the fresh air supply when needed to dilute contaminants.

Uses Fairfield University’s experience with combined heat and power generation to illustrate the savings and reliability of power generated on campus. Design details of Fairfield’s system are described, as are the particular challenges of commissioning such a system in conjunction with the local utility.

Discusses retrocommissioning, rather than replacing, facility chillers. A chiller's eligibility for retrocommissioning, elements of retrocommissioning, and the make-up of the retrocommissioning team are addressed.

Discusses the inadequacy of demand control ventilation (DCV) in maintaining optimal indoor environmental quality. The advantages of intelligent controls with the ability to sense a variety of indoor environmental issues are detailed.

Discusses energy-efficient condensing boilers. While these boilers can deliver considerably higher efficiency over conventional boilers, care must be taken to monitor return-water temperature and keep the boiler clean in order to obtain the desired savings.

Discusses the widening use of geothermal HVAC systems in schools, addressing the savings realized by several schools that use them and the lack of widespread engineering knowledge for these systems.

Discusses filtration measurements for HVAC filters, noting the premier role of air filters in maintaining healthy indoor air, confusion within measurement techniques and standards, energy efficiency, moisture and temperature resistance, and sustainability.

Describes variable frequency HVAC motors, more efficient transformers, increased electrical grid efficiency, and collaboration between building owners and energy providers that will result in significant reduction of electrical use.

Discusses the particular problems of laboratory HVAC systems, which typically condition a large amount of fresh air and only cycle it through the building once. Variable air volume (VAV) systems can coordinate exhaust rates with fume hoods to lower exhaust when hoods are not in use. Advances in fume hood technology are also discussed, as are room sensors that adjust HVAC operations based on air quality in the room.

Advocates automated HVAC system controls in schools, where systems can be controlled from a central location. Energy savings of up to 18 percent are attainable, even before eliminating the necessity of traveling from school to school to adjust systems.

Describes the Minnetonka School District's sustainability efforts, under the UPonGREEN program. Replacement and retrofit of lighting and HVAC systems are described, as is increased recycling, UPonGREEN criteria, and school environmental activism.

Explains and gives specific examples for the critical need for ongoing inspection and testing program of boilers, carried out by a well-trained staff of technicians.

Discusses saving construction and operation dollars by conservative sizing of the higher education HVAC systems. The Northrup Auditorium at the University of Minnesota is offered as an example.

Describes how proper maintenance of school HVAC systems contributes to educational achievement through better air quality and thermal comfort. An example of preventive maintenance on systems in the Round Rock (Texas) School District illustrates many procedures, their respective costs, and benefits.

Discusses standards and procedures for HVAC system inspection and predictive maintenance that are designed to save energy. In-house versus outsourced work is also addressed.

Discusses pressures in higher education facilities due to increased enrollments, aging infrastructure, and lower tax revenues. A critical system audit (CSA) of HVAC systems is recommended to prioritize repairs and upgrades. Elements of a CSA and improved results due to current technology are also described.

Demonstrates that BIM (building information modeling) software is a very effective tool when used at the beginning of the design process. When changes are made to the design, the software automatically updates HVAC requirements. Special ventilation needs, such as science labs, are taken into consideration.

Focuses on use of a windcatcher system in typical classrooms which are usually characterized by high and intermittent internal heat gains. The aims of this paper are 3-fold. First, to describe a series of field measurements that investigated the ventilation rates, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort in a newly constructed school located at an urban site in London. Secondly, to investigate the effect of changing climate and occupancy patterns on thermal comfort in selected classrooms, while taking into account adaptive potential of this specific ventilation strategy. Thirdly, to assess performance of the ventilation system using the newly introduced performance-based ventilation standards for school buildings. The results suggest that satisfactory occupant comfort levels could be achieved until the 2050s by a combination of advanced ventilation control settings and informed occupant behavior. [author's abstract]

Details the planning and building of geothermal exchange system for HVAC at Whitmore Lake High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Details include building layout to accommodate zone sensors and unitary heat pumps and moisture-resistant fabric ductwork. Results include very little consumption of natural gas. Green innovation in restroom facility design and processes for kitchen's refrigeration and freezing result in other cost-savings.

