Basis of design (2023)
The Design Standards Committee at Yale released an updated basis of design (BOD). This enhanced document requires consultants to describe the zero-carbon-ready aspects of each project, and it now includes expanded interior lighting and control systems reporting, all of which align with the university’s sustainability goals as they relate to the built environment on campus. The BOD is now in a more editable format and requests cross referencing of its appendices with submission documents to facilitate Yale review and coordination.
New design standards
There are two new standards that have been added to Yale’s compendium, and they are listed under division 23 for HVAC equipment .
Each of these standards are a result of the revised energy code and prevailing design approaches that align with industry zero-carbon-ready initiatives. The intent of dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) is to temper and dehumidify air. DOAS brings fresh outside air into interior spaces independently from heating or cooling efforts, and as a result, the systems can be managed more efficiently. Air-to-air recovery equipment is primarily designed to recycle energy through exhaust air from a building to pretreat the outside air, and it can be stand-alone or part of a DOAS. The primary benefit of this type of recovery equipment is that it reduces the total outdoor ventilation load.
These new standards were developed through a collaboration between Yale’s engineering and operations departments and a contracted engineer.