Comal County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center Passive Solar Demonstration Program. Final report

An extensive energy analysis was performed on an existing schoolhouse built in New Braunfels, Texas, in the 1930's. The purpose of the analysis was to evaluate the potentials for passive solar retrofitting concepts and energy conservation techniques which could be applied to the structure on an economically justifiable basis. The energy analysis was performed by the Bin methodology, and a life cycle cost analysis was utilized in determining the economics of the alternatives under consideration. The alternatives which were considered were analyzed on an individual basis as to the percentage improvement in the existing structure's yearly energy loads which each option could be expected to provide. The life cycle cost analysis was based on the assumed useful life of the option; the estimated fuel savings the option provided; the initial investment required to incorporate the option into the retrofitted structure; and discount and fuel escalation rates of 10 and 12%, respectively. If the option provided a positive annual real savings over its assumed life, then the selection of the option was considered to be economically feasible. The selected options were subsequently combined into a revised construction package, and an energy/economic analysis was performed to estimate the annual savings which couldmore » be expected by the revisions. A conservative building temperature control strategy which consisted of turning off the mechanical equipment during unoccupied hours, and utilizing natural ventilation when applicable was also investigated. The options which were selected and the relative annual savings are given.« less