IPWG agenda 120700 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

r 173 Aquatics / Community Center at Homestead Park Town of Chapel Hill Energy Conservation Evaluation The purpose of this evaluation is to review basic requirements and identify options to utilize energy efficient and renewable energy source components in the new aquatic center being studied for the Town of Chapel Hill (Town ) . This information , which should be considered in all designs options to be developed for the new facility, focuses on the natatorium space , which is the room that will house one or more indoor swimming , recreation and therapeutic pools . Included in this overview are responses to relevant comments listed in the March 23 , 2000 , Phase One Needs report , indoor air quality concerns , moisture control , building durability and operation and maintenance issues . Particular attention is given to demonstrating compliance with the Town 's building energy conservation ordinance . Newer indoor swimming pools are generally the highest operating cost facilities operated by local governments , in terms of annual operating costs per square for energy and maintenance costs . The pool water must be heated year round to temperatures in the 78 to 85 degree and higher temperature range . Similar space temperatures must be maintained in the winter heating season . Large pumps run continuously to filter the pool water volumes . High rates of moisture evaporation from the water surface translate into high costs for mechanical ventilation , dehumidification , and cooling of the room space. Added to these energy costs , are significant chemical treatment and make up water costs . Because of these high energy, water and treatment costs , most. aquatic centers utilize a variety of energy saving and renewable measures not only to save money, but to make these buildings last longer . Popular natatorium measures include pool covers , solar pool heating and waste heat recovery . The - potential energy savings are large enough that the U . S . Department of Energy developed a program area specifically to promote saving energy in swimming pools . Information and results from this - - program , which is called Reduce Swimming Pool Energy Costs ( RSPEC ) is available from the websito www . eren . doe .gov/rspec . COMPLIANCE WITH THE TOWN ENERGY EFFICIENCY ORDINANCE In Chapel Hill , an energy efficient design for the new aquatic facility is mandated by a town ordinance : Energy -Conservation in Design and Construction of New and. Renovated Town Buildiftgs Section 57108 • of thee Chapel Hill . ordinance states that, 'Any buildings built with Town funds shall •be designed to. achieve a goal of using at least 30 % less energy than required by the North Carolina State Building Codes ' (NCSBC's) ._ The relevant part of the NCSBC is Volume X, Energy Code* for Commercial and Residential. • . Buildings . Demonstrating a 30 % efficiency performance over Volume X requirements of a proposed natatorium design is somewhat problematic . The available building energy analysis tools . such . as DOE 11 , BLAST , TRACL and HAP 4 target people oriented • buildings such as offices , schools and . stores : Therefore a customized analysis would be * required utilizing one of the above tools , coupled with spreadsheet analysis of * the pool performance . characteristics . This • level of analysis will add significant cost to the *design * of the facility white producing results of debatable accuracy . Consequently, a more pragmatic . • analysis is proposed - here to satisfy the 30 % design performance requirement . This method involves quantitatively or qualitatively improving the significant Volume X provisions that affect aquatic center designs . The proposed method is described below in items 1 through 1 7 .