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High performance Strategies to improve Albertus Magnus Bldg.

HVAC Systems:1. Centralized Air Conditioning System

One major improvement of the building can come from the replacement of it individual window

AC units, to a more energy efficient Centralized Solar Air Conditioning. Centralized air conditioningsystems have a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) compared to individual window units.The application of a Centralized AC unit would mean a faster means of humidifying an enclosed, spaceand the lessening and eliminating of the problems that arise from window units such as noise pollution,classroom disruption and natural light obstruction.

a.) Centralized Solar Air Conditioning Technology

- Solar air conditioning units harness the power of the sun to gather and store energy, for the processneeded to humidify the air quality of

a space. Basically this technologyuses electrical energy from

photovoltaic cells to power the air

conditioning system, thus making it

highly sustainable.Solar air conditioning units

offer environmental benefitsincluding lower grid demand and

load shifting during peak usage,reduced electricity costs, fewer

power outages, off-the-gridcapabilities and reduced greenhousegas emissions.

Solar air conditioning units come intwo basic types: hybrids and chillers:

A hybrid system combines

photovoltaic technology (PV) with direct current (DC). It automatically switches between solar andbattery power as needed. When it's set to hybrid mode, these systems charge their batteries when the sun

is shining; when it isn't, the system runs on battery backup while charging its batteries via alternatingcurrent (AC) power.

Solar-powered absorption chillers, also known as evaporative coolers, work by heating and

cooling water through evaporation and condensation. Chillers cool the air by blowing it over water-saturated material -- solar energy is used to power the fan

and motor.

2. Displacement Ventilation

Is a room air distribution strategy whereconditioned outdoor air is supplied at floor level and

extracted above the occupied zone, usually at ceilingheight. supplies conditioned cool air from an air handling

unit (AHU) through a low induction diffuser.The cool air spreads through the floor of the space

and then rises as the air warms due to heat exchange withheat sources in the space (e.g., occupants, computers, lights). The warmer air has a lower density than thecool air, and thus creates upward convective flows known as thermal plumes. The warm air then exits the

zone at the ceiling height of the room. Diffuser types vary by application. Diffusers can be located against

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a wall (wall-mounted), at the corner of a room (corner-mounted), or above the floor but not against awall (free-standing)

The goal of these systems is not to cool the space, but to cool the occupants. Cool air flows alongthe floor until it finds warm bodies. As the air is warmed, it rises around occupants, bathing them in coolfresh air. Air quality improves because contaminants from occupants and other sources tend to rise out ofthe breathing zone rather than being mixed in the space. Similarly, cooling loads decrease because much

of the heat generated by occupants and equipment rises out of the occupied zone and is exhausted fromthe space.

Lighting Systems:Another aspect the Albertus Magnus Building could improve on is its lighting. Although the

building has some well lighted spaces, it has many darker spots and the majority of the rooms commit toactive energy usage. Particularly the lighting wherein classrooms, during day time, still use artificiallighting rather than using natural light coming from the windows, thus not making it very energyefficient. The windows are mostly covered by blinds and/or shades so that there would not be aconcentration of heat and glare in the rooms. A good way to solve this problem is to implement a lighting

systems and technologies that will help make the building more energy efficient.

1. Low E Glass Windows

- Low-emissivity glass (or

low-e glass as it is commonlyreferred to) is a type ofenergy-

efficient glass designed toprevent heat from entering and

escaping through the windows.Low E windows retain thetemperature within a room byreflecting heating agents from therays of the sun. These glass

windows have coatings thatreflect radiant infrared energy,thus tending to keep radiant heat

on the same side of the glassfrom which it originated, while

letting visible light pass. This results in more efficient windows because radiant heat originating fromindoors in winter is reflected back inside, while infrared heat radiation from the sun during summer isreflected away, keeping it cooler inside.

Glass can be made with differing thermal emission ratings, but this is not used for windows.Certain properties such as the iron content may be controlled, changing the thermal emissivity properties

of glass. This is "naturally" low thermal emissivity, found in some formulations of borosilicate orPyrex.Naturally low-e glass does not have the property of reflecting near infrared (NIR)/thermal radiation,

instead this type of glass has higher NIR transmission, leading to undesirable heat loss (or gain) in abuilding window.

2. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

A compact fluorescentlight bulb (CFL) is a fluorescent

light bulb that has beencompressed into the size of astandard-issue incandescent light

bulb. Modern CFLs typically lastat least six times as long and use

at most a quarter of the power of

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an equivalent incandescent bulb. CFL's are the replacement bulbs for incandescent bulbs for its highenergy efficiency workability. An incandescent bulb that uses 75 watts can be replaced with a CFL bulb

that only uses 20 watts. CFL's have a long life span from about 8000- 15000 hours, compared to 1000hours that an incandescent bulb has.

Each CFL over the course of its life saves 450 pounds of carbon from being produced. This is apowerful savings considering that the average home has between 30-50 sockets, according to the EPA. If

only thirty sockets were replaced with CFLs that would be a savings of 13,500 pounds or 6.75 tons ofcarbon. The average small car uses 3.55 tons of carbon per year, changing your light bulbs would be likealmost taking two small cars off the road for a year.

Replacing one incandescent bulb with one CFL bulb keeps 450 pounds of carbon dioxide out ofthe atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in America used energy-efficient lighting, we couldretire 90 average-sized power plants, reducing CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide, and high-level nuclear waste.

CFLs do contain 5 milligrams of mercury according to the EPA. The mercury is used to make theCFLs more energy efficient, but can be harmful if released into the environment. CFLs actually reduce

mercury because mercury is a byproduct of power generation. Since less power is needed for CFLs thetotal mercury is less then, if an old incandescent light bulb was used.

Rainwater harvesting

and usage:

- Another strategy tomake the Albertus MagnusBuilding a High Performance

building is to implement a rainharvesting system that supports

the potable and clean water needsof the structure. The relevance of

storing water for functionalpurposes related to the operationsof the building are as follows:

Rainwater is an economical alternative to public water, especially for exterior water uses such as

landscape irrigation that require minimal filtration. Although initial equipment installation can besignificant, long-term costs are minimal.

Rainwater can supplement limited ground water resources. With reduced extraction rates, low -yieldground water wells and springs can last indefinitely. Rainwater can also supplement surface water

resources threatened by rapidly growing municipal water use. Rainwater collection could significantlyreduce water extraction rates from rivers during critical summer months, ensuring adequate water remainsto support native ecosystems.

Rainwater can be used as the alternative water supply for building operations such as flushing, irrigation

and sanitation. Also it could be used in maintaining the building with its surroundings such as landscapingand cleaning.

Rainwater is not regulated by municipal water restrictions. During periods of drought, rain water canprotect investments in landscaping, garden ponds, and swimming pools.

MECHANICS OF COLLECTING RAINWATER FROM ROOFS: Its possible to collect rainwaterfrom roofs, parking areas, pavement, lawns, and almost any other surface, but roofs typically yield the

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best quality water at the lowest cost. The type of roof surface is of little consequence when rainwater iscollected for irrigation or other exterior water uses, but when rainwater is collected for interior water uses,

it is preferable to use relatively inert materials such as painted metal, terra cotta tile, cement tile, stone,and elastomeric membranes instead of composite shingles, bituminous membranes, and asphalt coatings.However, rooftop debris usually poses a greater water-quality problem than the roofing material, andwater from any roof can be treated to drinking-water quality without great expense.

Gutter and downspout sizing for rainwater collection can follow standard practice, although it ispreferable to be somewhat conservative to minimize the potential for overflow due to improperinstallation or settling. Gutter cap systems can be used to reduce the maintenance of pre-filters, but shouldnot be considered as substitutes for pre-filters.

Rainwater systems are most economical when all the rainwater is conveyed to a central site forprefiltration, storage, and pumping. Piping should be sized using conventional stormwater practice which

means 4 pipe will suffice for most residential systems but 6 or larger pipe will be required for mostcommercial systems. A pitch of one-eighth to one-quarter inch per foot is recommended, but this

sometimes poses a design challenge because the allowable burial depths of pre-filters and undergroundtanks are limited. Pipe connections should be watertight to prevent both water loss and infiltration.