Ventilation & Boiler Installation: Energy Performance Assessment and Mechanical Design
Pine Bush Central School District, Administration Building, Pine Bush, NYOverview
The Pine Bush School Administrative building required energy performance assessment targeted at the heating system for the building. MEP was subcontracted to design mechanical and electrical specifications.
MEP identified and corrected inefficiencies that reduced excessive energy consumption in the winter months. We designed all construction documents to upgrade the boiler, heating, and ventilation systems to reuse parts of the system when possible and reduce costs.
Facility Description
Located in Pine Bush, New York and built in the 1980’s, the Pine Bush School District Administration building is 4,500 square feet consisting of one floor on slab construction.
Project Origin and Goals
The building was mechanically served by four split air to air heat pumps and associated air handling units. The heat pumps provided both heating and cooling. Makeup outside air was provided via an air to air heat exchanger. The building experienced excessive electrical consumption during the winter months.
This project originated as an energy performance contract by Ameresco in 2008 and targeted the heating methodology for the entire building. MEP was subcontracted by the prime consultant to provide mechanical and electrical design documents and specifications.
Boiler & Heating Distribution
MEP produced construction documents and specifications to install a new boiler room in the rear of the building. An oil-fired boiler, two oil tanks, hydronic pumps, controls and piping to serve six heating zones was designed. The heating distribution system consisted of both finned tube radiation and fan-coil units to accommodate a fixed furniture layout. The design documents underwent full SED review and approval.
Ventilation
Outdoor ventilation became an item to be considered once the original basis of design was altered to a hybrid system. The heat exchanger could no longer draw additional heating from the heat pumps to temper the air as the original design intended. As a result MEP designed an alternative source of heat for the heat exchanger from the new boiler room, associated ductwork modifications and controls.
