1997 ASHRAE Technology Awards: HVAC for Energy Showcase PDF

Describes Southern California Gas Co.'s 45,000ft² (4,181m²) Energy Resource Center (ERC), aimed at helping decision-makers find the most energy- efficient, cost-effective and environmentally-sensitive solutions to their energy requirements. The ERC has 36,000ft² (3,344m²) of remodelled space and 9,000ft² (826m²) of new space, all designed to showcase the latest energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive technologies. The building is one of 25 buildings in the U.S. to be designated as Energy Star Showcase buildings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The mechanical system design objectives were to reduce the building's source energy consumption by 30% than mandated, to use minimum refrigerant, to achieve higher indoor air quality and to optimise performance of both existing and new mechanical systems. Describes how these goals are achieved using existing technology.