Parkway South High School is the largest school and most significant energy consumer in Parkway School District. The school became a prime candidate for a long-term, sustainable solution in 2016 after one of two chillers in its aging chiller plant became non-functional. As part of an energy savings performance contract, a central geothermal plant was installed in addition to building envelope sealing and LED lighting. Installation of a 75 kW solar array and retro-commissioning were also recently completed onsite.

This presentation from Kenny Seeton, Central Plant Manager at California State University – Dominguez Hills, covers the opportunities and benefits of occupancy-based unified controls using Welch Hall as a case study.  Kenny discusses the basis of controls design process, matching lighting and HVAC zones, and energy savings opportunities of integrating lighting with a building automation system.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Kinnelon High School in Kinnelon, New Jersey, looked for solutions to ensure ongoing sanitizing in shared learning spaces that would also improve overall indoor air quality. When federal funding became available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the school installed hybrid UV-C air purifier and whole-room disinfection fixtures with embedded occupancy sensors in classrooms, cafeterias, and shared learning spaces.

During the day, air filtration is done when the sensors signal a space is occupied. The air-purifier elements of the fixtures combine HEPA, high-intensity UV-C, and active carbon filtration to perform the ASHRAE-recommended two or more air changes per hour to improve air quality and reduce pathogens. At night, automated, chemical-free disinfection of the air and surfaces occurs in unoccupied spaces throughout the school.

Avenues World School – New York Campus in New York City is recognized in the Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) Systems for Energy Savings and Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) category. The school installed GUV luminaires across its campus to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases. Upper-room luminaires were installed in the cafeteria, corridors, gym areas, choral classrooms, and theater. Whole-room far UVC luminaires were installed in all classrooms. One assessed classroom was found to deliver between 0.9 and 4.6 equivalent air changes per hour (eACH) while only using 15 watts. The upper-room GUV installation in the cafeteria was found to deliver at least 12.5 eACH while using 386 watts.   

Utica University in Utica, New York, is recognized in the Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) Systems for Energy Savings and Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) category. The university installed upper room GUV technologies in key areas of the campus to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases. This technology was installed in 56 classrooms, weight rooms, locker rooms, and the campus health center waiting room and exam rooms.