The design group Gryph Initiative has proposed the Gryph-Bo, a sustainable outdoor study space for the University of Guelph. The Gryph-Bo will be powered entirely by green technologies like solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system. It will provide additional study space for students while promoting sustainability. Solar panels will generate clean power, while rainwater collection and treatment will supply a drinking fountain and composting toilets. Insulated glass walls and active solar heating will keep the structure comfortable year-round. The design aims to be self-sustaining, engage students in sustainability, and serve as an educational example of green technologies.

1. University of Guelph
ENGG*3100
THE GRYPH-BO
Sustainable Outdoor Study Space on Guelph Campus
Submitted to: Green Gryphon Initiative
April 8, 2016
Group 43
Authors: Louis Espinoza Cassidy Goetz Mark Mendrek Devin Phouangpraseuth Melissa Vogl
SMP #: 051475 051478 051530 051512 051441
We commit to deliver our final report to our industry contact and we grant permission to the course
professors to deliver our final report should we fail to do so.

2. Executive Summary
The design group, Gryph Initiative has developed a sustainable outdoor study space for the
University of Guelph. This outdoor gazebo structure, tagged the “Gryph-Bo”, will be equipped
with tables with chargers for students’ laptops and smartphones, and will have an adjacent exterior
bathroom and water fountain facility. The focus of the design is to provide the University with
much needed additional study space while being entirely powered by green technologies. Solar
panels will provide clean, renewable power while rainwater will be harvested, sufficiently treated,
and utilized in the composting toilets and sink. Additional UV sterilization powered by VIQUA
products will disinfect the rainwater to be used in a drinking fountain. Insulated Corflex exterior
operable glass walls and active solar power heating will maintain the Gryph-Bo at a comfortable
temperature, thus usable 365 days a year.
This environmentally-friendly space will be an excellent example of green technologies in
action and spread awareness on how sustainable practices can be implemented in meaningful ways.
Additionally, the Gryph-Bo is not limited to the Guelph campus, for other universities or public
parks may adapt this design towards their needs and build their own variation of a sustainable
outdoor work space.
The size and location of the Gryph-Bo has been taken into consideration and all fire codes
and building regulations will be adhered to. The total cost of installation and construction of the
project must remain under $100,000, as set out by the Green Gryphon Initiative Sustainability
Challenge. The design will have a positive environmental impact and be of high educational
value. It will enhance the environmental status of the University of Guelph and be a standout
feature in Canadian campus sustainability.

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Table of Contents
Proposal Statement ......................................................................................................................................1
Problem Description .................................................................................................................................1
Literature Review: Detailed background information providing justification for project........................2
Scope and Objectives of Project ...............................................................................................................2
Constraints and Criteria ............................................................................................................................3
Design Solution .............................................................................................................................................5
Location.....................................................................................................................................................5
Solar Panels...............................................................................................................................................6
Rainwater Harvesting..............................................................................................................................13
Restroom Accommodation.....................................................................................................................16
Insulation ................................................................................................................................................18
Heating....................................................................................................................................................24
Design Defense ...........................................................................................................................................28
Solar Panels.............................................................................................................................................28
Rainwater Harvesting..............................................................................................................................30
Restroom Accommodation.....................................................................................................................32
Insulation ................................................................................................................................................34
Heating....................................................................................................................................................36
Risks and Uncertainties...............................................................................................................................37
Solar Panels.............................................................................................................................................37
Rainwater Harvesting..............................................................................................................................38
Restroom Accommodation.....................................................................................................................38
Insulation ................................................................................................................................................39
Heating....................................................................................................................................................39
Conclusions and Recommendations...........................................................................................................39
References ..................................................................................................................................................42
Appendix A: Response to Feedback............................................................................................................A1
Appendix B: Design Matrices and Sensitivity Analysis................................................................................B1
Appendix C: Calculations/Modelling Required for Design..........................................................................C1
Calculations from the Preliminary Design Report...................................................................................C1
Calculations from the Technical Memo..................................................................................................C4
Calculations from the Cost Memo ..........................................................................................................C8

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Appendix D: Completed Work Plan ............................................................................................................D1
Resources................................................................................................................................................D4
Appendix E: Additional Information ...........................................................................................................E1
Appendix F: LCA Calculator Tables.............................................................................................................. F1
Solar Panels............................................................................................................................................. F1
Restroom Facility .................................................................................................................................. F10
Rainwater Collection............................................................................................................................. F11
Heating.................................................................................................................................................. F15
Insulation .............................................................................................................................................. F24
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Circuit Diagram of Solar Harvesting System ................................................................................11
Figure 2: Composting Toilet Diagram .........................................................................................................17
Figure 3: Horizontally pivoted windows, foldable glass windows, and retractable wall blinds. ................19
Figure 4: Diagram of foldable glass walls during folding process...............................................................23
Figure 5: Example of active solar heating system.......................................................................................27
Figure 6: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions of solar harvesting system ..................................30
Figure 7: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions of rain water collection system...........................32
Figure 8: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions of composting toilet............................................33
Figure 9: Results of electricity consumption for air conditioning system ..................................................34
Figure 10: Pie graph depicting CO2 emissions from each part of the insulation system............................35
Figure 11: Pie graph representing CO2 emissions from each section of the heating system ....................37
Figure C 1: Solar radiation model data .......................................................................................................C1
Figure D1: Timeline followed during the project including milestones and tasks......................................D3
Figure E1: Three site locations considered for the Gryph-Bo on Guelph campus......................................E1
Figure E2: Proposed site location for the Gryph-Bo ...................................................................................E2
Figure E3: Several views of the Gryph-Bo structure created with Solidworks. ..........................................E3

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Table of Tables
Table 1: Solar panel surface slope analysis...................................................................................................9
Table 2: Maximum/minimum energy consumption per day........................................................................9
Table 3: Solar installation cost....................................................................................................................12
Table 4: Costs associated with rain water collection system .....................................................................15
Table 5: Cost of Composting Toilet and Ventilation ...................................................................................18
Table 6: Warranty details of foldable glass walls........................................................................................21
Table 7: Maintenance requirements of foldable glass walls ......................................................................22
Table 8: Costs associated with foldable glass walls....................................................................................22
Table 9: Costs associated with solar heating system..................................................................................28
Table B 1: Solar Panel Surface Slope Analysis.............................................................................................B1
Table B 2: Decision matrix for rainwater harvesting system......................................................................B2
Table B 3: Decision matrix for location of the Gryph-Bo. ...........................................................................B2
Table B 4: Decision matrix for solar panel location..................................................................................B3
Table B 5: Decision matrix for heating and cooling system........................................................................B3
Table B 6: Decision matrix for insulation....................................................................................................B4
Table C1: Heating/cooling analysis for first year ........................................................................................C3
Table C2: Water quality standards and required UV energy......................................................................C4
Table C3: Monthly rainfall amounts in Guelph, Ontario.............................................................................C4
Table D1: Hours and costs for entire project analysis. ...............................................................................D1
Table F 1: CO2 emissions from manufacture and transport of solar panels ............................................... F1
Table F 2: CO2 emissions associated with transportation of solar panel parts......................................... F10
Table F 3: CO2 emissions associated with manufacture and disposal of composting toilet..................... F10
Table F 4: CO2 emissions associated with transportation of composting toilet....................................... F11
Table F 5: CO2 emissions associated with manufacture and disposal of rainwater collection system .... F11
Table F 6: CO2emissions associated with assembly of rainwater collection system ................................ F13
Table F 7: CO2emissions associated with transport of rainwater collection system................................ F14
Table F 8: CO2emissions associated with manufacture and disposal of heat exchanger ......................... F15
Table F 9: CO2 emissions associated with the transport of heat exchanger parts ................................... F23
Table F 10: CO2 emissions associated with manufacture and disposal of insulation system ................... F24
Table F 11: CO2 emissions associated with transport of the insulation system........................................ F24

