Proposal

My thesis will contain four distinct parts: three analyses and one research topic. Two of those will also contain breadth topics, which can range from structural, MEP, to energy and architectural examinations incorporated into the larger topics. Analysis I: Comparison with Earle Hall, will involve comparing the scheduling of Martin Hall (Phase 1B of ClayCo's work on East Halls) to Earle Hall (Phase 1A) in order to see what lessons were learned, what was changed, and what should not have been changed. Analysis II will examine the feasibility of installing sensors in the windows or dorm buildings to prevent the windows from being open while the air conditioner is on, therefore saving energy. Analysis III will look at the possible impacts on cost, manpower, and schedule that prefabricating curtain wall for Martin Hall would have. The research topic will examine the prospect of Penn State abandoning the LEED system, how to best inform students on sustainability, and what the differences between a LEED building and a sustainable building are.

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Mechanical Breadth

The mechanical breadth will be the driving force of Analysis II: Window Interlock Mechanisms in Dormitory Buildings. This breadth will focus on the study of the feasibility of installing window interlock mechanisms in Martin Hall. The mechanisms would deactivate the air conditioning in the room when windows are open in order to avoid wasting energy. This would involve calculating the price of purchasing, installing, and maintaining the interlocks. It would also involve doing a mechanical study of the amount of energy that is wasted from windows being open when air conditioners are on and whether the amount of energy that could be saved by installing the mechanisms would make it financially worth it to install them.

 

Lighting/Energy Breadth

The lighting/energy breadth will be a part of the research topic: Moving Beyond LEED at Penn State. It will focus on the downfalls of LEED at Penn State and whether the sustainable promises that are made are being fulfilled. It will also examine what a LEED building is like versus what a building that is sustainable for the sole purpose of being sustainable looks and functions like. This will involve performing analyses to see how much energy could be saved if the buildings were actually operated as intended, instead of the sustainability attempts just ending when the LEED plaque is received. It is also worth examining which LEED credits can have the biggest impacts in the Penn State environment and which ones are just utilized to get the credits. Another aspect is gauging student interest in sustainability and seeing how to increase it, whether this would be through mandatory training before moving into the dormitories or having third-parties, such as EcoReps, be more informed about how many sustainability aspects go into each building.