HIDDEN
HSP: Case Study
Reflections
Focusing on energy flows: The fundamental principle of this project was a deep examination into the energy flows within commercial office spaces. While lights provide illuminance, they also give off heat. Office equipment and occupants behave much in the same way- they are essential dynamic components within the building program and have a thermal signature that a building’s heating and cooling systems must respond to. The analysis was based on examining opportunities to reuse/recycle/balance these flows via hydronic-based HVAC retrofits at multiple scales of renovation.
- A more sustainable and circular approach consists of:
- Leveraging heat recovery ventilation to reduce conditioning loads
- Separating fresh air delivery from heating and cooling systems by using a dedicated outdoor air supply
- Recycling existing sources of heat within the building during the cold weather rather than rejecting it to the atmosphere.
- Utilizing heat pumps to satisfy remaining heating loads in buildings and fully eliminate the use of fossil fuel combustion
- New systems can be phased in over time: Rather than retrofitting the entire building, work can be done on a floor-by-floor basis, which is easier on the budget, allows for greater flexibility and is less disruptive to existing tenants. It is estimated that full-floor tenants vacate spaces every 10 to 15 years.
Contributing Organizations