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Proposal Statement
Problem Description
The problem that Gryph Initiative has chosen to tackle is one that has affected nearly
every student at the University of Guelph; the lack of study space. During the stressful midterm
and final exam seasons, many students are drawn to the campus library, where study spots are
quickly filled for the majority of the day. This is inconvenient as the majority of students do not
get the chance to access many of the school’s resources available in the library. The solution that
Gryph Initiative has developed in order to solve this problem, is the construction of the
Gryph-Bo: a sustainable outdoor study space where students can study and charge their
electronics. To aid in the City of Guelph’s goal of reducing their carbon footprint (City of Guelph,
2013), not only will the Gryph-Bo provide additional space to study, but will incorporate many
environmentally-friendly ideas in order to generate clean, efficient energy. The name, Gryph-Bo,
comes from the combination of the University of Guelph’s mascot, the Gryphon, and the gazebo,
a freestanding pavilion structure designed for relaxation purposes.
There have been a few attempts to solve this problem in the past, including adding more
tables and wall plugs to the library. However, there is only a limited amount of space in the library
to add these to. Furthermore, the additional energy consumption only adds to the costs of the
school, while harming the environment. The Gryph-Bo will utilize a portion of unused open space
on campus, so no land will need to be purchased; and will only use sustainable methods of energy
generation in order to power the structure and provide electricity for students. For the frigid
winter months, Gryph Initiative will incorporate an aesthetically pleasing foldable glass wall in
order to protect the study space from harsh conditions and maintain energy generation. This will
aid in maximizing the cost benefits. Social benefits involved with the construction of the Gryph-
Bo are that it will enhance the beauty and modernization of the campus, as well as provide a
social gathering spot for colleagues and friends. It will be a standout feature of high educational
value and have the potential to be incorporated into future school curriculum. In addition to
providing study space, the Gryph-Bo may be rented out for special events, meetings, and
performances. Economically, the energy generation alone will aid in reducing the school’s
consumption costs, while paying back the costs of construction over time.

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Literature Review: Detailed background information providing justification for project
While American colleges such as Colorado State and Princeton have worked sustainability
practices into their campuses in the form of generation and conservation, the Canadian
precedent has been set by the Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia. St. Anne University
produces excess electricity and 8,000 tonnes of biodiesel every year (Université St. Anne).
Colorado is doing its part by maintaining its own field solar plant (Colorado State University), and
Princeton has contributed by installing energy STAR appliances along with daylight harvesting
technologies (Princeton University). While St. Anne University is only home to 300 students and
the privately funded American schools produce the necessary budget, it is now the time for
Guelph to step up and become a big name in campus sustainability. St. Anne is saving its students
$200,000 a year in energy bills (Université St. Anne). With rising tuition payments, produce costs,
and utilities the students, not only on Guelph Campus, at all Canadian schools deserve a cost
cutting measure to be taken, and the environment deserves to be protected.
Scope and Objectives of Project
The idea that Guelph Initiative is proposing is one that is of benefit to all students in
Guelph and one that can be applied at other locations including universities and public parks. A
self-sustaining outdoor study space where the students can not only appreciate the beauty of
their campus, but be inspired by the prospect of a greener future. The public loves to see designs
implicated in their communities that not only demonstrate where their tax money is going, but
which provide evidence that the city is aspiring towards environmentally friendly alternatives
wherever they can. The innovative Gryph-Bo design has the potential to inspire students towards
an ecologically stable future.
While the Gryph-Bo will be self-sustaining, it will have a positive impact on the campus’
environmental health. Rainfall on the Gryph-Bo will be run through a mild filtration and
treatment process in order to provide for sinks, a water fountain, and two composting toilets
while reducing the runoff on campus. By storing the rainwater inside the enclosure, the
infiltration, runoff and ponding on Guelph Campus will be reduced. This allows for less ice
formation in colder climates and reduced capacity requirements for the storm water system. By
applying filters to remove the larger leaves and the turbid particles in the collected water,

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followed by a UV sterilization system using VIQUA products, Gryph Initiative can provide a water
fountain in the study space, further reducing the water bottle consumption of the University of
Guelph. Although the UV sterilization system does not provide long term decontamination Gryph
Initiative can use water which has been stored for longer periods of time in the toilets or sinks,
saving the freshest water for the fountain.
With the stored rainwater, a restroom is a feasible addition to the Gryph-Bo, as it will be
self-sustaining from both the stored rainwater and generated solar electricity. A composting
toilet is ideal for this design as it has an incredibly small environmental footprint, with very limited
water requirements while still maintaining a high degree of functionality and hygiene.
Composting toilets function by optimizing and accelerating the decomposition of toilet waste,
reducing them into a soil. During this process the waste is odorless degrading, while any moisture
that is generated is vented out of the facility (Sun-Mar). Additionally, the composting toilet can
easily be installed into almost any size facility with very little effort and requirements, perfect for
our unique design (Sun-Mar).
The presence of a restroom results in the need for a ventilation system. In order to
maintain simplicity and energy efficiency, a stock electrical fan is to be installed. The Broan
ULTRAGreen series bathroom fan is ideal for the Gryph-Bo. The XB80L is recognized by Energy
Star as the most efficient fan in 2016; it has low energy requirements, reduces airborne
pollutants, operates quietly, and contains ULTRALucent lighting technology to efficiently
illuminate the restroom (Broan-NuTone LLC).
All of these amenities are necessary to provide an area where occupants can remain for
long periods of time, as they do during exam periods in libraries. By providing additional study
space it is hoped that a less stressful atmosphere be created on campus, and that the Gryph-Bo
will be a key educator in the students’ awareness of living sustainably.
Constraints and Criteria
One of the initial steps in the design process is identifying the project’s constraints and
criteria. The constraints are the requirements that must be met. The criteria are the factors that
are typically minimized or maximized to increase the success of the design.

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The constraints outlined for the Gryph-Bo include size, location, fire codes, building
regulations, and cost. The size of the Gryph-Bo must be large enough to fit 75 people, but small
enough to contain an economically viable energy generation system. The location of the Gryph-
Bo is critical. It must be in a location that is close to the central campus buildings, but also
exposed to adequate sunlight to power the structure. The Gryph-Bo must follow all fire codes
and building regulations. Since there are several regulations, a complete list can be found in
Appendix E. Finally, the cost of installation and construction of the Gryph-Bo must remain under
$100,000, the budget set out by the Green Gryphon Initiative Sustainability Challenge.
The criteria of the design focuses on energy generation, self-sustainability, 365-day
operation, engagement of sustainability, and education value. The Gryph-Bo will ideally generate
sufficient energy to charge students’ laptops and smartphones for long periods of time during
cloudy conditions. The Gryph-Bo will be self-sustainable by utilizing green methods of energy
generation such as solar power and rainwater harvesting systems. It will be operable 365 days a
year, which requires heating and insulation during the cold winter months, and cooling during
the hot summer. The Gryph-Bo will promote the engagement and institutionalization of
sustainability at the University of Guelph by focusing on its environmental impact. These green
measures include energy and water conservation, carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas
reductions, air quality improvements, and an overall campus “greenifiying”. Lastly, the Gryph-
Bo is to be of high educational value, and have the potential to be integrated into future school
curriculum.

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Design Solution
After the careful evaluation and assessment of all possible design solutions, final decisions
were made. The design approach, solutions, and detailed final design will be discussed in the
following sections divided into six categories:
1. Location
2. Solar Panels
3. Rainwater Collection
4. Restroom Accommodation
5. Insulation
6. Heating
Location
Design Approach
By considering three locations across the University of Guelph campus the most ideal
location could be selected. Maintenance, sun exposure, accessibility for students and extra
building costs were taken into account when forming the design matrix.
Design Solutions
When considering the three locations, the most favorable is the Mackinnon Green space,
since it is very close to the library. Being in the MacKinnon Building’s courtyard would shelter
the structure from wind, but could shade the Gryph-Bo’s solar panels. The location behind South
is least ideal, because students will not want to walk far to study, especially in the colder
months. However, since 1800+ on-campus residents live in the South Residences (Guelph
Housing, 2015), these students may choose to study in the Gryph-Bo instead, and as a result, free
up space in the library for off-campus students. The Johnston Green location would capture the
most sunlight and still be advantageously central on campus; however, Gryph Initiative plans to
minimize the amount of green space reduced and find a more suitable option than to build
directly on Johnston Green. After examining the Campus Master Plan Study Area of the University
of Guelph, all three of these locations fall under the category of Study Area (DTAH, 2002).

