The Green Engineer Ideas


	The Green Engineer, LLP
Sustainable Design Consulting

Green Ideas: Standard Practice

Exceed Energy Code Requirements for Building Envelope
Improvements in the building envelope will reduce building heating and cooling requirements.

Light colored roof
By simply using a light colored roof, a large percentage of solar radiation will be reflected, reducing HVAC loads, and energy consumption. First cost is also reduced, due to the smaller plant size required. When a large roof area is anticipated, this effect can be significant.

Environmentally-friendly Refrigerants
CFCs are well known as being detrimental to the ozone layer. Their use should be avoided. Instead use CFC free refrigerants such as HFC R-134a and environmentally friendly HCFC R-123. Also consider the use of absorption chillers.

Maximize Use of "Free Cooling" – Airside and Waterside Economizers
Most larger buildings will require cooling when occupied, regardless of time of year. Economizers will allow cooling during mild and cold conditions at a significant reduction of energy consumption. Airside economizers can be thought of as "fan assisted natural ventilation."

Variable Frequency Drives for Pumps, Fans & Compressors
HVAC systems operate at peak capacity for only a small percentage of the year. VFD's allow significant energy savings when systems are operating at less than peak capacity.

District Steam vs. Boilers
A district steam plant can provide higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers.

Water Conserving Cooling Towers
Cooling towers can be designed to reduce drift, and unwanted evaporation. This will reduce building water consumption.

High Efficiency Lighting
Lighting is a significant portion of building energy usage. Reduction of lighting energy also reduces HVAC system size and energy consumption. Today's light fixtures are significantly more efficient than those of the recent past.

Dry Type Transformers Instead of Oil or Gas Type
Dry type transformers eliminate the pollution risk associated with oil or gas filled transformers.

Lighting Controls–Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy sensors can be used to turn off lights in unoccupied areas. This will result in reduced energy consumption due to lighting, and also reduced HVAC energy consumption.

Water Conserving Fixtures
Water conserving toilets and fixtures reduce building water consumption. All fixtures available today typically meet the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which set standards for water consumption by plumbing fixtures. But today many options which go far beyond these federally mandated standards are available.

Dual Flush toilets–provide the option for either a half or full flush.
Waterless Urinals–not only do they use no water, they are also cheaper to install.
Low Flow Shower Heads.
Faucets and lavatories with aerators–reduces peak water flow, without reducing velocity.
Sensors, or other "portion control" devices on faucets.
Composting Toilets.

Building Energy Management System
DDC control of building operation will optimize performance, and maximize energy savings.

Building Commissioning
Building commissioning insures that high efficiency building systems operate as designed.

Avoid Using CFC or HCFC-based Fire Suppression Systems
These materials are damaging to the ozone layer. They should not be used in fire suppression systems.

Computer Modeling & Life-cycle Analysis of All Proposed Technologies
Use of computer models will verify that proposed technologies are in fact energy saving and financially feasible.

Utility Company Rebates
The design team should take full advantage of utility company rebate programs. Computer modeling can be used to demonstrate advantages of energy saving technologies if required by the utility.