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ORCID

N/A

Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Type

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.M.E.)

Year Degree Awarded

2014

Month Degree Awarded

May

Abstract

During the construction of the new 3 story, 25,000+ square foot police station, a decision was made to participate in the LEED program to ensure the building had low operating costs, reduced emissions, conserved water and overall energy. The design of the building includes a primary-secondary ground source heat pump (GSHP) loop, a Dedicated Outside Air System (DOAS) with Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) wheel, all controlled by CO2 monitoring through Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) to supply heat pumps located in each space; all monitored by a Building Automation System (BAS).

The building’s future energy performance was predicted through an energy simulation model (ESM) software. Measurement and verification (M&V) was then performed on the building to determine its actual energy performance. Data was collected through the building’s electrical meters, the building automation system (BAS), and other techniques to determine discrepancies. Installed electrical submetering along with ESM results helped identify faults on a subcomponent level. This bottom up approach helped drive a successful retro-commissioning of the building systems reducing energy consumption.

This thesis will detail a methodology for retro-commissioning of underperforming new-construction buildings. Optimization of the building’s systems will be facilitated through utilization of the M&V and ESM data. Discussed will be techniques and strategies to benchmark the building’s systems, providing utility from the retro-commissioning and M&V results, to determine the value of the ESM. Last will be to discuss and demonstrate the future benefits of utilizing this real-time data to help building operators reduce, manage, and sustain their energy consumption profiles.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/5551385

First Advisor

Dragoljub Kosanovic

Second Advisor

Jason J Burbank

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