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Additionally, under the City of Guelph’s Zoning Laws, the Gryph-Bo would not violate any
restrictions, since its usage would be directly related to the University (City of Guelph, 2012).
In order to quantify the best location site, a unique design matrix was created to compare
the three locations (Table B3). Four categories were selected, and a weighting of 1-5 was applied
to each one, with one being least important, and five being most. From these findings,
Mackinnon received the highest total score of 54 points with Johnston Green having a close 50
points. The largest disadvantage to the Mackinnon site is the large buildings surrounding and
shading the courtyard where the Gryph-Bo would be built. Gryph Initiative reviewed this problem
and developed the solution of placing the solar panels on Mackinnon’s roof which is further
discussed in the solar panel section. From these findings, Mackinnon Green will be the planned
location for the Gryph-Bo.
Detailed Final Design
The unused green space of Mackinnon Green is the location chosen for the Gryph-Bo. The
land here will have to be leveled to lay out the concrete foundation of the building. Surrounding
trees may have to be taken down, but new trees can be planted in the remaining free green
space. A site plan of the area can be viewed in Appendix E.
Solar Panels
Design Approach
The ability for the Gryph-Bo to be entirely self-sustaining is the primary motivation behind
the design of the structure. In order for this to be true, the electrical outlets inside the Gazebo
that charge students’ laptops and phones etc. must receive electricity from an onsite source.
Based on possible locations and efficiency, solar energy is a reasonable source of
self-sustaining energy that our design could easily implement. Therefore, the Gryph-Bo’s energy
source will be entirely produced with solar panels.
The issue that arises from having solar panels as the source of energy generation, is where
the panels will be able to perform most effectively and efficiently. The first step in this process is
to determine the location where the panels should be installed. Two feasible options are

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available in this regard: on the roof of the Gryph-Bo or on the roof of a nearby structure. To
determine which panel location is ideal, both will be put through a decision matrix analyzing
efficiency, maintenance, and aesthetics.
The second step in the process to implement a solar harvesting system as our energy
source is to determine the orientation of the solar panels that provides the most electrical energy
while utilizing the least amount of space. In order to accomplish this; a solar radiation model that
utilizes average sunlight exposure based on location was used (Figure C1) (Lubitz, 2015).
The model receives inputs of latitude and longitude for global positioning and surface
slope of the panel, with respect to the ground surface for orientation. With these inputs the
model generates outputs of total solar radiation (W/m2) per year, day and hour. In order to
determine the most effective solar panel slope angle, multiple angle inputs are inputted into the
model and the total energy outputs were recorded. Additionally, the model also enables the
calculation of the lowest possible energy output on any given day. With the lowest possible
energy output known, the amount of solar panel area required can be calculated.
Design Solutions
As stated previously, the decision of which panel location is ideal will be determined by
analyzing both options (Gryph-Bo roof or Mackinnon roof) through a design matrix comparing
efficiency, maintenance, and aesthetics.
Solar panel efficiency is measured by calculating the amount of sunlight hitting a panel
that is converted into electrical energy (Pure Energies, 2016). There are multiple factors which
affect the efficiency of a solar panel. Some of these factors include panel orientation,
temperature and solar obstructions. As the Gryph-Bo is only three meters in height, solar
obstructions such as foliage and nearby structures are much more prominent than if the panels
were installed onto the Mackinnon roof. With this in mind, the panel orientation is provided
much more freedom on a nearby structure than that of the Gryph-Bo roof as the slope angle of
the panel can be maximized without any interference from solar obstructions or roof layout.
Most solar panels are only 11-15% efficient, therefore it is crucial that we select the location
which provides the greatest efficiency (Pure Energies, 2016).

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Solar panels require very little maintenance as they are no moving parts, and wear and
tear is less of a concern. However, snow, dirt, grime, debris and bird feces can build up on the
surfaces of the panels restricting sunlight absorption. (TheSolarCo, 2016). Therefore, in order to
maintain efficiency certain maintenance duties are required. The Gryph-Bo, being a standard
gazebo has no built in roof access, resulting in the need of external resources to allow workers to
maintain the panels. The Mackinnon building’s roof, on the other hand has readily available roof
access which makes the maintenance of the panels much easier.
As a design, Aesthetics should always be addressed in one way or another. Although solar
panels themselves are not based on aesthetics, the theme they bring can add to the aesthetics
of the design. The Gryph-Bo as stated earlier is to be a self-sustainable study space for students
and civilians alike, therefore the addition of solar panels on the roof of the
Gryph-Bo provides the theme of self-sustainability to any who look upon it. Controversially, if the
panels are installed onto the Mackinnon roof this adds nothing to the aesthetic appeal of the
Gryph-Bo.
As seen in (Table B4) each individual factor was given an accommodating weight. The
weighting system was determined by level of significance to the design theme of self-
sustainability. For this reason, efficiency and effectiveness received a weighting of two, while the
maintenance and aesthetics have a weight factor of one. All three factors and the weights
associated to those factors were taken into consideration for each location, and having the solar
panels installed onto the Mackinnon roof and then re-wired back to the Gryph-Bo is a superior
option than installing the panels directly on the Gryph-Bo roof.
As mentioned in the design approach section, the orientation of the solar panels that
maximizes electrical energy generation and the calculation of the lowest possible energy output
on any given day is required. In order to achieve this; a solar radiation model is utilized (Appendix
C). The resulting tested surface slope angles and their yearly energy output are shown in the table
below.

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Table 1: Solar panel surface slope analysis.
Surface Slope (Degrees) Total Energy Generation Per Year (W/m2
)
0 1770975.82
15 1883172.37
25 1930610.64
35 1952720.08
45 1948828.90
55 1924640.04
Starting at a reference angle of zero, and then from fifteen increasing by ten degree
intervals, it can be seen that the most efficient angle orientation for the solar panel is
approximately 35 degrees resulting in an energy output of 1953 kW/m2 every year.
Additionally, in order to determine the daily minimum, maximum and average energy
generation per day by the solar panels the longest, shortest and central days were tested using
35 degrees as the most effective slope angle. The shortest day being the winter solstice
(December 22), the longest day being the summer solstice (June 22) and a central day being
arbitrarily selected (September 22). The results of the test are displayed in the following table.
Table 2: Maximum/minimum energy consumption per day.
Day Total Energy Generation Per Day (W/m2
)
June 22 10341.38
September 22 2501.872
December 22 1952.371
As expected the longest day had the most exposure to sunlight therefore it generated the
most amount of energy, while the shortest day provided the least amount of energy. This is
imperative for the implementation of solar panels because it allows us to see the lowest amount
of energy the Gryph-Bo can supply. This provides the required information on how many square
meters of solar panels must be installed.

