The Stauffer buildings primarily house chemistry research labs, as well as offices, conference rooms and other support spaces. This project consisted of a major retrofit to upgrade the HVAC systems and controls to address the high energy intensity in the existing building.

Taylor Engineers supported this project from cradle to grave: identified the potential energy cost savings measures, developed calibrated energy models to simulate the energy performance and evaluate the life cycle cost effectiveness of the final package of measures, developed design documents, and performed commissioning and verification services. The retrofit saved 65% of the energy cost as demonstrated by two years of post-retrofit monitoring.

The HVAC systems consist of air handling units with reheat terminals that operate continuously with 100% outside air. The retrofit converted the systems from constant air volume with pneumatic controls to variable air volume with DDC controls down to the zone level. Phoenix valves were added on the supply and exhausts to allow for VAV operation. Fume hoods were converted to VAV with occupancy sensors to set back face velocity when unoccupied.