Energy-efficient Design of Large Office Buildings

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article describes the implementation of a new method of designing state buildings in the state of Louisiana to cut energy consumption in several large state office buildings, as well as provide a demonstration of energy efficient design of large office buildings which will be accessible to the public. Included in this article are discussions of the proposed energy conservation measures and the determination of their energy and cost savings. It is apparent from the analysis that the initial costs associated with the installation of the energy conservation measures are far outweighed by the benefits gained over the life of the measures. Some of the cases presented are standard practice construction items currently used in Louisiana, and some are innovative technologies. They are simulated using new state-of-the-art building energy simulation software and compared to the ASHRAE 90.1-1989 base case, which Louisiana has adopted as a minimum standard for all new commercial construction in the stat...