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Considering all electrical amenities, the Gryph-Bo must service, which include a
ventilation system, lighting, heating, and electrical outlets, approximately 36m2 (192ft2) are to be
installed.
However, in order to reduce the total area of solar panel, a storage battery will be
implemented to receive charge on lower electrical usage days to help supply higher electrical
demand days. A 24V DC, 1375A*h flooded lead acid battery can contain a total energy supply of
33 kiloWatts which is nearly half of the Gryph-Bo’s required electrical needs. With the addition
of the battery the area of panels can be essentially cut in half, reducing the required area to 9m2
or 96ft2.
Detailed Final Design
The final design for the Gryph-Bo’s solar harvesting system entails six 32 ft2 solar panel
arrays, installed onto a nearby structure's roof; in our case the Mackinnon building. Three of the
six panel arrays are dedicated to servicing the Gryph-Bo’s electrical amenities while the remaining
three service the active solar heating system. Within the system circuitry a rechargeable battery,
a fuse, a AC/DC inverter and a control diode. As seen in Figure 1 the solar panel arrays will be
installed in parallel as this will allow the system to continuously generate power even if one of
the panels ceases production. If the panels were to be installed in series, this creates a closed
loop where the current can only travel one path. In this single path circuit if at any point the
circuit is broken the entire system will cease production, therefore it is much more efficient to
have the panels wired in parallel (Vale, 2015).

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Figure 1: Circuit Diagram of Solar Harvesting System (Schemeit, 2016) and (Oskay, 2008)
In addition to the solar harvesting system required materials, certain safety precautions
are implemented to reduce the risk of impedances to the system. The solar panels are to be
installed utilizing a rail mount attachment, however this leaves the underside of the panels
exposed. To remedy this, galvanised steel will be attached to the mount in order to form a
perimeter guard for the panel arrays. Precautions stemming from the electrical aspect include
surges from outside sources which may result in an overloaded circuit. To prevent this, a fuse is
installed within the circuitry.
As seen in the table below, the total cost of the solar harvesting system is $28849.35. The
cost of 96 ft2 of solar panel is $12000.00 (Marken, 2013), the rechargeable battery is $8800.00,
the AC/DC inverter with inverter remote is $2500.00, the rail mount units and sheet metal guard
are $1870.00 (Discount Steel, 2016) and $327.90 respectively. The electrical wiring will cost
$638.25(Uk-Rs Online, 2016) and the safety fuse will cost $83.20 (Wholesale Solar, 2016).
It is important to note that system installation costs are covered in Table 3, in conjunction
with the solar heating system.

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Table 3: Solar installation cost
Parameter Specifications Cost Maintenance
Solar Panels
96 Square Footage
32ft2 Panels
$4000.00/panel
3 Panels =
$12000.00
1 hour a week for first 5 years
2 hours a week for last 20 years
25.00/hour per week
= $1300.00/year (first 5)
=$2600.00/year (for last 20)
Battery
24VDC
1375Ah
Service Life: 10-20 years
$8800.00 ---
Inverter +
Remote
4400W
48VDC
120/240VAC
Pure Sine Wave
$2500.00
1 hour a week for first 5 years
2 hours a week for last 20 years
25.00/hour per week
= $1300.00/year (first 5)
=$2600.00/year (for last 20)
(Includes Battery Maintenance)
Mount
-Roof Mounting Rack
65”x39” XR1000
-26ga Galvanised steel
mount guard 4’x10’
$1870.00 per 22
rack units
$327.90 per 10
steel units
Total: $2197.90
---
Fuse 400A $83.20 ---
Electrical
wiring
-Multicore 1000V, 40A
-12mm diameter
-100m Reel
-Annealed Copper
$638.25 ---
The majority of the materials that form the Gryph-Bo’s solar harvesting system include
warranties which provide a further sense of security when implementing the Gryph-Bo. The
rechargeable battery sourced from Solar One Batteries includes a seven-year replacement
warranty with the purchase along with a three year prorated warranty for a total ten-year
coverage (SolarOne Batteries, 2016). The inverter and inverter remote sourced from Magnum
Dimensions, include a five-year complete coverage warranty upon purchase when the inverter
and inverter remote are purchased simultaneously (Magnum Dimensions, 2016). The rail mount
system sourced from IronRidge includes a 10-year structural warranty and a 20-year functionality
warranty upon purchase (IronRidge, 2016).
Post installation, in order to preserve the Gryph-Bo’s solar harvesting system at a high
quality certain maintenance is required for some of the components. Solar panel maintenance

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entails: dirt, grim, snow, debris and dust removal, antifreeze application in winter months and
minor repairs (loose bolts etc.) throughout its lifetime. The battery and inverter maintenance
includes essentially the same tasks and can be performed simultaneously. These tasks include:
cleaning and tightening of connection wires, battery fluid checked regularly and the application
of corrosion protection. All maintenance is to be performed weekly by janitorial staff at an hourly
rate of approximately $25.00/hour.
Rainwater Harvesting
Design Approach
The goal for each aspect of the rainwater harvesting system of the Gryph-Bo was to
maximize efficiency while minimizing cost and maintenance. For the layout of the roof three
options were considered and the benefits for each taken into consideration. The components
taken into consideration for the rainwater harvesting system were an indoor tank that uses the
interior warmth to melt snow in the winter, a heated plate to melt the snow in the winter months,
and a filtration system for the water once it enters the building. It is the goal of Gryph Initiative
to keep the Gryph-Bo open in the winter as that is when the highest population is present on the
University of Guelph campus.
Design Solutions
After considering three options a decision matrix was created to quantify each aspect to
the systems (Table B2). Aspects from each option were combined to create the final design. Not
only does it have the most efficient system but it also acts as an aesthetic. In order to maximize
thermal conductivity and minimize price ($1 401/metric ton) a low density polyethylene has been
chosen (Engineeringtoolbox, 2015). A wall thickness of 0.5 cm and an outer diameter of 1.4
meters. This allows a volume of 5 m3. The maximum precipitation is approximately 8m3 in August
and the minimum is 1.5m3 in January.
Detailed Final Design
The design for the rainwater harvesting system is to have a tank inside the building which
is supplied by slanted shingles and by melted snow flowing to the opening in the roof (Figure E3).
The slanted shingles not only concentrate the water towards the tank but also increase the
surface area of the roof by 1.6%. That increase was calculated with a 10 ° incline. In the winter

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this system would require a maintenance crew to shovel the snow towards the opening of the
tank. This creates a hazard as the roof is inclined and using salt would not be an option as it is a
contaminant. The hope is to maximize surface area while minimizing the incline of the roof, thus
minimizing the hazard. Once the snow has entered the holding tank within the enclosure the
ambient temperature melts the snow. Using the indoor heating to melt the snow provides the
energy with a secondary use and does not demand excess energy to be redirected for the snow.
The tank itself would be located inside the study space and act as a demonstration of the
sustainability. Within the tank filters would remove leaves, debris and turbidity before the water
passes through the disinfection unit. As the water level is higher in the tank less suction is
required to circulate the water to the washrooms. One way of maintaining a sustainable elevation
head in the tank is to consider the diameter of the tank. In the case of a substantial event there
is a secondary tank in place to collect overflow without hindering maximum elevation head. This
second tank attaches near the top of the first so that it fills up in substantial events and wasted
water is minimized.
The option of having a heated surface that can melt snow in the winter brings about the
question of energy requirements. By diverting some of the harvested solar energy to the roof for
heating there would no longer be a requirement to clear away snow build up. Equating the
heating system for five square feet of the roof to two pounds of aluminum with an outside
temperature of -25 °C gives the system an energy requirement of 1.07 Watts. This yields a total
consumption of 180 Watts for a 900 ft2 building. Diverting this large amount of energy from the
internal heating system cripples the solar harvesting and would create a need for additional.
Heating the roof of the system creates a heat sink since the heat energy is lost to the atmosphere
and cannot be recycled.
A heating element added to the Gryph-Bo water harvesting system would eliminate
maintenance and increase efficiency of collection in the winter. This element would consist of a
one-meter wire maintained at 5℃ at all times. It is calculated that it would require a necessary
amount of 34.8 kW to power this wire. This translates to a total of 17.8 m2 of solar panel, with an
output of 1952.371 W/m2 (Lubitz, 2015). This idea will aid in eliminating problems created by
snow or freezing temperatures by keeping the area warm enough so that the water remains in a

