Baird, Hampton & Brown, Inc. (BHB) shares the concern regarding the depletion of the earth’s natural resources, and the role the building construction industry can play in energy use reduction and material conservation. Our engineers are experienced in designing sustainable systems for buildings and building sites that can help reduce the impact construction makes on our environment. We are very familiar with ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and incorporating these design standards into our projects. We are also experienced in designing projects to meet the LEED® certification requirements. In fact, BHB is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and has LEED Accredited Professionals across three disciplines; civil, mechanical, and electrical.
BHB is also familiar with the Executive Orders that have been issued to demonstrate an energy conscious government through leadership in environmental management. We have utilized these same principles where we are able in our everyday designs. We have had multiple projects seek LEED certification, which closely parallels the path the President has instructed us to take in any new Federal project. We are familiar with options that can be used in mechanical and electrical systems to increase the energy efficiency of projects to achieve the required 35% energy savings.
FEASIBILITY STUDIES / ENERGY ASSESSMENTS - The team at BHB has worked on projects where the first step is an assessment of the existing conditions and identification of possible improvements. We have experience with detailed studies to identify existing conditions in a building and develop multi-phased construction opportunities to save energy and provide utility cost savings over time. We have also worked on a campus wide project to identify deficiencies in utility distribution and developed a multi-phased construction project to correct the deficiencies and increase the energy efficiency of the system.
ENERGY CALCULATIONS AND REVIEW - BHB has over 10 years experience in energy calculations and review. We are very confident that we can provide you with a quick and thorough review of the calculations for this project. We are comfortable with methods and concepts regarding economic and energy calculations, savings and paybacks. We have three registered professional engineers who have participated in numerous energy studies and calculations over the years, including CESA studies for the Corps of Engineers identification and analysis of ECRM’s for the State of TX under the LoanStar program. Furthermore, we have completed the energy modeling documentation required for the US Green Building Council’s LEED Certification system.
WATER CONSERVATION - We are familiar with different technologies available that can be incorporated into our designs to increase the water conservation of the final project. We are also experienced with the design of rain capture and gray water systems for reuse of water where appropriate. We have discussed options with cities and are familiar with options to which local code officials are agreeable.
UTILITY METERING - BHB has worked on projects where we have installed meters to study the existing utility distribution in anticipation of future growth. We have hired contractors to install and collect meters, while BHB records the data and analyses it. We are also familiar with submetering requirements in Texas where multitenant buildings are concerned, and have frequently designed projects that utilize digital utility metering within a campus or building and report that data back to an Energy Management System.
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) - BHB currently utilizes Revit® MEP building information modeling (BIM) software. This allows us to optimize systems engineering through data-driven system sizing and design allowing us to gain better decision-making and building performance analysis support, facilitating sustainable design. We are able to minimize coordination errors between mechanical/ electrical/ plumbing (MEP) engineering design teams, as well as with architects and structural engineers within Revitbased workflows. We are also able to accelerate decision making through the automated creation of engineering design data and enhanced client communications. We are able to create energy and load analysis and store the results in the model as well as a spreadsheet for easy sharing with team members who don’t use Revit.
GEOTHERMAL - BHB has designed and administered many projects utilizing geothermal HVAC systems, from single-story bank buildings, to two-story offices, to large school buildings. We have experience with drillers and installing contractors and know the analyses that need to take place to ensure a properly designed and function geothermal system. We work with all parties to balance the space required for the well field with the depth and spacing of the wells for the most economical alternative. Well field piping is designed to provide some ability to isolate wells without having to shutdown the entire loop and the associated equipment. Our experience with HVAC equipment ranges from indoor heat pumps to larger rooftop units.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC - As solar energy systems become more affordable from both first-cost and life-cycle cost perspectives, we are finding more Owners are interested in incorporating these systems into their projects. BHB has evaluated many projects for the use of these systems, and our engineers are familiar with system requirements and options. Our project experience includes both photovoltaic panels for electrical system usage as well as solar water heating.
Projects that have achieved LEED Certification include:
Texas Christian University Scharbauer Hall, Fort Worth, TX – MEP engineering design services for the new four-story, $32 M, 60,000 SF LEED Silver Certified building. The overall annual energy usage of the building is expected to be reduced by an estimated 19.3% over the baseline case (41% reduction in water consumption, 33% reduction lighting energy). Designed in BIM (REVIT).
Tarrant County Subcourthouse in Arlington, TX – MEP engineering services for the three-story, $10 M Tarrant County Southeast-Sub Courthouse that includes a satellite courtroom and associated support areas; a community meeting room and administrative offices. The building achieved LEED Silver certification and is the first building in Arlington, first building for Tarrant County and the first Courthouse in TX to achieve LEED certification. The implementation of sustainable design on this project reduced the annual energy consumption by 38.6%, resulting in an annual cost savings to the Owner of 21.8% on energy bills.
Tarrant Regional Water Annex, Fort Worth, TX – Survey and Site/Civil design for the new $8.5 M, 26,000 SF Annex for the Tarrant Regional Water District used to house the Engineering and IT staff. The annex achieved LEED Gold certification. The annex utilized local and recycled materials with high-performance mechanical systems and exterior glazing along with stormwater quality, pourous paving, fencing and tree preservation. A new ADA accessible sidewalk connector was designed to connect the existing Headquarters to the new Annex across the levee.
Sherwin Williams Retail Store, Sasche, TX – MEP engineering services for the design of a 5,000 SF Sherwin Williams Store utilizing three high efficiency packaged rooftop units and low flow plumbing fixtures. This project achieved LEED Silver Certification.
Client Confidential (International Coffee Retailer), Austin, TX – MEP engineering services for the tenant improvement of an existing 1,441 SF shell space achieved LEED Silver and was awarded the Austin Energy Green Building 3 Star Rating. Mechanical design included high-efficiency, 2-stage, roof top units providing improved humidity control in addition to energy savings. The mechanical controls included outside air and carbon dioxide sensors. Low water consumption plumbing fixtures were provided to reduce overall water use by 30 percent. The lighting system included a low-voltage relay system and daylight harvesting controls. The user desired to keep the flexibility of their prototype track lighting concept. A current limiting panel incorporated into the design allows the use of track lighting while limiting power consumption to the number of heads needed to illuminate art work and retail displays.
Sustainable Design