Addresses challenges and solutions for LEED-Silver (New Construction) certification for air conditioning a dormitory that regularly must content with 100-degree F temperatures. Architects and engineers must consider building design, energy efficiency, IAQ and thermal comfort, innovation, operation and maintenance, and cost effectiveness, all within university evolving targets. Follow-up includes instructing students on window use.

Discuses building automation system (BAS) technology, which arrived on the scene in the 1980s, promising to revolutionize the way facility managers control critical mechanical systems and improve building performance. More than two decades have passed and it is clear that building automation has largely lived up to its promise, creating a new standard of smarter, safer, more energy-efficient buildings.

Presents the top ten sources of wasted energy and water in schools, along with suggestion for how to mitigate them. These involve HVAC systems, lighting, and plumbing.

Discusses typical cooling problems in data centers, and advises on the selection of portable air conditioners when leasing arrangements do not allow redesign of the building cooling system.

Discusses meeting emergency school cooling needs, addressing site preparation, preparation for installation, and equipment selection, all of which should be executed in advance of an emergency. The opportunity for experimenting with more current HVAC technologies through rental of state-of-the art equipment during the outage are also suggested.

Describes conventional and induction displacement ventilation in schools. The cost effectiveness, increased ventilation, and acoustical benefits are addressed, as are building and room design requirements for effective deployment of displacement ventilation.

Discusses computer room air conditioning management (CRAC), including bypass flow, balance of server and CRAC unit flows, and recirculation. The behavior of air within various computer center designs and recommendations for improvement are addressed.

Advises on insulating school buildings against intrusive external and internal noise, daylighting, and HVAC system selection for maximum indoor air quality. A new Teaneck, New Jersey, school is offered as an example.

Discusses the role of air filters in maintaining indoor air quality, citing the history of filters, their typical composition, styles available, and the respective filtration capacities and resistance of five types of filters.

Discusses the difficulty of achieving a unanimous perception of thermal comfort in a building, and the advantages of displacement ventilation in that endeavor. Advice on designing, computer modeling, and installing displacement ventilation is included.

Discusses underfloor air distribution and chilled beam systems for cooling that uses less energy and delivers superior occupant comfort. The function, design, and combination of these systems are detailed, illustrated by an example of a 376,000 square foot facility housing 2,200 people.

Discusses moisture management in wall assemblies and HVAC systems, and moisture-attenuating building products for walls and ductwork.

Describes conversion to water-saving plumbing fixtures at the University of Georgia, as well as attention to water use in cooling towers and research buildings. A saving of 90 million gallons of annual water use per year was realized.

Advises on heating or cooling a building when regular systems fail. Preparing a plan, prioritizing areas to be addressed, distinguishing between comfort and equipment load, and procuring and installing temporary equipment is addressed.

Describes the features and virtues of variable frequency drives (VFDs) in HVAC systems. These energy-saving drives have evolved to the point that they can be installed on most existing HVAC systems, thus matching the system capacity to the load, saving wear on motors, and even creating quieter systems.

Discusses types of HVAC air filters, their respective filtering efficiencies, and resistance to air flow. Advantages and disadvantages of newer electrostatic filtering are also addressed.

Discusses three areas of chilled beam system design: system sizing, controls and integration, and energy modeling. A chilled beam system designed for a laboratory with this information in mind can reduce building energy use and costs compared to a standard VAV reheat system.

Describes the University of Hawaii's new 12-story dormitory, with sub-metered air conditioning that can be charged back to the students. Specifications of the HVAC system are included.

Describes how chilled beam cooling systems work, their particular advantages to laboratories, and present three case scenarios for chilled beam systems in different laboratory designs.

Describes regular maintenance duties for HVAC systems, along with the interval at which they should be performed. These are filter replacement; coil cleaning; inspecting fans, bearings, and belts; inspecting around air intakes; repairing leaks in cabinet and supply ducts; cleaning and adjust dampers; and cleaning air ducts.

Discusses the benefits of carbon dioxide monitoring to indoor air quality, assessing occupancy for demand control ventilation, and earning LEED credits. Advice on installation, calibration, and monitoring of carbon dioxide sensors is included.

Discusses facility manager’s options as the HVAC refrigerant R-22 is phased out beginning in 2010. While R-22 will continue to be available for existing systems, managers should consider the opportunity of upgrading to newer, more efficient systems that do not use R-22. Suggestions for weighing the benefits and prioritizing system replacements are offered.

