CASE STUDY | MCDONALDS, WALT DISNEY WORLD Outdoor comfort (hourly) for 12 months: -3=extreme cold; -2=cold; -1=cool; 0=comfort; 1=warm; 2=hot; 3=extreme heat Outdoor comfort (hourly) for 12 months: -3=extreme cold; -2=cold; -1=cool; 0=comfort; 1=warm; 2=hot; 3=extreme heat Figure 1: Twelve months of data showing the positive impact on comfort levels in the outdoor area with shading To address safety concerns, the inside is screened; this also keeps pests or debris from entering the restaurant. On the exterior, a laser system creates a field covering the entire surface of the louvres, and instantly disables actuation of the system if an object is detected. Actuation starts again when the object is removed. An audible message also alerts customers when the louvres open or close, and an internal safety mechanism detects added pressure and prevents complete closure. The commissioning authority tested this and still has all his fingers! Outdoor dining is not typical with quick-serve restaurants, but this location made that experience the centrepiece of the design. Covered by a sweeping roof made of custom glass panels with amorphous silicon solar photovoltaics, the outdoor dining area is shaded and high-volume, low-speed fans modulate to maintain a comfortable environment. The shaded environment is comfortable and maintains a similar operative temperature range as the indoor environment, even during some of the hotter temperature conditions. A shading study estimates that comfort is maintained 58% of the time between 6am and 6pm annually. The shaded area also helps precondition the natural ventilation air when that system is active. The flagship McDonalds restaurant was originally scheduled to open in April 2020, but this was delayed because of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In July 2020, the restaurant opened for drive-thru service only. The commissioning team took advantage of this opportunity and evaluated and tuned control strategies for the kitchen ventilation systems. The dining room opened to service in autumn 2020 and the natural ventilation features performed better than anticipated, as temperature and enthalpy ranges were expanded over design setpoint. (See Figure 1). Energy data is tracked live using a monitoring-based commissioning system and is performing better than design. Issues with inverter failures delayed net zero energy performance in the first year of operation. Currently the restaurant is seeking net zero certification through the International Living Futures Institute (see panel, What is zero energy certification?). CJ BENJAMIN SKELTON is president at Cyclone Energy Group, which was the commissioning Glass louvres with several safety features provide natural ventilation 40 October 2023 www.cibsejournal.com authority and energy expert for the McDonalds project