Overview

At Purdue University, we had the opportunity to work closely with twokey facilities—Lyles-Porter Hall and Nelson Hall of Food Science—to uncover practical ways to save energy and improve building performance. Through Retro-Commissioning (RCx), our team identified Energy Management Improvements (EMIs) that cut energy costs while also enhancing the comfort and efficiency of the buildings.

We focused on two types of strategies: low- and no-cost operational improvements (via RCx) and longer-term capital upgrades. Capital upgrades are typically more expensive upfront, as they often require installing new equipment or overhauling existing equipment; however, they often offer significant long-term savings.

High-Impact Measures

Lyles-Porter Hall

  • Optimize HVAC performance by implementing zone scheduling and unoccupied temperature setpoints
  • Enhance energy efficiency through energy recovery wheel optimization
  • Improve heating system performance by resetting hot water temperatures and recommissioning the heat recovery chiller

Nelson Hall of Food Science

  • Reduce energy during low-occupancy periods by implementing unoccupied temperature set points and enabling VAV standby mode
  • Enhance building pressure control and optimize heat recovery systems for improved HVAC efficiency
  • Upgrade to LED lighting and install automatic door closures to reduce energy waste and improve building envelope performance

About These Buildings

Lyles-Porter Hall

Lyles-Porter Hall was originally called the Health and Human Sciences Research Facility and construction for the building began in 2010. Departments located at Lyles- Porter include the Department of Speech, Health and Kinesiology, Language and Hearing Sciences, Nutrition Science, Psychological Science, and the School of Nursing. This 129,000-square-foot building contains numerous space types that support a diverse range of activities. These include the A.H. Ismail Center for Health, general classrooms, exercise and nutrition classrooms, Indiana University Medical School, M.D. Steer Audiology and Speech-Language Clinics, Nursing Center for Family Health, Nutritional Training and Research Center, and various offices.

Philip E. Nelson Hall of Food Science

Philip E. Nelson Hall of Food Science was built in 1998 and renamed to its current name in 2010. This 60,000-square-foot facility contains research laboratories, teaching labs, classrooms, and offices supporting multiple departments. It also features specialized facilities like a pilot-scale manufacturing laboratory and a sensory evaluation laboratory.