AR2723 Lecture 5

Trade-offs between development and sustainability/environmental concern

Pittsburgh & Singapore – both under 2015’s most livable cities
Design  construction  commissioning  operation // evaluation, measurement and
verification

Case Study 1: National Library of Singapore – Ken Yeang

 SP context: period of nation-building
-shift of economic base from industrial to information tech and services
-government building program directed at educational campuses and libraries
(knowledge industry)
-adding a cultural layer to the urban mix which previously emphasized shopping and
eating – the nation’s favourite past-time
 Competition brief: derived from working with 7 civic groups representing the
Singaporean community at large
(Genuine attempt by NLB to represent the people)
 Pre-survey of total building energy efficiency for office buildings in Singapore 
ask client where NLB should be (no greenmark at that point of time) 
159kWh/m2/year
-breakdown of electricity consumption (street + plaza scheme)  lights, office space,
space cooling, heat rejection
 Zoning:
-recognizes not only the physical locations but also the functionality of the spaces and
how it could be (should be) controlled separately from the other zones
-differentiates its use and the way they operate/control
-est 180 zones
 Wind tunnel modeling: wind tunnel experiment to establish the boundary
conditions for CFD computational analysis
 CFD Simulation  influence design decisions
 Equatorial comfort index and ASHRAE standard (32:56 video link)
 Daylighting simulation
-glare  huge glazing
-glare is a function of where you look, not generic, as designer, must determine where
occupants will look
-compromise, best outcome is, SE direction 2 months in a year, morning 930-1130 will be
glare (not 100%)  but not accepted by client
 Construction 21: The Six Strategic Thrusts
-
 Thermal Performance
-curtain walls
-attention given to frames aka mullions  prove that mullions of the library’s curtain wall
do not exceed 42oC at peak solar radiation
 Lighting integration
-mix of natural daylighting with artificial light, determine zone based on daylight
calculation  affects lighting energy component
 Energy audit
-different types of lighting based on zones  more energy efficient (lighting control by
IBMS)
 Acoustical performance of façade panels
-sound attenuation (eg raindrop sounds)
-airborne and impact sound transmission testing
 Clean and Green technologies
-automatic blinds along Victoria street for glare control on certain occasions
-motion sensors in staff toilets for lighting control
-CO monitoring system in car parks
-CO2 sensors for ensuring adequate ventilation
-integrated BMS
AR2723 Lecture 5

-high efficient chillers – “modular” units for optimal performance efficiency

-variable speed drives/fans for AHU’s and pumps
-rain sensors for irrigation control
-pressure sensors for user detection on escalators
 BCA NLB energy performance (below predicted/aimed 159 kwh
 Total Building Performance: acoustics, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual,
spatial, structural integrity, façade system, building services system, building
automation, fire protection and safety

Case Study 2: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Pittsburgh

 2262m2, education research and administration building, Net Zero Energy building
 The New Energy Use Challenge
-even as our buildings become much more efficient in other aspects, the plug load is
increasing exponentially
-plug load energy use for computers and office equipment is increase, in office buildings
that have improved the efficiency of lights, heating and cooling it can represent as much
as 50% of the total electricity use (office equipment plug loads as percent of total office
electricity)
 Design assumption versus truths
