One key objective of Measure C is to reduce the carbon footprint of Berkeley’s pool system by greatly improving its environmental performance and energy efficiency.
The following is an explanation of the energy efficiency tools being considered for Measure C, based on work by the City of Berkeley’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development, with technical studies by several firms, including ELS Architecture and Urban Design, Rumsey Engineers Inc. and Integrated Design Associates.
The biggest energy user of the four pools has always been the 92-degree Warm Pool. Our ballot measure will dramatically transform the Warm Pool to become more energy efficient. The experts hired by the City have analyzed three alternative on-site energy generation approaches: microturbine combined heat and power system (hot water cogeneration); solar hot water; and solar photovoltaics. Of the three, microturbine cogeneration appears to be the best choice for the new Warm Pool because it provides the highest potential energy cost savings and lowest carbon footprint.
The Warm Pool also will include some of these energy-saving improvements:
- Energy-efficient circulation pumps
- Automated pool coverings
- Heat and water recovery from dehumidification
- Rainwater harvesting for pool make-up water
- Heat recovery from exhaust air
- Solar heating of ventilation air
- Variable speed drives on fan motors and pumps
- Condensing boilers with thermal efficiency of 92 percent
- Maximized use of natural daylight (top lighting and spectrally selective glass)
- Daylight harvesting
- Upsized wiring for branch circuits
Thsee energy strategies were designed by the same mechanical and electrical engineers who designed Berkeley's Brower Center, which is expected to receive a LEED Platinum rating. No decision has yet been made about the LEED rating for the Warm Pool. In preliminary design work, a cost premium was included to allow for a LEED Silver rating.
