An Evaluation of Potential Energy Conservation Measures for J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School in Sanford, North Carolina.

Abstract

This thesis project involves the measurement and analysis of the energy usage of two classrooms at the J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School with implications for total school energy use. The classrooms are served by a vertically mounted Carrier water source heat pump that is controlled by a White Rodgers standard non-programmable thermostat control system. The HVAC system at the school was managed by a Paragon 128 central energy management system that is no longer in service. The Paragon 128 is actually a timer that dictates the operation of the heat pumps throughout the school. The data collected, from February to July, 2004, enabled the team to analyze data for different types of seasons: the heating, intermediate, and cooling seasons.

Based on the building parameters gathered from architectural drawing plans and energy data measured, a model of the classrooms was developed using the ENERGY-10 program. Once the accuracy of the base model was confirmed, individual energy conservation measures were included in the ENERGY-10 model to simulate any savings that may be realized. An idealized model was also simulated and analyzed, based on the combined effects of the energy conservation measures previously modeled individually. The extrapolated savings from all simulations were then compared as a percentage of the annual electrical energy consumption of the entire school. A brief analysis of the electrical energy usage of heat pumps throughout the school was also carried out.