Western Mass School Converstions

bdgWesternMass · 06-24-19, 03:47 PM

Hey All,

I have had my head down working on a crazy project but I think of the forum everyday.

I think things are far enough along that I can share here is more then enough photos of the updating of 1931 model school building with a 1954 addition.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y5oqs3qnakFd

The insulation was done following a Building Science Corporation report I had done for the building.

It and all the permitting documents are available at.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u6a0xp34o...EAdBtNm4a?dl=0

Somehow the project is almost complete and I still don't have an HVAC system. I playing with a super insulated unconditioned space.

I think I'm going to run Runtal low temperature water baseboard along the entire perimeter. Each classroom is single unit so it will have it's own mixing valve and pump that feeds off a single loop that supplies the entire building. The boiler is an electric but I'm looking at a couple of air sourced set-ups as well solar thermal systems.

I have a large PV system rated at 48KV.

So please throw out your ideas on good untried methods for heating hot water un to 120 degrees or so.

If any method can make use of the existing 40' x48"x42" chimney they definately get bonus points.

Thanks for your ideas,

Ben

bdgWesternMass · 11-20-21, 10:31 AM

Well that took much longer than I expected

I'm finally done with the initial build out which included getting Building Science Corporation to analyze the building for insulation plans.

https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0...essment_Report

The entire process can be viewed here.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y5oqs3qnakFd

So that is where the building stands. I'm in New England heating with about 150,000 btus of Fujitsu Halcyon ASHP.

I have radiant loops that runs through the floor of the hallway and some Runtal radiators in the vestibule.

I have a 48kW PV array that helps with the heating.

This will be the first year I'm not using a bunch of electric baseboard so my last year electric bill is not a great measure of my efficiency.

My first upgrade will be a series of thermal solar on south, east, and west facades that will drain back to a large hot water storage system in the basement.

I want to make a large passive heat pump using the whole building. The building has some unique features that make includes at 60 foot chimney that starts in the basement. The chimney is 42" by 42" inside dimensions so this is where I want to place the cooling fins.

I also have over 1000' of 4' by 4' concrete deadspace that surrounds the perimeter and connects to the basement.
Finally the sizable attic will get an air to water heat exchange.

The solar thermal should be pretty straight forward and will drastically cut my heating bill.

I think I can around 2,000 sqft of solar thermal array will be dispersed among the facades.

Hoping someone has some good ideas of how to scale a system for such a building. The building is functioning now so I just need to make it more heating efficient.

If I can get the shoulder months under control I will probably be "netzero".

Thanks,
Ben

06-24-19, 03:47 PM	#1
bdgWesternMass Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Williamstown, MA Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Western Mass School Converstions Hey All, I have had my head down working on a crazy project but I think of the forum everyday. I think things are far enough along that I can share here is more then enough photos of the updating of 1931 model school building with a 1954 addition. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y5oqs3qnakFd The insulation was done following a Building Science Corporation report I had done for the building. It and all the permitting documents are available at. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u6a0xp34o...EAdBtNm4a?dl=0 Somehow the project is almost complete and I still don't have an HVAC system. I playing with a super insulated unconditioned space. I think I'm going to run Runtal low temperature water baseboard along the entire perimeter. Each classroom is single unit so it will have it's own mixing valve and pump that feeds off a single loop that supplies the entire building. The boiler is an electric but I'm looking at a couple of air sourced set-ups as well solar thermal systems. I have a large PV system rated at 48KV. So please throw out your ideas on good untried methods for heating hot water un to 120 degrees or so. If any method can make use of the existing 40' x48"x42" chimney they definately get bonus points. Thanks for your ideas, Ben

11-20-21, 10:31 AM	#2
bdgWesternMass Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Williamstown, MA Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Well that took much longer than I expected I'm finally done with the initial build out which included getting Building Science Corporation to analyze the building for insulation plans. https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0...essment_Report The entire process can be viewed here. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y5oqs3qnakFd So that is where the building stands. I'm in New England heating with about 150,000 btus of Fujitsu Halcyon ASHP. I have radiant loops that runs through the floor of the hallway and some Runtal radiators in the vestibule. I have a 48kW PV array that helps with the heating. This will be the first year I'm not using a bunch of electric baseboard so my last year electric bill is not a great measure of my efficiency. My first upgrade will be a series of thermal solar on south, east, and west facades that will drain back to a large hot water storage system in the basement. I want to make a large passive heat pump using the whole building. The building has some unique features that make includes at 60 foot chimney that starts in the basement. The chimney is 42" by 42" inside dimensions so this is where I want to place the cooling fins. I also have over 1000' of 4' by 4' concrete deadspace that surrounds the perimeter and connects to the basement. Finally the sizable attic will get an air to water heat exchange. The solar thermal should be pretty straight forward and will drastically cut my heating bill. I think I can around 2,000 sqft of solar thermal array will be dispersed among the facades. Hoping someone has some good ideas of how to scale a system for such a building. The building is functioning now so I just need to make it more heating efficient. If I can get the shoulder months under control I will probably be "netzero". Thanks, Ben