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liquid state. Otherwise, problems may arise including pipe breaks and clogs, rendering the
harvesting system useless.
The cost analysis for the Gryph-Bo’s water collection system was completed for each
necessary aspect and included maintenance costs for the lifetime (assumed to be 25 years). The
size of the storage tank was decided to be 8 m3 as this is sufficient to supply the building, and has
enough extra volume to accommodate large rain events. Low density polyethylene was chosen
based on its low cost and high thermal conductance value; thus being efficient when warming
the water. The metal roofing and grate system was priced out for a 30 ft. x 30 ft. building with a
pitch of 10 °. These materials were chosen in an effort to reduce the chances of rain water
contamination and minimize friction on the roof. Maintenance was calculated both on a yearly
basis and a lifetime total. Acknowledging that the maintenance of the building and terrace will
increase with age and by season; for instance, the winter may require an extra shoveling cost. A
complete list of the costs and components can be found in Table 4. The total cost of the
components was found to be approximately $15,000 and maintenance was found to be an
average of $1,100/ year.
Table 4: Costs associated with rain water collection system

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Restroom Accommodation
Design Approach
Maintaining the theme of self-sustainability, a restroom facility is to be implemented into
the Gryph-Bo to allow civilians a convenient way to relieve themselves without losing time
walking to a nearby restroom. The restroom facility implemented must have relatively low
resource requirements, be relatively easy to maintain and install and have a high level of hygiene.
With these parameters in mind two feasible options were presented; a Waterloo Biofilter Cedar
Shed system or a Composting toilet system.
A Waterloo Biofilter Cedar Shed system provides the smallest environmental footprint of
any treatment system in Ontario. The system’s main operation sources are the utilization of
gravity and a one half horsepower effluent engine with low energy needs (Waterloo Biofilter
Systems Inc, 2016). Unfortunately, the water requirements for such systems can range upwards
of 1000 litres per day (Industry Canada, 2016). The composting toilet system on the other hand
requires nearly no external resources other than the biomaterial which is supplied upon
installation. Very minimal water is required to operate this system and no electricity is needed
(Sun-Mar, 2016).
In terms of installation requirements, part eight of the Ontario Building Code describes
the requirements for septic systems clearly. In the case of a Waterloo Biofilter, it falls under the
category of leaching bed system. This means the length of the bed follows the following formula:
L=QT/200
Where L is the length of the bed pipes, Q is total daily flow, and T is percolation time.
Depending on flow rates and percolation times (can be determined via onsite testing) the pipes
are generally 30 meters. Average beds consist of roughly five to six pipes, meaning the required
bed area could reach upwards of 150 m2 (Ontario Building Code, 2016). Composting toilets are
not considered under the Ontario Building Code as they are treated as an external appliance. The
composting toilet can easily be installed into almost any size facility with very little effort and
requirements (Sun-Mar, 2016).
In terms of hygiene, the Waterloo Biofilter system is a fully functioning septic system,
therefore it utilizes standard toilets. Standard toilets are those that would be seen in any public

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restrooms and can be maintained to high level of hygiene (Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc, 2016).
The composting toilets function by optimizing and accelerating the decomposition of toilet
waste, reducing them into a soil. During this process the waste is odorless degrading, while any
moisture that is generated is vented out of the facility (Sun-Mar, 2016). The decomposition of
waste occurs inside the unit, in a separate chamber than where the waste is entering providing
a hygienic environment (Sun-Mar, 2016).
Comparing the benefits and disadvantages of the three analyzed aspects for each system:
resource requirement, installation requirement and hygiene, it can be seen that for the Gryph-
Bo it is much more suitable to utilize a composting toilet, rather than a septic system.
Detailed Final Design
Two composting toilets are to be installed into the Gryph-Bo, one for women and another
for the men. The toilets themselves can be installed at any point during the construction process
as they are relatively compact and require no water or electrical hook-ups. The following figure
is a rough diagram of the different compartments and built in ventilation the composting toilet
consists of (Sun-Mar, 2016).
Figure 2: Composting Toilet Diagram (Sun-Mar, 2016)

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Additionally, the presence of a restroom results in the need for a ventilation system. In
order to maintain simplicity and energy efficiency, a stock electrical fan is to be installed. The
Broan ULTRAGreen series bathroom fans is ideal for the Gryph-Bo. The XB80L is recognized as
Energy Star most efficient 2016; it has low energy requirements, reduces airborne pollutants,
operates quietly, and contains ULTRALucent lighting technology to efficiently illuminate the
restroom (Broan-NuTone LLC).
Table 5: Cost of Composting Toilet and Ventilation
Parameter Specifications Cost
Composting Toilet
-Self Contained
-Non-electric, medium capacity
-Bio Mulch
$1645.00 x2 = $3290.00
Ventilation System
-6 inch duct
-Telescoping mounting frame
-120V/ 0.2A
$199.99 x2 = $399.98
Insulation
Design Approach
For the Gryph-Bo to be usable all year the occupied study space area must maintained at
a comfortable temperature level in the range of 21-23°C with relative humidity levels below 20%
to have thermal comfort. It is important to maintain thermal conditions as it is a factor of
satisfaction and productivity. It is inevitable during extreme weather conditions in the winter and
summer the usability of the Gryph-Bo will drop drastically if it is open to the outdoors. Taking in
account of extreme weather in summer can rise up to 36℃ and in winter can drop to -31℃ in
Guelph, thus designing a building that will reduce the need for air condition or heating is
dependent on the materials being used and the structural design to maintain an efficient
insulation.
The initial step is to choose the orientation of the building’s windows, if necessary, to
determine how much sunlight radiation is being transmitted into the building. To minimize heat

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transfer, the orientation of the gazebo must have shaded windows facing the south with fixed
overhang for the reason of the sun rising from the east and being generally high during the
summers than winters. This prevents unwanted sunlight from entering and allows cool summer
breezes. Also, selecting the proper glass is important to moderate how much solar heating is
desired throughout the seasons. Choosing a window with a high solar heat gain coefficient, SHGC,
will allow more heat to transmit and generally this would need to be prevented during hot
weather conditions. Typically, for south oriented windows, a glass with a mid SHGC of 0.4 will be
used for passive heating during winters and keeping the temperature cool during summers.
However, for a gazebo style building it is not aesthetically pleasing to have windows oriented
south only. Generally, gazebos have symmetrical spacing to view the outdoor environment;
unfortunately, this allows more solar heat to be transmitted and can cause overheating inside
during summer. Having a low SHGC window in the east-west side of the building, and mid SHGC
on north-south can accommodate for this problem and lower the heat transfer, but will not be
as efficient of south oriented windows only. For both options being considered, the windows will
be tripled paned (k = 0.78w/mK) with argon filled gaps to decrease the heat transfer between
the two surrounding surfaces since argon has a low thermal conductivity (k = 0.016w/mK); thus,
a high thermal resistance which is efficient during summer and winters.
Figure 3: Horizontally pivoted windows (left), foldable glass windows (middle), and retractable wall blinds (right).
The next option is choosing whether the walls are foldable glass, retractable blinds or
horizontally pivoted windows. They must be adequate in insulation as well as convenience and
aesthetics. The design and orientation of the building will collaborate with the walls enclosing
the Gryph-Bo. Considering foldable glass walls, it creates a versatile structure and would only be
removed when the weather is tolerable, around 21-23℃ with no wind chill or humidity to

