Back in May 2007, the concept of the energy lab was born. A go green workshop was going on to discuss ideas of a sustainble campus. (Students parents, faculty, admin) The energy lab was potentially a building to study renewable energies. Dr. Bill initiatiated the idea of the energy lab at HPA. A generous donor also became involved and was also very passionated about the idea of the enrgy lab. Construction started in 2008.Gradually the energy lab became much more concrete and real. It opened in 2010 on april 16.
The goalsUse Hawaii already existing renewable energy facilities and learn about them. Have a place where tools are very accessible to enable students and others to do experiments and continue to learn. The LEED award was based off of criteria like, design, construction, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, locations and linkages, awareness and education, curriculum integration, innovation in design, and regional priority.Living Building Challenge goes beyond the LEED.The areas that the LBC focused on was site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty.Food Miles grade, the materials used had a radius of how many miles they needed to travel.
Things that the building cannot include. No pesticides, Downside, food eating restrictionsBecause of ants.
Birds eye view
The energy lab was construction on a slope. Where trade winds are frequent.The design of the energy lab was to use the trade winds to provide comfort. he project is located on one of the sunniest and windiest places in the country. The site is relatively remote with an 18 percent slope. Dynamic thermal modeling was used to study the wind pressures around the building. In the end, the design was modified to ensure 12 air changes per hour.
Wood from Forest stewardship certified wood and Wood recycled from leftover into benches tables for outdoorsBridges and walkways to the energylab
For every inch of rain that falls on the roof, we capture 3,800 gallons of water. Freshwater Catchment System Tank - On the bottom of the westside staircase is the freshwater catchment system tank that collects water off hte 6,000 square foot roof. For every inch of rain that falls on the roof, we capture 3,800 gallons of water. There are sonar sensors in each tank that measure the water levels down to the thickness of a sheet of paper or one quart. This is important because the biggest issue in sustainable building is waste of productivity, electricity and water. Water levels, flows and temperatures are all electronically monitored and can be seen in the monitoring lab and lab control system screen on the first floor.Radiant Cooling System Tank - At the bottom of the eastside staircase is the radiant cooling system. This insulated water tank holds water that is chilled every evening by pumping it up to the panels on the roof that then radiate out to space. Radiant Cooling System Tank
There are 3 different types of solar panels in place on the roof and students are able to monitor the energy efficiency of each type in the monitoring lab. These small square shaped solar panels are “bifacial” and can receive solar power from both sides of its panels. They have 22% efficiency instead of the standard 14%. Currently, we have 27 kW of photovoltaic panels on the roof.
This all helps to circulate and ventilate air.
The fans, lights, alarms, and other things are controllable from anywhere (if you have internet and the passcodes to control them)There is also a control monitor where you can do that within the energy lab very conveniently.
Lets teachers to display their computers, live video, online videos, etc. Uses luna and drawing pads to further teach, and use while teaching. Mini workshop area where most experiments are taken place.
Conferences with people from anywhere.Able to see everyone In the room as well as the monitor on the opposite side. Hold up to eight separate groups at once. Superhero meet up
Control Room-live feed of sensors in the buildingOut side sources-Data feed from outside sources For example, seismic dataFrom a sensor that students initiated. This room evolved into a project room as well. Where students who are interested in specific technologies or studies can record data, work, and research in this room as well. Currently, one project is recording data from the mars simulation. Which is happening on this island.
Building and construction projects mainly go on in here. Clubs like robotics, flyers, have a home here.
Next to the water tanks, there is the Basement WorkshopWhere there are a bunch of hardcore mechanical tools. Like Saws, drills, etc. (things that I don’t know the name of)
Project workshopWhere usually people do things like saudering, experiments, etc.
Laptops and Ipads provided by grants and donationsEliminates paper usageSensors for in class experiments as well as independent studiesThe usual: rulers, pens, etc.
Record the resources they use, how they can regulate water. Hpa students are basically observing and recording via the same technology that we use the enrgy lab with. TelemetryWireless