Soil Dynamics Laboratory – USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) annually performs energy audits and water surveys for one-quarter of facilities that are in the top three-quarters of energy consumers at the department level. The goal is to assist the USDA energy team in understanding where the building performs relative to its peers, establish a baseline for measuring improvements, and determine if further action is warranted and how best to focus the effort.

The USDA contracted Commissioning and Green Building Solutions, Inc. to provide Level I energy audit and water surveys for two units in Auburn, AL that included the Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit and Soul Dynamics Research Unit. Both sites are approximately 86,631 GSF. Within those approximately 48,000 GSF of office and laboratory space, approximately 30,000 GSF of storage buildings, with the remaining approximately 8,000 GSF of building space is dedicated to maintenance.

Added value through CxGBS® services:

• Identified a number of opportunities for reduced energy and water consumption in the audited facilities. In addition to reductions in energy use and water use for the facilities, many of the items identified will positively impact indoor air quality and benefit occupants of the facility.
• It was identified that the energy consumption of the SDRU facility is 26% of its peer average EUI of 167 kBtu/sq. ft./yr.
• Items identified suggest that retro-commissioning the facility would help to reduce energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, and lower operating cost.

TEAM:

Owner:
USDA

Design Professionals:
N/A

Construction Professionals:
N/A

Commissioning Professionals:
Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc.