I²SL Sustainability Scoop

June 2016

Make Your Labs in Hot and Humid Climates Sustainable

Not all labs are the same, and a high-performance lab designed for a hot and humid climate will generally call for different tactics than a high-performance lab in a temperate or cold climate. Energy-Efficient HVAC for Labs in Hot, Humid Climates was written by Dan Doyle, P.E., LEED AP O+M, Grumman/Butkus Associates, and published in the July/August 2015 issue of Laboratory Design newsletter. From minimizing and controlling airflow to reducing pressure drop to incorporating energy recovery, this article provides research on design decisions that can have significant impact on laboratories in hot and humid climates.

Dig Deeper Into Labs for Hot and Humid Climates

The following resources provide additional information on labs in hot and humid climates:

• Energy Efficient HVAC Design for Labs in Hot and Humid Climates presentation given by Dan Doyle at the 2015 Laboratory Design Conference.
• High-Performance Labs in Challenging Climates, a Laboratory Design Newsletter 2015 Selected Abstract written by Z. Smith, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple. This abstract highlights case studies of renovated and newly constructed biotechnology labs in the hot-humid Gulf South, supported by multi-year post-construction performance monitoring and occupant engagement. I²SL Members can also download the presentation given at the 2015 I²SL Annual Conference in the Presentation Archive. Members can simply log in to the Member Portal, navigate to the Presentation Archive, select 2015, then scroll to session A4.

Keeping Talking on This Topic

Do you have tips for building labs in hot and humid climates? Start a discussion about your experiences in I²SL's Online Community on LinkedIn.