Nicholas J. Hagan
Dr. Donghyun Rim
Depth Proposal
Geothermal Heat Pump
The geothermal heat pump is a great way to save on energy consumption. The system works by circulation water through pipes that are buried beneath the frost line, since the earth has a constant temperature of 53ᵒF it can be used for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Since 53ᵒF is not considered a comfortable temperature in the winter, additional heating is provided by boilers in the mechanical room. This will however reduce the size of the boilers needed for the current design. The initial cost of installation will create a longer payback period but would be a good investment for the owner since they are both building and occupying the building for likely a long period of time.
Water-Source Heat Pump
Paired with a geothermal closed loop system, a water-source heat pump is a great way to distribute heat to and from the ground as needed. The highly efficient central heat pump design is a great option for moderately sized commercial buildings. The existing AHUs would be directly fed by a four pipe system to heat and cool as needed. The Water-Sourced heat pump is sized up to 20 ton units and can run parallel to a boiler or chiller to make-up heat as required.
Breadth Proposals
Electrical Proposal
There two ways the electric generated from the solar panels can be used, the first way is to sell the electric back to the power company and receive credit on the electricity bill. The second option is to store the energy in power cells on site to be used by the building with supplementary electric provide by the power company. The second option has a higher initial cost and would require more cost in maintenance and replacement parts. The first option is reliable and would require a contract with the local electricity provider.
To determine which is the best option for the owner, research will be conducted to determine the most beneficial method of using the harvested electricity. I will look at similar examples of both options and determine what is required for installation, how much each costs to install, and how efficient each method is at utilizing the generated power. After the research is concluded I will state my findings and suggest the better system.
Construction Management
A construction management breadth study was done to understand the implications on project delivery due to the new systems. A single cost payback period was determined as well to understand the added cost and savings on equipment first cost, as well as energy savings after implementing the proposed mechanical changes. Few changes will have to be made for the solar panels to be retrofitted to the existing roof design. All AHUs would be able to remain on the roof and the only consideration for the basement is added space for heat pumps and hydronic pumps. I will research the additional costs and benefits of the above proposed changes, using RS means to estimate prices and comparing to the cost of the actual project.