Previews the elements of the next revision of this ASHRAE standard, which will improve minimum prescriptive energy efficiency targets by 30 percent over the 2004 edition. The standard covers a variety of HVAC details, as well as lighting and daylighting design.

Disucsses advances in high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) ceiling fans that have created quiet and energy-efficient devices that can deliver significant HVAC savings by reducing the amount of ductwork needed, de-stratifying the indoor air, and allowing thermostats to be set higher in the summer and lower in the winter.

Describes field study findings that reveal preferences for air movement among building occupants. In general, most occupants prefer more air movement than what they presently have. Risk of draft is small at temperatures above 72.5 degrees. Tables and charts illustrate sensory perceptions, opinions of acceptable or unacceptable air movement, and recommended elevated air speed for warmer temperatures. Includes 21 references.

Offers a reprint of a 1966 article on school air conditioning design, noting the types of school buildings prevalent at the time, their differing heating and cooling requirements, and the types of air- conditioning systems available.

Discusses the evolution of energy efficiency standard for buildings, as it found its way into building codes and affected building envelopes, windows, lighting, and HVAC systems. The article laments that lack of enforcement of this standard in higher education educational facilities, predicts improvement, as federal funding will be linked to meeting or exceeding the standard.

Discusses combinations of timers and occupancy sensors to accomplish HVAC reductions in times of low or no building occupancy. A school system that reduced energy consumption by 23 percent is cited as an example. Proper timing of setbacks, override strategies, and demand-controlled ventilation are discussed. Includes five references.

Discusses commissioning of laboratory exhaust systems, listing the types of systems that should be commissioned, the personnel who should be involved, and key elements of the commissioning plan.

Explains how Youngstown State University improved chiller efficiency with coalescing separators that remove up to 99.6 of air from the water flow.

Examines life expectancies for different kinds of chillers, and advises on assessing whether to repair an ailing chiller or replace it, if it is consistently unreliable or near the end of its life expectancy. Life-cycle costing advice for new chillers is also offered, with emphasis on the energy savings that new chillers typically offer.

Briefly describes early and recent studies indicating a negative effect of used ventilation filters on indoor air quality. Possible mechanisms responsible for the emission of pollutants from the filters, the negative economic impact of polluting filters, and possible engineering solutions are discussed.

Discusses the use of fabric ductwork to control the velocity, direction, and noise of HVAC airflow. Examples of laboratories where fabric ductwork was installed in response to sensitive instruments and low-flow fume hoods are discussed.

Discusses the use of variable-frequency drives (VFDs) in HVAC systems to reduce energy use during off-peak demand. Early defects of VFDs that are now remedied are discussed, as are facility applications and additional benefits to reduced maintenance and longer motor life.

Discusses the potential economic consequences of cap-and-trade programs in a combined heat and power (CHP) environment. The University of New Mexico facilities operations program serves as an example of how significant start-up costs can be and how onsite emissions can increase under these schemes. Purchase of carbon offset credits may be required as a result. Includes three references.

Discusses characteristics and types of HVAC air filters, making recommendations on proper selection, maintenance, and replacement of filters.

Discusses control of noise and reverberation in noisy school spaces, such as gymnasiums. The balance of reflective and absorptive materials is discussed, as are HVAC systems and other sources of background noise. Acoustics should be considered in the design phase, but is frequently overlooked, or eliminated to save costs.

Discusses HVAC commissioning, retro-commissioning, and energy audits for buildings. Their relative costs and benefits are cited, as are preventive maintenance techniques and obstacles to investing in order to achieving savings, typically presented by administrators.

Discusses how biological agents might enter a building in a terrorism event, the role of HVAC systems in excluding or at least containing biological agents, and points of an HVAC audit to determine the system's ability to respond to contamination.

Discusses the limitation of outside noise intrusion, minimization of HVAC noise, and reduction of sound reverberation within classrooms. Sources of sound, acceptable levels, mitigation techniques, and national standards for sound attenuation are addressed.

Describes underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems, created under raised floors that also provide space for most other types of service distribution systems. Pressurized and zero-pressure floors are described, as are opportunities for energy savings and improved occupant comfort.