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University wins “Best Practice” award for energy efficiency

Sacramento State was awarded the 2007 Best Practice Award in HVAC Design for the UC/CSU Energy Efficiency Partnership Program.

During construction, the campus’ Academic Information Resource Center was fitted with a state-of-the-art HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) system that utilizes an under-floor air distribution system, rather than a conventional overhead heating and cooling system.

“There are several benefits to an under-floor air distribution system,” says Nathaniel Martin, energy conservation coordinator in Facilities Services. “It provides higher indoor air quality, lower energy costs, and improved air ventilation and efficiency.”

Simply put, the under-floor air distribution reaches the building occupants quicker because they’re standing or sitting on the floor.

“It can make for a happier customer,” says Gina Curry, university bursar and member of the Administration and Business Affairs sustainability group. “We have more flexibility to fix customer issues about temperature in the AIRC building than in other buildings.”

Martin, who submitted the proposal for the HVAC award, added that the use of Programmable Logic Controllers to control the HVAC system was another innovative practice put in place. “This method of control gives the campus some flexibility in terms of controlling program changes and reducing maintenance costs,” he says. Additionally, no long-term maintenance, service agreements or proprietary products are needed with control companies, and PLCs have a longer life expectancy and reliability than other control systems.

The system also provides for an integrated design concept. The under-floor air distribution system creates conditions for better communication wiring, power wiring and data system management because the systems are easier to access through the floor.