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Stylized Text: Energy Efficient Schools: PERC.

North Carolina Performance Enhancement Relocatable Classrooms
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Picture of NC PERC.
NC PERC Unit

The NC Performance Enhanced Relocatable Classroom is located at Chapel Hill High School. There are 20 schools in the district and a total population of over 10,600 students. The school district currently has 42 relocatable classrooms and 8 were added for the school year 2003-2004. The North Carolina Solar Center has partnered with FSEC to help monitor the performance of the NC PERC experiment. The typical classroom used in this school district is a wood framed structure with gypsum ceiling; unlike the FL and NY typical classrooms, which used t-grid ceilings (for more detail see FL PERC and NY PERC). Over a full year of data collection,  the modified classroom achieved an overall energy savings of 46%. Total electricity use averaged 64.9 kWh/day in the control portable against 32.3 kWh in the improved one. The magnitude of the daily energy end uses is shown in the pie graph below, illustrating that space heating has made up the lion's share of energy use from November through March.

 

Image of Pie Chart.
Measured average electricity end-uses in control portable
from November 1, 2003 through March 8, 2004

The timing of the savings are shown in the average daily load profiles shown in the plot below. FSEC is continuing to monitor this project and evaluate the modifications that were made as well as the performance over the entire year.

Graph of NC Total Electric Energy Demand. Picture of Daylighting.
Daylighting from overhead skylights
inside the experimental classroom


Picture of Info Monitor Logo.
FSEC monitored energy performance in both classrooms. All data was downloaded daily to FSEC via modem. Data summaries can be accessed online at the InfoMonitors web site. Detailed data queries and graphs can also be generated through FSEC's WebGet database.
Picture of Weather Logo.


NASEO Side-by-Side Study of NC PERC
Specifications of Standard and Energy-Efficient Construction
Characteristic Standard Relocatable PERC
Floor Insulation R-15 Formaldehyde Free 
Wall Insulation R-11 R- 15 Formaldehyde Free insulation w/ R-7 polyisocyanurate  sheathing, Tyvek house wrap Image
Exterior Door Steel/steel KD (knock down) with 10"x10" view panel R= 1.626 HM pressed steel KD (knock down) CECO with polystyrene core 10"x10" view panel R= 14.8
Ceiling Insulation R- 19 batt insulation
Image

R-38 blown Image
Note of Interest (10.5 inches)

Roof Dark colored asphalt shingle Image Light colored asphalt shingle Image with Techshield radiant barrier by Louisiana Pacific sub deck
Image
Windows  Single pane, aluminum frame(U= 1.10, SHGC= 0.86, Vt=0.90) Low-E Argon gas filled, vinyl framed by Reynolds 200 Series (U=0.35, SHGC - 0.38, Vt=0.58) Image
Lights       16 fixtures @ (2) T12 34W lamps + Bathroom (1) 60 incandescent bulb + (2) outdoor lights @ 60W = 1,208 Total Installed Wattage Image 10 fixtures @ (3) T8 32 W lamps + Bathroom (1) 13W CFL + (2) outdoor lights @ 13W CFL = 790W Total Installed Wattage Image
Light Controls Manual controlled - one switch controls one half of the fixtures in the classroom and the other switch located on opposite wall controls other half of fixtures Occupancy sensor initially activates Image
lights, photosensor maintains minimum 50fc light level with continuously
dimming ballasts Image
Outdoor Light 60 Watt incandescent Manually controlled Image (2) 13 Watt CFL, photosensor controlled
Skylights None
(6) SunOptics Skylights Model800IB (2348), curb mounted w/ power light louver
Image | Image | Image
Interior Floor Finish Roll carpeting Non-permeable backing, Interface Cubic carpet tile, low VOC glue
Interior Wall Finish Vinyl covered gypsum Image Harmony High Performance Low Odor Latex Paint
Heating System 10 kW electric resistance heat strip 34,130 BTU Bard SH Series Heat Pump with ERV, HSPF 7.5, 5 kW heat strip (see Lessons Learned)
Cooling System Bard Central Air Conditioning 3.5 ton 43000 BTU cool
SEER 10
3 ton Bard SH Series Heat Pump with ERV
SEER 12
Ventilation System Fixed CFM during occupancy

CO2 control for ventilation with 3-step fan speed with energy recovery ventilator
Image
(click here for more information regarding this ventilation control mechanism)

HVAC controls Manual t-stat Bard CS2000 Energy Monitor Image
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Broan, 4 sonne, 100 CFM w/ 60W incandescent light bulb Measured dB - 68.0 (see Sones definitions) Broan Ultrasilent model #S80LU, 0.3 sonne, 50CFM with 13W cflMeasured dB level - 53.4 (see Decibel comparisons)
Duct Leakage* CFM25out = 197 CFM25out = 182
Building Leakage* ACH50 = 9.08 ACH50 = 4.83
Building Leakage (nat)* ACH50 = 0.47 ACH50 = 0.25
Sound level of HVAC equipment (fan only) 46dB 44dB
Sound level of HVAC equipment (ac compressor on) 51dB 49dB

