This report summarizes and concludes the previous two semesters worth of research, design, and analysis of Woodcrest Villa’s mechanical system. The goal for this thesis was to learn as much as possible while applying research and critical thinking to design a new mechanical system or alteration for the existing system. The past three technical reports analyzed the building system compliances, design criteria, and an understanding of the existing mechanical system which led to this final report of proposing an alternative system.

            The process began with analyzing the building’s design and organizing this information to use for an energy analysis. ASHRAE Standards has several requirements that certain building types have to comply with. ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and ASHRAE Standards 90.1 were used to make sure Woodcrest Villa’s VIVA Centre was compliant with ventilation requirements for acceptable indoor air quality and energy standards.

            A computer energy analysis was used to obtain data and simulation results for Woodcrest. Carrier’s Hourly Analysis Program, HAP, was the computer energy simulator that was used for the building’s mechanical system analysis. This program allows the user to input several specific building design aspects, which results with more accurate results. Architectural components for the VIVA Centre such as the building envelope, orientation, location, space functions, occupancy, lighting, equipment, and other design criteria was input into the energy simulation model.  These results broke down the buildings heating and cooling loads, mechanical equipment, and energy analysis. This all lead to having enough information and understanding of the existing mechanical system that serves the VIVA Centre, and being able to propose a new mechanical depth.

            The existing mechanical system combines several aspects of mechanical designs which are used for areas for similar and different load treating needs. The system is a water loop heat pump system with reheat. It utilizes a central boiler heating plant that serve multiple water source heat pumps, air handlers, and also treats the domestic water loop. The cooling system is built into the mechanical air handlers, therefore there is no central cooling plant.

            The proposed mechanical alteration is to add a single central cooling plant to serve Villas loads in place of several water source heat pumps. Reduction of fuel oil and heating electrical usage was a main goal with redesigning the mechanical system. The proposed redesigned mechanical system proved to not be an ideal alternative. The annual cost is higher, the equipment material increases, and the electrical costs increased.