Comments on: There Oughta Be A Law http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/ Efficiency is the straightest path to hell.* Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:45:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: David Sucher http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-36643 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:18:55 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-36643 It's inspiring. It’s inspiring.

]]> by: Matt the Engineer http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-34295 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:13:27 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-34295 [holz] and [dan], it's actually quite difficult to get much past 30% savings in our region. Air conditioning only kicks on a small fraction of the year in this size building, and isn't close to the major power user. Often it's lighting that's the major power user, and is the easiest way to reduce energy use (daylight dimming controls, reduced lighting power density, good lighting design that reduces the number of table lamps people need/use). Next on the list (by cost) is probably plug loads - computers, copiers, table lamps, space heaters (grrr), followed by ventilation fans. Somewhere in there (depending on the building design) is heat - which is most of our energy use but not as much energy cost (natural gas being cheap per energy unit even with our inexpensive electricity). LEED measures energy cost. [holz] and [dan], it’s actually quite difficult to get much past 30% savings in our region. Air conditioning only kicks on a small fraction of the year in this size building, and isn’t close to the major power user. Often it’s lighting that’s the major power user, and is the easiest way to reduce energy use (daylight dimming controls, reduced lighting power density, good lighting design that reduces the number of table lamps people need/use). Next on the list (by cost) is probably plug loads - computers, copiers, table lamps, space heaters (grrr), followed by ventilation fans. Somewhere in there (depending on the building design) is heat - which is most of our energy use but not as much energy cost (natural gas being cheap per energy unit even with our inexpensive electricity). LEED measures energy cost.

]]> by: tres_arboles http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-34238 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:13:53 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-34238 I know this might be a merely pedestrian observation after considering the sustainability/energy usage stuff, but I like the way it looks. Modern and stylish but simple enough to fit and not grow outdated in less than a decade. My kind of city building. David I know this might be a merely pedestrian observation after considering the sustainability/energy usage stuff, but I like the way it looks. Modern and stylish but simple enough to fit and not grow outdated in less than a decade. My kind of city building.

David

]]> by: dan bertolet http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-31421 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:37:53 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-31421 holz, yes, I was wondering the same thing. It seems no A/C and daylighting and all the other little energy saving features that I assume are in the building would give them better than a 30% reduction. They may be intentionally going with a conservative estimate just in case things don't go as well as they'd hoped. Or maybe it's simply telling us that in this climate, the energy demand of A/C is relatively small? holz, yes, I was wondering the same thing. It seems no A/C and daylighting and all the other little energy saving features that I assume are in the building would give them better than a 30% reduction. They may be intentionally going with a conservative estimate just in case things don’t go as well as they’d hoped. Or maybe it’s simply telling us that in this climate, the energy demand of A/C is relatively small?

]]> by: holz http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30950 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:49:17 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30950 just 30% better? are you s******g me? that's baseline. surely they could have achieved better than that. feck i miss the germans and their progressive views. just 30% better? are you s******g me?

that’s baseline. surely they could have achieved better than that.

feck i miss the germans and their progressive views.

]]> by: Matt the Engineer http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30800 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:27:39 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30800 [AM], it's not only possible, it's a good idea. I've designed a few buildings with air handlers but no cooling (though we always have at least radiant heating in this climate). This allows for other nice techniques like winter heat recovery (transferring heat from your warm exhaust air to your cool intake air). It's still a good idea to have operable windows for when it gets really warm out, but the design can work either way (ducts and fans get larger if you design for closed windows and no air conditioning). [AM], it’s not only possible, it’s a good idea. I’ve designed a few buildings with air handlers but no cooling (though we always have at least radiant heating in this climate). This allows for other nice techniques like winter heat recovery (transferring heat from your warm exhaust air to your cool intake air). It’s still a good idea to have operable windows for when it gets really warm out, but the design can work either way (ducts and fans get larger if you design for closed windows and no air conditioning).

]]> by: AM http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30766 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:24:41 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-30766 Quick question: Given all the (lot? little?) air pollution downtown, would it be OK to construct a sealed building that doesn't use heating or cooling but does utilize powered, filtered ventilation? I'm just thinking of air pulled through a filter via a powered fan or something, and then a bunch of other design elements (other than operable windows) to eliminate the heating and cooling need. Put more simply: Is there some way to control and filter the air supply while still significantly diminishing the need for AC and/or heating? I ask because I live very near I-5 downtown and can't help but notice the particle matter that has settled the windowsill since signing the lease many months ago. On a downtown arterial it's probably not as bad, but it'd be nice to be able to breathe un- or less-polluted air in the office/home/whatever building. Quick question: Given all the (lot? little?) air pollution downtown, would it be OK to construct a sealed building that doesn’t use heating or cooling but does utilize powered, filtered ventilation? I’m just thinking of air pulled through a filter via a powered fan or something, and then a bunch of other design elements (other than operable windows) to eliminate the heating and cooling need. Put more simply: Is there some way to control and filter the air supply while still significantly diminishing the need for AC and/or heating?

I ask because I live very near I-5 downtown and can’t help but notice the particle matter that has settled the windowsill since signing the lease many months ago. On a downtown arterial it’s probably not as bad, but it’d be nice to be able to breathe un- or less-polluted air in the office/home/whatever building.

]]> by: JoshMahar http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29690 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:03:52 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29690 @2 Spencer: I did a tour here with Seattle Great City and I remember one thing they mentioned was how the building re-connected them with the neighborhood. With the big glass windows always open there is a much more direct connection of sight and sound both from within and from without. The courtyard is a nice feature that also blurs the lines between the public and private space here. I believe they are looking for a cafe-type rentee for part of the bottom floor which will also help increase this public/private interaction. @3 Bob, they have a little cove under the steps in the courtyard for bikes. I also believe there is bike parking in the below-grade garage, but I'm not sure on that. @2 Spencer: I did a tour here with Seattle Great City and I remember one thing they mentioned was how the building re-connected them with the neighborhood. With the big glass windows always open there is a much more direct connection of sight and sound both from within and from without. The courtyard is a nice feature that also blurs the lines between the public and private space here. I believe they are looking for a cafe-type rentee for part of the bottom floor which will also help increase this public/private interaction.

@3 Bob, they have a little cove under the steps in the courtyard for bikes. I also believe there is bike parking in the below-grade garage, but I’m not sure on that.

]]> by: Eric http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29534 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:34:24 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29534 If only they had adequate, proper bike parking... If only they had adequate, proper bike parking…

]]> by: justin http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29278 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:20:42 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/03/there-oughta-be-a-law/#comment-29278 I love seeing all those bikes out front I love seeing all those bikes out front

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