*Leakage Testing performed – October 22, 2003

Lessons Learned - Improvements Proposed for Next Construction
Characteristic Comment
Light Operation Adjustments were made to LCD lighting control module. The dimming response dial sets the ratio of dimming to the amount of daylight contributing to the illumination of the zone. It was originally set to “3” and was changed to “2”. The data shows savings were significant without compromising indoor light levels.
Skylight well Gypsum Wall Board ceilings are typical for this relocatable classroom in this school district. Therefore, loose fill insulation is blown on top of the ceiling. The trusses are framed and the gypsum sheet rock is glued and fastened to the underside of the roof joists. Then the insulation is sprayed, the roof/ceiling is then lifted into place. The skylight wells were framed prior to the insulation process. The skylight wells flared to increase the natural light distribution in the classroom. This also made the space look large. This construction was specified in the NC PERC due to the skylight well difficulty experienced in the NY PERC. The data was significantly improved.
CS2000
Adjustments were made to the CS2000 in December. This is largely due to the fact the system was “expecting” occupancy to occur and activating itself regardless of occupancy. This is the intended nature of the CS2000 but it is supposed to learn a 7-day calendar and it has not shown success in this. Therefore, a technician made some modifications such as (need explanation of wiring modification)
Heating System
There was an initial operational problem with the heat strip, and it was due to an improper wiring schematic. The wiring change was made, and the unit has performed as it was intended. A modification was fmade in the field to the heating element in the HVAC equipment. The heat strip for emergency heat operation was reduced from 10 kW to 5 kW in the experimental unit.

Skylight Design

Daylighting performance in the PERC unit was simulated to determine the size, layout and quantity of skylights that would optimize light levels in the classrooms. A program developed by HMG, SkyCalc was utilized using various supplemental electrical lighting scenarios. The simulated energy savings of using 4, 6 and 8 skylights in NC climate with continuously dimming electrical lighting operation are shown below (click to enlarge):

Picture of NC 4 Skylights.   Picture of NC 6 Skylights.   Picture of NC 8 skylights.
4 skylights
6 skylights
8 skylights

Below is the construction document for the NC PERC and detail that illustrates the skylight well strategy (click to enlarge).

Picture of Skylight Strategies.

To see construction status, future data collection, and specifications for other PERCs, please visit the links below.

Picture of NY PERC.
 
Picture of FL PERC.
 

Contacts

FSEC would like to especially thank the industry partners who have donated time and equipment in this worthwhile project. 

Company Contact Email Phone
ATEX Distributing John Michael john.michael@atexac.com 352-787-0002
Chapel Hill High School Jeff Thomas   919-929-2106
Ellison Windows (Atrium) Chris Reilly   800-732-6543
Interface Flooring Liz Rozelle liz.rozzelle@us.interfaceinc.com 877-428-0328
Johns Manville Carlos Bolivar   305-205-6702
NASEO Frank Bishop fb@naseo.org 703-299-8800 
North Carolina Solar Center Kurt Creamer
Garrett Raper
kurt_creamer@ncsu.edu
gmraper@eos.ncsu.edu
919-515-4092
Rebuild America - Energy Smarts Schools Larry Schoff lschoff@rev.net 540-961-2184
Roger Carter Corporation Currie Smith   252-523-7077
SensorSwitch Inc. Maurice Oliver moliver@sensorswitch.com 800-727-7483
Sun Optics Jim Blomberg highnoon@sunoptics.com 800-289-4700

News Releases, Publications and Presentations

Class is a study in Energy Use – News Observer January 26, 2004 (Word 143KB)
New Mobile Classroom Earns High Marks for Energy Savings - NCSC News Release January 14, 2004 (Word 21KB)
Improving Performance in portable Classrooms - 2002 SEP/RA National Conference July 30, 2002 (PPT 15,456KB )
Research & Case Studies of Energy Efficiency in Schools – AIA SC Think Green Workshop April 4, 2003 (PPT 12,475KB )

Project Lead:
Danny Parker
Principal Research Scientist
(321) 638-1404

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Note of Interest: Ceiling Insulation
Gypsum Wall Board ceilings are typical for this relocatable classrooms in this school district. Therefore, loose fill insulation is blown on top of the ceiling. The trusses are framed and the gypsum sheet rock is glued and fastened to the underside of the roof joists Then the insulation is sprayed, the roof/ceiling is then lifted into place. The skylight wells were framed prior to the insulation process, Gypsum ceilings are generally more air tight than t-grid ceilings.

Ventilation Method for NC PERC
Wall mounted CO2 Controller model # 8002 w/ display controls, modifies the ventilation fan speed to operate under these conditions (during occupancy):

  • high speed when CO2 levels in the classroom at 1200 ppm or more
  • off when CO2 levels in the classroom are at 550 ppm or less
  • medium speed when CO2 levels are between 700ppm –1200ppm

Bard CS2000 Energy Management controller detects occupancy and allows the heating/cooling/ventilation systems to operate when the classroom is occupied, and also has pre-cool/pre-heat scheduling