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maintain comfortable temperature levels. The concept of the design is to have foldable glass
panels using the same glass design mentioned above for orientation of building windows.
Opening the walls at the specified tolerable temperature eliminates the need for external
heating or cooling supply without concern of the room overheating as the room temperature will
reach the outside ambient temperature. The limitation to this design is that it requires a
maintenance person to manually operate the wall when required. Similar to foldable walls, the
retractable wall blind applies the same concept, however this will open up more space on the
ground as the wall will reside above in the roof. The wall will operate by a button that will pull it
up during tolerable weather conditions. The limitation to this design is that the material being
used must be able to roll up such as fabric, or metal panels; unfortunately, these materials are
sensitive to heat transfer. Metals have relatively high thermal conductivity, and durable metal
that is sustainable in winter are stainless steel (k = 16 W/mK) and aluminum (k = 205.0 W/mK).
As for fabric materials, they have porous characteristics and can easily allow heat transfer.
The last option is horizontally pivoted windows that would be attached to an insulated
bordered wall fully enclosing the Gryph-Bo. The insulation will be a combination of brick (k = 0.72
W/mK), plaster (k = 0.22 W/mK) and foam (k = 0.026 W/mK) in parallel with the tripled paned
windows. The windows will be opened manually to the user’s preference; however, it is
encouraged that the windows be kept closed when the temperature is not between 21 - 23℃.
The design of the horizontally pivoted windows will follow the design of the orientation of the
building whether it is equal or south oriented. The limitation to the design is it prevents the
Gryph-Bo to be opened up since the walls are fixed. The calculated heat transfers for each option
of foldable glass walls, retractable wall blinds or horizontally pivoted windows is 2.9 kW, 41.6 kW
and 4.1 kW respectively. Calculations are shown in Appendix C.
Design Solutions
After considering all the options for the insulation for the Gryph-Bo, the design matrix
(Table B6) is used to decide on a final conclusion of foldable glass walls with equal orientation.
The most prominent feature of this design is that it transfers the least amount of heat of 2.9 kW
serving as a more efficient insulation system. This will reduce the energy consumption of the air
conditioning or heating if implemented. In addition, its aesthetic design creates easy accessibility

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when open and is flexible for many activity application uses. Although it requires maintenance,
the benefits outweigh the limitations. For retractable wall blinds, the heat transfer is far too high
and will reach the outside ambient temperature at a faster rate, which is unfavourable during
extreme weather conditions. The horizontally pivoted windows were not selected for the fact
that it is restricted from the walls being open; in addition, the insulation efficiency did not exceed
the foldable glass walls.
Detailed Final Design
The Gryph-Bo will implement a foldable glass wall to help aid comfortable temperature
levels alongside with passive solar heating. Using foldable glass walls it serves as an aesthetic to
view the outside environment as well as an insulating design to efficiently minimize heat transfer.
To optimize insulation efficiency a triple pane argon filled window is used. Also recognizing that
the sun rises from the east the windows must have a low SHGC window in the east-west side of
the building, and mid SHGC on north-south to accommodate for solar radiation and lower the
heat transfer.
The cost of foldable glass walls is $1700 per panel including the required necessities
measuring at 36” x 96”. The perimeter of the Gryph-Bo is 1440” including support beams; thus,
it requires 36 panels to enclose the area. The total cost is $61,200 for the exterior operable glass
walls from the company, Corflex. Figure A1 from Appendix A shows what these glass walls look
like. The average cost for installation and labor is $14,504 for a five-year period.
Warranty
Table 6: Warranty details of foldable glass walls

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Maintenance
Table 7: Maintenance requirements of foldable glass walls
5 Year Cost
Assumption:
 Accidental or intentional damage on glass is not covered by warranty and the contact
service department must be contacted for replacement glass
o Expecting to replace one window panel a year
 Guide rollers will need replacement from unexpected damages such as corrosion every 5
years
 Hourly rate for window maintenance is $14
 Hourly rate for technician maintenance is $26
Table 8: Costs associated with foldable glass walls

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The foldable glass walls will operate in omnidirectional in order to close parallel to each
other, shown in Figure 4 below. The wall will reside in the designated spot in the back location of
the Gryph-Bo.
According to Ontario Building Code the user seating for libraries is one user space per
15ft2, thus with a 900 ft2 building there is a maximum occupancy of 60 people. Following the
Ontario Building Code the quantity of the appliances can be calculated.
Specifications of appliances
Optimal Amount of Tables
 Table Type: Along perimeter of gazebo
 Seating: 32
 Approximate Cost
· $6250
 Table Type: Width 2’6” Length 5’0”
 Seating 4
 Recommended spacing 30” Width, 42” Length
 Total # of Tables: 7
 Approximate Costs:
· $260/table
· $24/chair
 Total # of Seating: 28
Figure 4: Diagram of foldable glass walls during folding process

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LED Lighting Two-lamp
 $20 per unit
 Life Hours 50,000 hours
 Power consumption 15 W
 Recommended spacing between lighting 12’ along width
 Total # of LED lamp: 24
Optimal Amount of Solar Panels
 Standard laptops consume on average 12 watt/hour
 Standard cell phones consume on average of 5 watt/hour
 LED lighting power consumption 15 watt/hour
Power Consumption
 Each Table (4Seating) has 8 DC power outlet
 7 x 8 Tables = 48 DC Outlets
 Perimeter Table has 32 DC Power Outlet
 Max power consumption from light and power devices = 1.320 kWh
 Savings = Canadian Electricity Price/kWh = $0.124/kWh
 Recommended to provide for main purposes and extra added appliances.
Heating
Design Approach
As stated in the insulation section, it is essential that the Gryph-Bo is used for the entirety
of the year, including the winter months that can have temperatures as low as -31 ℃. In order to
achieve this, the Gryph-Bo must not only have Passive Solar heating from the insulation and
design, but a renewable energy heating system must be installed. The goal of the system is to
maintain a temperature between 21 ℃ and 23℃, so that students may study comfortably all
school-year round. There were many heating system possibilities available for the Gryph-Bo,
which have been considered based on constraints such as costs (initial and operational) as well
as overall energy efficiency and environmental impact. This enormous list was narrowed down
to five specific systems of heating that meets the above criteria, and prevail more in some than
others. These systems include: Active solar, geothermal, and heating through portable electric
heaters.

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A geothermal arrangement for heating the Gryph-Bo entails using the earth’s natural
temperature, which comes from a point deep enough where water does not freeze, in order to
heat and cool the Gryph-Bo. Normally, installing a geothermal system in a structure that has
already been built, can be quite expensive due to the piping installment, which requires digging
beneath the structure itself. However, since the foundation for construction of the Gryph-Bo has
yet to be installed, this would save largely on the installment cost of a geothermal system.
Overall, even with this discounted price, the geothermal system remains quite costly for the
purposes of heating the Gryph-Bo. It would cost around $20 000 to install, however the operating
costs are quite minor and its efficiency is much greater than that of any other method
(Geothermal Energy 2016).
The use of portable electric heaters is a system that would have an inexpensive initial
cost, but would have a rather costly operating cost. Due to the size of the Gryph-Bo, which would
be a room filled with people, the space heater would not need to be running at all times, and in
the summer it would not need to be used at all. Space heaters can be programmed to only turn
on once the temperature drops below a certain point, then turn off once it has reached its mark.
This allows for optimal savings, producing a cost of merely 16 cents per operating hour (Space
Heater Energy Cost 2016). Also, assuming the Gryph-Bo is closed during the winter nights, the
overall cost of using a space heater as the primary heating system is an effective choice. However,
it is probable that more than one space heater would be needed due to the size of the Gryph-Bo.
This could add to electricity costs, and it in the end, use more energy than necessary. It does not
aid in the green initiative cause that the Gryph-Bo is meant to be a part of.
Lastly, active solar heating describes the use of solar radiation to heat a fluid, which then
transfers heat directly to the space that needs to be heated. This energy can also be stored for
use with a battery, when the sun is unavailable due to clouds or other obstructions. The main
components of an active solar heating system include a boiler, a radiator as well as a heat pump.
Active solar heaters have an installation cost of around $8 000 (Solar Air Heating Systems 2016),
however annual savings on electricity vary on average between 60% and 85% (Active Solar
Heating 2016). This makes the active solar heating system a feasible option for the Gryph-Bo.

