El Moore Greens Near Zero Energy Design

This is the work space for a design and learning community in Detroit that is developing a sustainable energy design for the El Moore building at 624 W. Alexandrine.

Near Zero Energy - Sustainable Design Schedule

Week 1 - Setting the Design Foundation
Week 2 - Field Trip
Week 3 - Envelope I
Week 4 - Envelope II
Week 5 - Windows and Doors
Week 6 - Thermal Modeling
Week 7 - Geothermal
Week 8 - Solar - Thermal
Week 9 - Solar - PV
Week 10 - Natural Ventilation
Week 11 - Lighting & Appliances
Week 12 - Energy Controls and Accountability

Week 1 - Setting the Design Foundation

Sustainability Goals

Sustain an indoor environment of human health and comfort
- Winter indoor temp 69F, Summer indoor Temp 76F
- Indoor humidity: 30% - 55%
- Maximize natural ventilation
< 20% of Standard Energy Usage of Building Similar Use
> 33% of Energy from renewable sources
Clear Accountability ===> Basis for continuous improvement

Sustainable Energy Strategy

Step #1 - Size/Prioritize Demand

Step #2 - Reduce Demand w/ Passive Design

Reduce demand by passive means by 70%
Working with natural systems
Use Passive Haus Institute's design principles

Step #3 - Meet Demand with No/Low Carbon, Renewable Sources

Use no/low carbon, renewable sources to meet remaining demand
- Solar Hot Water
- Solar PV
- Geothermal - Earth's energy
- Natural Ventilation
Manage system complexity / maintainability

Step #4 - Meet Demand with High Efficiency / Low Load Sources

Use off-peak energy. Avoid adding to building new carbon based capacity (e.g. power plants)
Use high efficiency...no need to use extreme efficiency since demand is down...very small yields.

Step #5 - Control and Accountability

Direct feedback loop...you use the energy...you see the usage and pay for the energy.

Understanding Energy Demands

Typical Energy Demand Profiles

Heating

Heating Season: mid-September - mid-May (8 months)
Peak Season: mid-December - mid-February (2 months)
Largest total demand in year

Cooling

Cooling Season: mid-May - mid-September (4 months)
Peak Season: July - August (2 months)
Humidity is as important as temperature ... drive you to psycho...charts
Solar gain is major contributor
Typically drive peak hour sizing of equipment

Shoulder Seasons

Spring Season: May - mid-June (1.5 months)
Fall Season: September - mid-October (1.5 months)
Varies widely...unpredictable
Creates very difficult demand patterns

Domestic Hot Water

Uses
- Shower (gal/min*min/day*persons)
- Washer (gal/load*loads/day*persons)
- Sinks (gal/min*min/day*persons)
- Dishwasher (gal/load*loads/day*persons)
Demand Characteristics
- Peak Load
- City Water Temps (40F Winter? / 55F Summer)

Lighting

Interior
- Motion detection
- Number, lumens and efficiency
Exterior
- Photocell
- Number, lumens and efficiency

Appliances

Refrigerator
Dryer
Washer
Dishwasher

Natural Elements

Where in the world is the El Moore
- 42 degrees north latitude
- Great lakes basin...clouds...temps
Sun
- 23 East of South ...due to Woodward
- Solar south vs. magnetic South
- Sun rise, sun sets, height changes through out the year.
- Shading of trees, other buildings
- Same amount of sun as Florida! So what, Florida is not so good!
Wind
- Urban micro wind climates
- Use for natural ventilation
Earth
- Temperature
  - Varies with depth
Water
- Flows down hill...repeat...flows down hill
- Water is heavy...
- Average rain in Michigan

El Moore Building

Existing

Built in 1898
4 floors w/ basement
15,000sf existing
Size
- Width:
- Length:
- Height:
- Volume:
Structure:
- Exterior Walls: brick and Lake Superior red sandstone
- Balloon frame
Orientation: SE
Window/Wall Ratio:

Plans

Additions
- Add Elevator Tower
- Rooftop Cabins (4)

Thermal Physics

Energy moves from Hot -> to -> Cold
Heat is transferred three ways
- Conduction (R Value)
- Convection
- Radiation
Sensible and Latent heat
Building Performance
- R Value => Resistance to Conduction (e.g. Insulation)
- Air Infiltration => Air Exchanges per hour
  - Blower door test
- U Value = Inverse of R (i.e 1/R)...used for windows

Human Comfort and Health

Human Comfort

Human Comfort Zone describe elements of indoor human comfort

Human Health

Air quality
Toxicity of materials

Thermal Bridging

Low thermal resistant penetrations in high thermally resistant structures (e.g. walls, roofs, etc)
Happens often with:
- Joists
- Windows
- Doors

Week 2 - Field Trip

Visited the El Moore Building Site

Week 3 - Building Envelope I

Equation for Thermal Conduction

Thermal Conductivity Equation

R values

R Values for common Materials can be found in R Value Table on Wikipedia.

World Wide Envelope (WWE) Smackdown I

WWE Smackdown

Wall / Ceiling Section

File:4th floor attic and masonry walls.pdf
Exercises
- Exercise #1 - Calculate R Value of Wall (w/o Stud)
- Exercise #2 - Calculate R Value of Wall (w Stud)
- Exercise #3 - Calculate R Value of Ceiling (w/o Joist)
- Exercise #4 - Calculate R Value of Ceiling (w Joist)

WUFI Thermal Simulation Model

Simulation #1 - New Wall System
Simulation #2 - Existing Wall System

Week 4 - Building Envelope II

Infiltration

Infiltration is the uncontrolled, unintentional introduction of outside air into the building [1] on Wikipedia.
- Measured in CFM and/or ACH
  - ACH=(CFM x 60)/building volume in cubic feet
- Wind, buoyancy and building pressure effect
- Also brings in dust, drafts, moisture, and associated energy use
- Exfiltration is when air leaves the building, intentionally or not
- Ventilation means providing fresh clean air for occupants to breathe
- If the building is very well-sealed, may need to bring in outside air by mechanical means

Building pressure

Maintaining the building interior at a slight positive pressure helps reduce infiltration
Imagine the building as a balloon, or a lung

Air sealing the building

Windows and doors (more next week)
Other penetrations
Masonry
Rigid insulation
CSU article on air sealing homes [2]

Ventilation

How much outside air to bring in?
- ASHRAE 62.2 says 0.35 ACH min.
How do you do that when you have individual dwelling units?