Waste Heat Recovery
 


 

 Introduction
 Abstract, Background, & Initial Visit

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Schematic plan of YMCA Basement, showing major elements of building discussed in this case study: Laundry, Showers, and Sump (click to enlarge)


Abstract

This case study examines a number of different avenues of recovering waste heat from the YMCA. The goal of the study is to target areas of greatest possible energy savings, while dealing with the practical considerations of implementing various schemes. We examine the potential for recovery and energy savings within practical considerations of physical configuration and installation and maintenance costs. We examine the potential for heat recovery from the following building systems: Laundry room dryer exhaust air; laundry room washing machine greywater; shower greywater (at a number of separate locations in the building); sump greywater. We concluded that air-to-water heat transfer is not an efficient mechanism to recover energy, especially considering the problems of airborne lint in the air supply. Greywater systems have much more potential. We recommend the installation of two greywater heat recovery systems at the YMCA: one in the locker room showers, and another in the sump.


Background

This website describes the results of a term-long study of the Berkeley YMCA, looking specifically at the capacity to recover energy from waste heat sources within the building. This project is a Vital Signs Case Study, which means that it is part of a research methodology that examines building performance. The Vital Signs project is based at UC-Berkeley, but students at many different schools contribute case studies to the project.

The Berkeley YMCA is located in downtown Berkeley, CA. Its facilities are housed in a complex that is actually three different buildings from different time periods that have been gradually added on and renovated. This pattern of development has created a maze of builing systems not necessarily optimized for efficiency.


Initial Visit

Our first real introduction to the YMCA building came during a tour of the facilities. Fran Gallati, the YMCA's Executive Director, walked us through the major program areas and utility areas. We got a grasp on the range of systems in use at the YMCA, and of the potential areas of inquiry for our case study. One idea that was raised in that first tour was that of recovering waste heat from the exhaust air from the dryers in the laundry room, and possibly using that energy to heat the 1910 Deep Pool that was adjacent to the laundry room.

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Recovering waste heat from the YMCA can reduce the building's energy consumption