Minimize the Load

Research laboratories have been compared to wind tunnels because of the large volumes of outside air moved through them, typically ten times greater than in an office building.

• Minimizing this air volume substantially reduces energy consumption.

• Traditional energy-saving measures—like wall and roof insulation—will usually not have a big effect on energy efficiency.

Understand the Load

Overly “tight” temperature and humidity request will undermine energy efficiency options.

• Determine necessary comfort envelope.

• “Qualify” loads –understand reasoning dictating temperature and humidity ranges. 

• “Quantify” loads –differentiate between code requirements, standards, real user needs, and equipment manufacturer’s suggestions before calculating loads.

Plug Loads

• Process heat gain from lab equipment is the primary source of internal heat gain in many facilities.

• Little information has been published that provides guidance on this subject to energy engineers.

• Labs21 has initiated a benchmarking activity to fill these information needs.