Energy Efficient Lighting and Electrical Systems Design for a Highrise Building with an Exploration of the Urban Impact on Daylighting
Open Access
Author:
Kaiserian, Lara Noelle
Area of Honors:
Architectural Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Richard George Mistrick, Thesis Supervisor Richard George Mistrick, Thesis Honors Advisor Kevin William Houser, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
building lighting design electrical design AC/DC distribution daylighting net-zero highrise energy efficient
Abstract:
This report details the lighting and electrical design for a net-zero office highrise in San Francisco, CA. This is just one part of a team design that included the mechanical, structural, electrical, and lighting systems, as well as a construction engineering plan. The group worked together to create a cohesive design that prioritized energy efficiency, environmental considerations, and occupant comfort. Also, as San Francisco is in a seismic region, occupant safety in an earthquake situation was of paramount importance.
The project focuses on the lobby and a typical office floor, as well as whole-building systems design. The lighting and electrical design strove to increase efficiency and decrease total energy consumption, and this was achieved through the use of a number of different strategies. For lighting, these include daylighting, lighting controls, and task lighting. The electrical system uses a combination AC/DC distribution system, dual emergency electrical risers, natural gas-powered fuel cells, and a server room supporting virtual computing.
To offset the building’s energy use, energy is generated via onsite and offsite solar arrays, as well as an onsite human waste-to-power converter. Through the combination of energy efficient design and energy generation techniques, the building achieves a net-zero annual energy consumption.