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Design Solutions
After considering all the options for the heating and cooling system of the Gryph-Bo, a
decision matrix (Figure B5) was used to decide which one would be incorporated into the design.
Taking into account that the passive solar heating method could be added to any of the
systems, the final decision was active solar heating. After comparing each system’s effect on all
criteria including efficiency, cost, environmental benefits as well as maintenance, active solar
heating was the logical choice, most efficient choice for the Gryph-Bo. While geothermal heating
is a very efficient system, it is too expensive for this application. In contrast, portable space
heating was cheap in cost but not efficient enough for this application as multiple space heaters
would be necessary. Active solar heating was right in the middle with moderate costs and high
efficiency.
Detailed Final Design
The active solar heating system added to the Gryph-Bo will be able to maintain a
comfortable temperature between 18°C and 23°C all year round. It will be powered by the various
solar collectors installed on the roof of the Mackinnon Building, which have been found to
generate and output an amount of 2.0 kW/m2 (Lubitz, 2015). This energy will be transferred to
water using a heat exchanger, while a storage tank stores the heated water to be used at
appropriate times. When necessary, the heated water will transfer the heat to the space of the
Gryph-Bo using a floor radiation system as the one pictured below. In order to determine the
amount of solar panel required to power the heating system, it must be determined whether or
not the system can run during the coldest outdoor temperatures for a period of 4 months. In the
winter, temperatures in the Greater Toronto Area have an average max outdoor temperature of
-7°C (Toronto Temperatures 2016). It is found that the energy consumption to maintain the
Gryph-Bo at 21°C with this outdoor temperature would be approximately 2880 W (EXHEAT 2016).
Dividing this number by the energy output of one solar collector, results in 1.475 m2 of solar
collector in order to fulfill energy requirements. All values are estimates and also rely on
unreliable factors such as cloud coverage, temperature fluctuations, wind chill, air change heat
loss, along with many other factors.

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Figure 5: Example of active solar heating system
For the cost of the solar panels and their upkeep, refer to the Solar Panel section of Design
Solution. As for the storage system used to hold the water being heated by the heat exchanger,
an appropriate well-insulated storage tank of 120 gallons in size will be needed, resulting in a
cost of $1 000. Overall installation of an active solar heating system can range between $8 000
and $12 000, depending on which company it is purchased from. This includes the price of
securing the panels as well as integrating the storage, piping and heat-exchange systems into the
Gryph-Bo (Economics of a Solar Space, 2016). The maintenance costs for an active solar heating
system includes mainly the maintenance for the solar panels since they are exposed to the
environment, which can be very unpredictable. This information can be found under the Solar
Panel section. However, if there are pipe breaks/leaks in the storage or piping system, repair
costs could range anywhere between $1 000 and $5 000. This cost may also be covered under
warrant. Other problems found within solar heating systems include scaling due to minerals in
the heating fluid, as well as corrosion and freezing. These problems can however be fixed or
avoided by using drain features included within the solar heating system. The only cost might be
hiring someone to control the draining features at around $25/hour. (Solar Water Heating System
Maintenance and Repair, 2016). These costs can also be summarized in the table below:

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Table 9: Costs associated with solar heating system
Storage System 120 gallons $1 000
Installation Cost to install a system of this size $8 000
Maintenance Solar, scaling, corrosion
$1 000 to $ 5000
$25/hr if maintenance needed for piping
Design Defense
Solar Panels
Safety
In order to maintain an appropriate amount of safety when considering the structural
support that is associated with solar panels, the most adverse conditions were considered. The
main concern with the panels being installed on a nearby roof is the wind applying a constant
force directly onto the panels. Although the panels will be installed at an angle of 35 ° from the
surface, it is assumed that the wind is being applied perpendicular to the panel faces.
Additionally, as the panel support structure is a full faced triangular prism, the wind being applied
to the underside of the structure is negligible. In the City of Guelph, over the past 25 years the
average maximum wind speed was approximately 40 km/h (Guelph Weather Stats, 2015),
therefore the maximum wind load applied to the panels will be taken with respect to 50km/h
winds. From the calculations found in Appendix C (Engineering ToolBox, 2015), the maximum
force being applied to a 1 m2 section of panel is 115.74 N or 26.02 Ibf. Therefore, the installation
process will include the usage of 8 identical 2.00” diameter, 7.00” length hanger bolts within each
rail mount, (W.W GRAINGER Inc, 2016) which will result in a load bearing capacity of nearly
20,000 lbs (Engineering ToolBox, 2015), resulting in an incredibly high factor of safety.
Another structural safety concern with the solar panels is the maintenance and condition
of the wires used to route the energy from the panels to the Gryph-Bo. In order to prevent natural
hazards such as rodents, high winds and civilians, the wires will be buried underground for the
most part, and the sections that are exposed will be covered with a metal mesh.
From an electrical standpoint, the panels themselves will be installed directly onto the
Mackinnon roof therefore the rail mounts will be connected directly into a ground. However, in
order to prevent any outlet damage a 400-amp fuse will be installed.

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Economic
By having a solar harvesting system installed, this removes the need to be connected to
the City of Guelph's electrical grid. The City of Guelph charges 17.5 cents/kWh on-peak, 12.8
cents/kWh mid-peak and 8.3 cents/kWh (Guelph Hydro, 2016). Assuming an average rate of 12.9
cents/kWh and the Gryph-Bo utilizing approximately 75 kiloWatts per day on its most intensive
electrical consumption period, then the cost of electricity the Gryph-Bo would require from the
City of Guelph would be $9.68/day or close to $3600.00 a year. With the Gryph-Bo being entirely
self sustaining this essentially means the electricity generated is “free”.
Environmental
Solar energy is the cleanest, most abundant, renewable energy source in the world
(CanSIA, 2011). The collection of solar energy releases no harmful emissions into the atmosphere,
and the installation requires no disruption of nearby ecosystems. Additionally, as the need to
draw electricity from Guelph’s electrical grid is not needed, this reduces the total amount of
electrical requirement of the City. Even though it is a very small amount relative to an entire city,
it is important to start to reduce our electrical footprint as electrical plants will produce less
emissions due to the lowered electrical requirement.
Social
The entire theme of the design was to demonstrate to students that green technology is
both relevant and applicable in our present age. The solar harvesting system the Gryph-Bo utilizes
is a perfect example of this. Almost every student on campus uses a laptop or cellular device to
assist them with their academics. The Gryph-Bo provides a location where students can charge
their electrical devices and physically see how the electricity is being generated in a clean and
renewable fashion.
Life Cycle Analysis
A life cycle analysis was performed for the solar harvesting system the Gryph-Bo will be
utilizing. As seen in Tables F1, F2 and Figure 6, the total carbon dioxide emissions for a 25-year
lifespan is 8407.60 kg.

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It is important to note that the solar cells are comprised of crystalline silicon. Within the
LCA calculator the closest material provided is silicon rubber, therefore it was selected as the cell
material.
Figure 6: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions from each component of solar harvesting system
Rainwater Harvesting
Safety
The main safety concern for the rainwater collection system is contamination. Ultra Violet
Disinfection does not produce a residual which would prevent recontamination later on as
chlorine disinfection does. This concern was remedied by placing the disinfection lamps
immediately prior to dispersal of the water. This way there is no chance for the water to pick up
more contaminants. Regular cleaning of the sinks and fountains can further reduce the chance
of outside contamination. With regular maintenance and UV disinfection 99.99% of pathogens,
germs and bacteria can be removed, this is greater than the 99.9% removal required by Guelph’s
by-laws.

