This is part II of the article Building Energy Benchmarking and Window/Curtainwall Retrofit Part 1
I am excited about a little-known approach for window or curtainwall retrofit that can create dramatic improvements in building performance at a far lower cost with no down-time, showing energy paybacks in as little as only five years!
Interior mounted supplemental window system
A secondary window, also called a commercial interior storm window can be packed with features that address the building’s unique needs for insulation, solar control, noise control and securityThe solution, sometimes called a commercial interior storm window, is to add an interior mounted layer of glazing to your existing window. This sounds simple, but there can be a lot to it. This custom interior window can be packed with features that will benefit your building in all sorts of ways.For instance you can add a single glass, low-e glass, or insulated glass for far better thermal performance. You can add spectrally selective low-e coatings to “tune” the way energy enters and leaves through the windows.
Between glass blinds work extremely well with supplemental windows because the blinds stay cleaner and receive less wear from handling. You can even use dimmable glass for the ultimate in solar control.
The new secondary windows fit tightly, creating dramatic improvements in air infiltration, which in turn reduces street noise.
You can add laminated glass to an interior window for safety, UV resistance and sound attenuation. You can even make these commercial interior storm windows blast and hurricane resistant! Government, military and bank buildings can benefit greatly with this added security.
When well designed interior mounted secondary windows are added to drafty, too bright, uncomfortable work spaces, occupants report surprising improvements in the work environment. Worker productivity and property value climb rapidly as a result.
Historic window renovation
Historic building and older curtainwall buildings are candidates for an interior secondary window solution
Interior secondary windows are the darling of the historic rehabilitation crowd. Design professionals and building owners with historically significant buildings are now free to carefully restore the windows without awkwardly butchering them with clumsy weatherstrips, heavy insulated glass or ugly exterior storm windows.Curtainwall retrofit
Office buildings with single-glazed glass curtainwalls can be brought into the age of building science and energy efficiency with a well designed interior glazing solution that manages air infiltration, thermal conductivity, solar heat gain and acoustical performance in one swift economical swoop. The interior glazing solution, far beyond what you might think of as an interior storm window, can be designed to blend perfectly with the existing curtainwall so that the interior aesthetics are preserved and even improved.
Easy, non-intrusive installation of secondary glazing
A real beauty of the interior window is its ease of installation and lack of intrusiveness during installation. Interior windows can be installed in an hour or less with far less mess and disruption than a full window replacement. It is not uncommon that a worker might enter his office after the interior windows were installed, and not even notice that construction had just occurred.
In addition to all of these benefits, when benchmarking time comes along, your property will rise to the top of the list of desirable, energy efficient properties, and your energy cost savings will be the gift that keeps on giving year after year.
Window/curtainwall retrofit scenarios
Let’s consider a 15 story, 100,000 sf office building in Chicago with 40% window to wall ratio.
To this we will add a commercial interior storm window that is also glazed, and creates an air space of about 2 inches between the new and old glass.
Our three window retrofit scenarios
Here are our three scenarios. None have blinds or shades in this simulation:#1. Original window: Existing 1/4? clear glass (U=1.03, SC=.95, VT=.90)
#2. Add Type 1 supplemental window designed for security glazed with 5/16? laminated low-e glass (U=.37, SC=.52, VT=.90)
#3. Add Type 2 supplemental window designed for energy glazed with 1? insulated glass with low-e coating and argon fill (U=.14, SC=.43, VT=.90)
In an authoritative Energy White Paper, these scenarios were extensively analyzed using WINDOW 6.3 and eQuest simulation software. Here are the results:
#1. Original window: Annual energy cost $228,523
#2. Type 1 interior window added (Designed for security): Annual energy savings $57,191 (25%)
#3. Type 2 interior window added (Designed for energy): Annual energy savings $66,207 (29%)
The report points out that these 25%-29% savings are for energy alone. Far greater savings can be realized when coupled with replacement heating and cooling equipment which can now be downsized due to the lower demand. By reducing peak electrical demand, there can also be a significant effect on the overall $/kwh pricing. The benefits keep on coming!
Is there any reason to delay exploring this exciting new option? When benchmarking comes to your building, be ready!
Mark Meshulam, the Chicago Window Expert, has over 33 years experience in construction, consulting, contracting, laboratory and field testing, forensic investigations, insurance claims and expert witness work. He specializes in windows, glass, mirrors, curtainwalls, entrances, skylights, panel systems, louvers, window films, sealants and similar architectural products.
Mr. Meshulam is often involved with claims, insurance claims and disputes involving leakage in the building envelope, failure of building envelope components (such as glass breakage, leaks and sealant failure), and also personal injury arising out of such products, including injuries from glass breakage and detachment.
See more at: http://chicagowindowexpert.com/2013/09/26/benchmarking-and-window-curtainwall-retrofit/#sthash.4WF09cuc.dpuf