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32 <br />Evaluation Methods <br />To develop this report Robson and Woese, Inc. reviewed existing conditions by the following <br />methods: <br />• Review and collate existing available plans from all known projects on each site in <br />order to understand systems and proposed construction areas <br />,Where practical, field verify .and' visually review existing equipment and systems to <br />confirm installed conditions <br />• Based upon the review,. determine systems shortcomings and propose <br />replacement systems <br />• Review the constructability of the proposed recommendations <br />• Provide preliminary opinions of probable construction cost, anticipated annual <br />energy cost, and perform life cycle analyses of each proposed solution as the <br />basis of selection. <br />Our estimates of probable construction cost are based upon construction cost information <br />included in Means Estimating Guide 2000. Please note that no asbestos abatement or <br />hazardous materials were included in construction cost estimates; fio the best of our <br />knowledge, all asbestos abatement 'and hazardous materials work is complete. Median <br />useful life for equipment and systems were obtained from current ASHRAE publications with <br />adjustments where believed appropriate. Fuel costs were obtained from local fuel suppliers <br />as documented in our appendix; fuel costs listed are effective as of the day noted and are <br />subject to change. Uniform annual costs calculated are based on the application of a sinking <br />fund factor to capital cost at a 3% inflation rate and over the median life of the equipment, <br />added to the estimated annual energy cost. . <br />HVAC load and energy cost calculations were made using Carrier's Hourly Analysis Program <br />Version 4.04. The building envelope construction information used for input to the program <br />was obtained from existing available plans and field comparison. Building configuration and <br />intended use was obtained from interviews with County personnel. Energy consumption is <br />based upon current (Whiffed) and eventual intended (Northam) occupancy, current <br />ventilation requirements, and current fuel usage as tabulated in the Appendix of this report. <br />Goals <br />The goals of the new HVAC systems for the Whiffed and Northern Buildings are: - <br />• Improved indoor air quality conditions <br />• Improved comfort levels <br />• Provide the most cost=effective combination of initial, energy, and maintenance costs <br />(i.e., the most economically efficient HVAC systems) <br />• Quiet operation <br />• Remote access/review/troubleshooting of systems <br />• Flexibility to accommodate changing space usage ' <br />• Compatibility with other digital controls <br />(32) <br />