Energy Use During Construction

1
Energy Use During Construction

• Research
• By
• Althea Arnold

Jack E Brown Chemical Engineering
2
Purpose of the Study

• This presentation is a part of a study for a
  dissertation with the following Goals
• Identify the types of energy used in construction
  
• Determine energy consumption where available
• Develop a method for recording energy during
  construction

3
Energy Costs

• What are the impacts of energy decisions on
  Construction?
• Energy costs are dependent on the materials and
  methods of construction
• Environmental issues
• Costs of energy are
• Unpredictable
• Imbedded in the materials, equipment, and
  overhead costs
• Are energy costs significant?
• Construction Energy is 11 of total US energy
  consumption (1981)

US Department of Energy, DOE/CE/20220-1, 1981
4
Embodied Energy

• Includes Energy consumed during construction
• Life-Cycle Analysis Tradeoffs
• Embodied Energy vs. Building Use Energy
• Direct Energy vs. Labor
• Embodied Energy may Exceed the lifetime energy
  consumption for energy efficient buildings

Casals, X. (2006). Analysis of building energy
regulation and certification in Europe Their
role, limitations and differences. Energy and
Buildings, 38 (5), 381-392.
5
Building Parameters for Three Projects Studied
Building Parameters Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering General Services Complex State Chemist Building
Building Square Footage 205,000 200,000 20,000
Building Cost 38,000,000 21,000,000 4,500,000
Cost per SF 185 105 225
Number of Stories 7 2 and 3 1
Construction Time 26 mo 17 mo 13 mo
Type of Building Research Offices Research
Type of Structure Cast-in Place concrete Tilt-up Wall Steel Tilt-up Wall Steel
Special Features Glass Aluminum Curtain Wall, Chemical Labs 2- 3-Stories Chemical Laboratories
6
Additional Projects Studied
How readily available is energy information?
  Bryan Towne Center Church Addition Strip Mall
Project Description 250 acre new retail development Addition to Existing Church Retail Building
Construction Time 4 months for parking project, two years for completed project 9 months 4 months for one unit
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Electrical Consumption

8
Four Phases of Construction Energy

• Phase 1 - Site Clearing And Preparation
• Phase 2 - Building Structure
• Phase 3 - Interior Finishes
• Phase 4 - Commissioning

9
Phase 1 - Site Clearing And Preparation

• Begins at the beginning of the project
• Ends when major earth moving equipment is removed
  from the site
• Diesel fuel used to power earth moving equipment

Bryan Towne Center
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Phase 2 - Building Structure

• Begins when construction trailers are installed
  or a temporary power is set up at the site
• May overlap with Phase 1

Trailers for General Service Building
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Phase 2 - Building Structure

• Ends when a temporary power drop to the building
  is installed
• Foundation work and structural framing

State Chemist Laboratory
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Phase 3 - Interior Finishes

• Begins with the installation and heat up of a
  temporary power drop to the building
• Ends when permanent power is turned on in the
  building

General Services Complex
13
Phase 3 - Interior Finishes

• Mechanical controls testing and temperature and
  humidity control
• Flush-out of construction volatiles
• Security and task lighting may be provided by the
  permanent lighting

General Services Complex
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Phase 4 - Commissioning

• Begins when permanent power is turned on
• Ends when the owner assumes responsibility for
  the electricity bill
• Building mechanical systems are fully operational
  
• Commissioning

Jack E Brown Chemical Engineering
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Summary of Energy Costs

• Jack E Brown Chemical Engineering
• Phase 3 - average monthly electrical cost was
  2,220
• Phase 4 - average monthly electrical cost was
  14,043
• General Services Complex
• Phase 3 - average monthly electrical cost was
  547
• Phase 4 - average monthly electrical cost was
  10,056
• State Chemist
• Phase 4 - average monthly electrical cost was
  253
• Bryan Towne Center
• Phase 1 - 2,053 cost of diesel per day

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Summary

• Few construction projects are not statistically
  significant
• Definitive conclusions about what of the total
  project cost is spent on energy
• Help to locate energy use
• Develop methods to quantify it
• Predict project tasks that warrant further energy
  studies

17
Questions

• Presentation
• By
• Althea Arnold