Horizon Middle School

Despite the recent construction of the school, Horizon Middle School used excessive amounts of energy throughout the year and there were comfort and pressure issues in the building. As a result, Moorhead Area Public Schools District considered recommissioning the building to address these issues.

 

A comprehensive recommissioning investigation of Horizon Middle School was conducted in 2008. Building systems were analyzed using a combination of field observation, diagnostic testing, and building automation system trending. Further testing was performed on the indoor pressure differentials as these gave indication of operational issues and had been investigated previously without resolution. Several very significant Energy Conservation Opportunities were identified to reduce energy costs with an attractive payback.

 

One area of focus was on the pressure problems with regard to the outside. The entrance doors stood open, making it a security risk, and the hallways were windy. The supply fans were over-powering the return fans, causing the economizer dampers to let more outside air in than needed and over-pressurizing the school.

 

Another area of focus was the heating loop for the AHUs. The constant speed pump was left on whenever the outside temperature was below 80F, even though no heating was done below 60F. Other opportunities involved improving the efficiency of the hot water system, expanding the automation systems to optimize the discharge temperatures from the AHUs, and greating modes of operation at low occupancy.

 

Implementing all of the recommended improvements would cost $422, 600. Horizion Middle School would save $141,227 annually, leading to a payback of 3.0 years.