Presentation for the Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference on March 29, 2019 in Cambridge, MA

1.
Clean Energy Corp

7. Origins
• The request for extension work
• Ben Weil directed his assistance towards municipal buildings
• Assisted over 20 communities and counting, about 7 each semester

8. Why We’re the Best
• Students couple prior in class and in field experience surrounding
anything building science related: structure, materials, renewable
technologies, HVAC, and cost estimating.
• Students with a range of backgrounds in building construction
technology, architecture, sustainability science, and more!
• Our suggestions are put to good use.

9. Shelbourne Falls Overview
-Cowell Gym accounts for 23% of municipal energy
use
-Is twice as energy intensive as other gymnasiums
-Temperature setpoint is 58 degrees, and gym is
not used very often
-->Should not be using this much energy
Design: Gym area has two large stacks for
ventilation and the basement is a half below grade
and suffering from moisture and mold
Major problems identified: high rate of air
leakage, lack of insulation, steam heating system,
thermostat settings, thermal stratification, and
condensation on basement surfaces
Thermographic image of
steam radiator inside stack

10. Shelbourne Falls Analysis
-High rate of air leakage: stack designed for no to
lots of ventilation requirement changes. Air
exfiltration via stacks is the assumed air leakage
Heat loss estimation is about 279 MMBtu (approx.
$5,023) per year.
-Thermal Stratification: Operating 6 ineffective fans,
which use about 1577 kWh/year, or about $237.
-Moisture and mold in basement: stack bringing in
28 lbs of water in each hour from May to October,
constant dehumidifier operation would amount to
11,849 kWh or about $1777 per year. To stop mold
and moisture reducing uncontrolled air infiltration,
assuring a vapor barrier between the ground and
the basement space, and insulating the walls and
floor such that they remain above dew point.
Stratification in gym

11. Shelbourne Falls Solutions and Payback

12. Limitations and areas for improvement
• Time limited to one semester
• One site visit
• Missing energy usage data
• Further specifications needed by
contractors