Page 233 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

WATER AND LIFE MUSEUM, HEMET, CALIFORNIA 203

photovoltaic solar power panels. The east elevation building has eight curtain walls
2
that bridge the 10 towers. Each curtain wall is composed of 900 ft of high-
performance argon-filled glass. To compensate for heat radiation, a number of
translucent megabanners are suspended in front of each curtain wall. The banners
are located above the finish grade which preserves the beautiful views of the San
Jacinto mountain range.

Mechanical System The mechanical system uses a combination of radiant floor-
ing, which is used for both heating and cooling, and forced-air units that run from the
same chiller and boiler. The combination of the efficient envelope and the sophisticated
mechanical system provides a project that is 38 percent more efficient than Title 24.
This not only gains the project many LEED points in this category, but also provides
a significant cost savings in the operation of these facilities.

Material and Resources Lehrer Gangi Design Build specified local and recycled
materials wherever possible, and during the construction phase kept a careful watch
on how construction wastes were handled.
Low-emitting materials were selected. All contractors had restrictions regarding the
types of materials that they were allowed to use. The mechanical engineering design
deployed a three-dimensional model for the project, which tested the system’s thermal
comfort to comply with ASHRAE 55 requirements. The architectural building design
ensured that 90 percent of spaces had views of natural light.

Innovation and Design Process One of the significant points applied to the proj-
ect design is the use of the buildings as a learning center for teaching sustainability to
the visitors. Within the museum, exhibit spaces are uniquely devoted to solar cogen-
eration which is presented by means of interactive displays where visitors can observe
real-time solar and meteorological statistical data on the display.

HEMET WATER AND LIFE MUSEUM
LEED ENERGY CALCULATION

In order to qualify for LEED energy certification, upon completion of the final accept-
ance test and commissioning, the architect, the mechanical engineer, and the electri-
cal engineer must provide projected or calculated energy savings for the project. The
exercise involves calculation of energy consumption and savings resulted from LEED
design measures. As reflected in the sample calculation that follows, each building
within the project campus must account for energy consumption for space cooling, air
handling, climate-control circulating pumps, domestic hot water, lighting, power
receptacles, and process operations. All mechanical and electric energy calculations
are accounted in British thermal units (kBtu) per square foot of the building.

Sample Energy Calculation Vector Delta Design estimates the photovoltaic system
will provide 930,750 kWh/yr. Reference: 3/17/06 EnergyPro 3.1 Analysis Performance
Certificate of Compliance.