Sustainability for Human Health Building

Written By: Siraj Khan, MSME, PE, CEM, LEED AP   

  Oakland University`s new Human Health building is consolidating the school of Nursing and the School of Health Science under one roof which, is approximately 172,000-square-foot sustainable facility and is located on the northwest corner of campus.

A.    As you know that the HHB building is now-a-days talk of the town mostly due to the fact, being the most visible building at our campus due to its location at the intersection of Walton Blvd. and Squirrel Road, its environmental stewardship and being a high-performance building. HHB has implemented various cutting-edge technologies to save energy, we are estimating energy consumption of 40,000 BTU/sq.ft/year including process and plug load, which is 45 to 55 % less energy consumption compared to a similar benchmark building and 35% below ASHRAE std. 90.1-2007 base line.  The entire campus community and all the students are excited about this building to be opened in fall of 2012.

B.      As you know that the University leadership and management always encourages environmental stewardship and sustainability at our campus. New Platinum Level Human Health Building and a new upcoming Gold Level Engineering Center building are the prime examples of their commitment toward sustainability at OU campus.

C.      As a matter of fact, it is worth to mention that the idea of HHB to be Platinum Level gained momentum after Dr. Russi’s announcement at the Ground Breaking ceremony that the new HHB building will be a Platinum level building, the first academic building in the State of Michigan, which really set the direction for the entire team to make it happen. Special thanks go to John Beaghan and Terry Stollsteimer for their leadership to build a world class facility that would showcase the University’s commitment to sustainability.

D.     Since the start of this project, Facilities Management worked with the Consultant to make this dream into a reality and shared valuable information about the cutting-edge technology systems and their associated mechanical components such as solar collectors, photovoltaic panels, geothermal wells, variable refrigerant flow fan coil units and heat pumps. In addition Facilities Management provided their valuable suggestions to make this building not only sustainable building but also high performance building with operational flexibility and maintainability on a long-term basis. Facilities Management also worked with construction contractors and played an active role to assure proper installation for some of the key components of the mechanical systems and played an active role during the commissioning process of HHB building.

 Let me share with you, some interesting facts about HHB building.

·         It is the first academic building in the State of Michigan, potentially achieving Platinum Level.                

·         It is the first academic building nation-wide has the largest variable refrigerant flow system coupled with a Geothermal Heat Pump System.

·         It is the first academic building nation-wide has the largest desiccant dehumidification system coupled with solar heating system to regenerate desiccant.

·         It is the first academic building nation-wide housed for a (OSHA) lab.          

  Few other interesting facts about sustainability related with the HHB:

 1. Renewable energy, power and thermal energy:

Renewable energy for power is being produced by installing a photovoltaic system of 3600 Sq. ft of SUNIVA PV panels providing 45 KW of power which is 3% of the buildings’ power. Renewable energy for thermal energy is being produced by installing 117 Solar Panel Plus vacuum tube solar thermal panels, each at 51 Sq.ft, total of 6, 060 sq. ft with (4) 25,000 gallons underground storage tanks, providing 504 MMBTU thermal energy for the entire year which is 40% of building’s heating hot water load. Solar thermal collectors on the roof provide most of the required heat for ventilation, entrance vestibules and lobbies, pool heating, domestic hot water, and for the sidewalk snow melting system.  In the summertime, the collectors are used as a heat source for the desiccant dehumidification system.  Four twenty five thousand gallon underground tanks allow any excess heat collected to be stored until needed. 

 2. Geothermal Heat Pump Systems:

·         The geothermal bore-field having 256 vertical Geo-wells, 320 feet deep, 25 feet apart, hidden underneath of parking lot P-1, using earth as a heat sink and source for the heat pumps to provide cooling and eating of the building. HHB has 44 heat pumps with 22 refrigeration circuits.

 ·         With ground temperatures significantly warmer than the outside environment in the winter and significantly cooler in the summer, mechanical heat pumps units very efficiently provide the primary heating and cooling for the building.  These heat pumps circulate refrigerant to/from fan coil units that provide the local heating or cooling.  During cool weather while interior spaces still require cooling, perimeter spaces are heated by simply circulating the refrigerant used to cool the interior.

 3. Variable refrigerant flow system:

    Providing simultaneously heating and cooling, high efficiency fan coil units with air filters to provide better environmental control and clean air in the offices and classrooms. HHB has 187 fan coil units, about four units are being served by a single heat pump, providing optimum control environment in each space.

4. Day time lighting and lighting controls:

   All the perimeter areas are pretty illuminated by natural light. This is accomplished by providing clearstory windows and atrium glass walls. We also provided occupancy sensors for lighting control and day light harvesting.

5. Dedicated fresh air systems with demand controls:

  Two 23,500 cfm DOAS unit, each unit with desiccant cooling coupled with solar array, and with a total heat recovery wheel of 3 Angstrom and CO2 demand control system, providing fresh air into the building.

 ·         During warm and humid weather, desiccant wheels are utilized to dry out the incoming ventilation air. The heat collected from the solar system is utilized to regenerate the desiccant.

 6. Cleanest indoor air in the offices and classrooms:

Each DOAS unit has pre and final air filter having MERV rating of 7 and 14; each fan coil unit has a filter of minimum 7 MERV rating

7. Low water flow plumbing fixtures:                                                                                                                                                     

1.6 gallons water closets and pint urinals in the restrooms with occupant sensors

8. Storm water harvesting for landscaping:

10,000 gallons below grade cistern collect storm water from roof of the entire building and utilize the storm water for lawn irrigation

9. Storm water management and healing garden:

Storm water run-off from parking lots and other areas is being controlled by natural wetland those also provided water filtration to control sediment

10. Preservation of natural wetlands:

Upgraded and rehabilitated natural wetland areas with native vegetation and walk-ways around the areas, improved living of animal habitats and green environment for the campus community

11. Native planting for trees:

Planted native trees and grass to cut down portable water usage

12. Recycling and recycle material usage:

95% of building construction material is diverted from landfills by recycling material plus recycle material was used in the construction

13. Low VOC furnishing:

Water-based paint and oil was used and low voc carpets and furnishing were provided

14. Outdoor LED lighting:

LED lighting for roadways and parking, no lighting pollution into sky, time clock and photocell with override switches were provided

15. Electric vehicle charging stations:

Two dual electric charging stations for (4) electric and hybrid vehicles

16. Measurement and verification:

 The building energy consumption will be provided by utility meters and sub-meters. These meters will be tie-in with campus automatic energy tracking and reporting system

17. Enhanced Commissioning:

The building was provided enhanced commissioning including commissioning of the fume hoods

18. Innovation in Design Process:

Overall the design and construction team demonstrated creativity, innovation skills and team effort to make this building as an example for sustainability commitment and high-performance building that could be used as a learning tool

So many people contributed to this amazing project and I would like to say “Thank you” to all of them.