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Economic
By having a water collection and filtration system on site the cost of being connected to
city water is removed. Every 1m3 supplied by municipal water costs $1.60. Over the lifetime of
the Gryph-Bo $ 3500 can be saved. This acts as proof to students using the space that this method
not only works but is economically viable in the long run.
Environmental
Removing the rainwater from the environment by collecting it acts to lessen the
hydrograph peak that the impermeable surfaces the University of Guelph has created. The water
collected (10.3m3 /month) would have gone into the soil and become runoff. Runoff can create
hazards as it picks up trash along walkways and freezes in the Winter. The University of Guelph
is mostly brick walkways which tend to be uneven, there is plenty of areas where water pools
during storm events. These can be reduced by removing some precipitation from the runoff.
Social
The main social benefit that the rainwater collection system brings forward is the fact that
it is an example of environmentally sustainable options. By using the 1.4m diameter storage tank
within the building as a poster board it can teach the students inside about each system. The
storage tank will be opaque white and have a gryphon logo on the surface. Around the tank will
be explanations of each system that the building houses. This way the Gryph-Bo can act as an
educational tool for the future generation of students.
Life Cycle Analysis
The total impact of the Rainwater Harvesting system is estimated to be 9780kg CO2. This
takes into account transportation, manufacturing and disposal. This is enough emissions to fill
two Olympic swimming pools. 3400kg of emissions were due to the metal roofing and 1490kg
from the pipes used to carry the rainwater through the filtration system. 98% of the CO2 emitted
was created during the manufacturing process. This can be reduced by selecting a different
manufacturing process.

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Figure 7: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions from each component of rain water collection system
Restroom Accommodation
Safety
In order to maintain a high level of safety, daily cleanings of the two composting toilets
will be performed to reduce germ spread. Additionally, on a weekly basis, the organic composting
material within the toilet will be changed in order to constantly have a very high level of waste
removal.
Economic
As the composting toilets do not require electricity to function, and have a very minimal
water requirement, therefore after installation and maintenance fees they will essentially
operate with zero operational costs.

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Environmental
As stated previously the composting toilets require little to no external resources to
function. This will reduce the City of Guelph’s carbon footprint as the City’s electrical and water
facilities will not have to supply anything to the Gryph-Bo. Even though the reduction amount
will be extremely small compared to the remainder of the City, it is imperative to start thinking
in a sustainable manner to make the planet as healthy as possible for future generations.
Social
The composting toilets provide an onsite restroom facility for students to utilize. During
exam periods especially, time is a valuable resource that students can not afford to squander.
With the addition of an onsite restroom, students will not have to waste time travelling to a
separate building to relieve themselves.
Life Cycle Analysis
A life cycle analysis was performed for the composting toilet system the Gryph-Bo will be
utilizing. As seen in Tables F3, F4 and Figure 8, the total carbon dioxide emissions for a 10-year
lifespan is 165.24kg.
Figure 8: Pie graph representing the carbon emissions from each component of composting toilet

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Insulation
Safety
To protect the users, the Gryph-bo will be fully enclosed with a durable foldable glass
window. Protecting civilians from possible danger from the outside environment. An aluminum
sash is used to secure the windows. Also, when operating the foldable glass wall the occupied
space must be clear of students before opening or closing. The components of the foldable glass
walls must be well maintained such as cleaning debris and lubricating guide rollers to avoid
damages or potential damages.
Economic
By designing the insulation system using foldable glass windows and passive solar heating
the need for an air conditioning and furnace can be eliminated. Assuming the air conditioning
and furnace are running for six hours a day, which is equivalent to running nine hours a day for
four of the warmer months and four of the colder months. The implemented insulation design
will save $1432.64 per year, having a simple payback period of 42.73 years. This is using the
assumption that the air conditioning and furnace used consume 5275 kWh with the average
Ontario utility at 12.4 cents/kWh.
Figure 9: Results of electricity consumption for air conditioning system
Environmental
As mentioned above, the thermal conditioning relies solely on the insulation design. This
eliminates usage of electricity or gas power.

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Social
The design of the insulation is aesthetically designed to make the space more open and
connected with the outside environment as the foldable glass windows allow the students to
view the outdoors while maintaining thermal comfort. The targeted audience for using the
Gryph-bo are for active outdoor people or simply people who are tired of being in an enclosed
area. The foldable glass walls also create flexibility of the Gryph-bo as it can be used for outdoor
activities such as special coordinated events.
Life Cycle Analysis
A life cycle analysis was performed for the insulation system that the Gryph-Bo will be utilizing. The data
is shown in Table F10, F11 and Figure 10 the total carbon dioxide emissions for a ten-year lifespan is 15246
kg.
Figure 10: Pie graph depicting CO2 emissions from each part of the insulation system

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Heating
Safety
Heating equipment is one of the leading causes fire in homes. Many forms of preventing
heating-related fires have been taken into consideration. These processes include keeping the
heat exchanger, as well as hot surfaces, properly covered and out of reach. Keeping any electric-
powered devices covered and out of reach. Heating equipment will be cleaned and inspected
every year by a qualified professional. Lastly, the smoke alarm will be tested monthly.
Economic
While the heating system may cost a substantial amount initially, in the end, it will save
the University in the cost of operating a gas-powered heating system by 100%. The heating
system will be 100% powered with the sun’s energy, and any extra energy absorbed by the solar
collectors can be transferred to the buildings nearby in order to help save on their costs of energy
as well. For solar panel economic effects, refer to the Solar Panel section of Design Defense. The
only other costs are rather unlikely to take effect, but have a max of $5000 if the worst of these
does occur.
Environmental
Since the heating system will be completely solar powered, the effects have a
tremendously positive impact on the environment. Rather than adding to the production and
emission of greenhouse gases on campus, the Gryph-Bo will have absolutely no negative effects,
and in contrast, it is predicted to produce enough energy to supply other parts of the University.
Social
By providing a comfortable temperature for indoor occupancy, the Gryph-Bo active solar
heating system will allow students to study comfortably within an ambient temperature between
21 ℃ and 23℃. This will allow for the building to have a feel of outdoors, however an appropriate
temperature that can be used even during the winter. The heating system promotes both social
and educational interaction with its unique capabilities and appearance.

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Life Cycle Analysis
A life cycle analysis was performed for the heating system the Gryph-Bo will be utilizing. The data
is shown in Table F8, F9 and Figure 11 the total carbon dioxide emissions for a ten-year lifespan is
165.24kg.
Figure 11: Pie graph representing CO2 emissions from each section of the heating system
Risks and Uncertainties
Solar Panels
Risks associated with the installation of a solar harvesting system are few and far
between. However, there are some possible risks associated with solar panels. The roof the
panels are being installed onto must be able to support the additional load of the panel arrays.
In our design this is not an issue, although it is a factor that should be accounted for. Another risk
associated with the panels being installed is how they will affect the roof drainage. The risk of
the panel array diverting too much rainwater into a specific drainage pipe causing an overflow is
a concern that should be accounted for. (SolarInsure, 2016). Lastly, the as the solar panels
function by collecting solar radiation, they are a beacon for the sun’s rays. This may cause a fire

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risk, as the panels on high temperature days can become very hot and the possibility of debris or
foliage ignition is relevant. (Energy Rescue Guide, 2016).
In terms of uncertainty, the solar radiation model utilized to calculate the daily energy
output values used 2015 dates. This leaves a small sense of uncertainty as the present year and
future years’ daily sunlight hours can differ from day to day. Additionally, the model does not
take into consideration cloud coverage. Heavy cloud coverage can result in up to 30 % solar
power reduction, which could reduce solar generation to a rather low amount on completely
cloud covered days (Born, 2011).
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater collection brings forward concerns about water quality and potential
contamination. This was remedied by minimizing the contact time that the water has with the
surrounding environment and disinfection it immediately before it is dispensed to reduce any
recontamination. Other concerns include animal infiltration and breakages within the system. By
reducing the size of the grates on the roof of the building animals are blocked from entering the
system. Any debris from animals or nearby trees would also be blocked. The pieces that do enter
the system would be small enough not to plug up the pipes and would be blocked once reaching
the filtration. Regular maintenance would remove these particles and with proper training the
maintenance staff will be able to spot a problem in the system and order a repair be done.
The amount of water available in the Gryph-Bo throughout the year is also a concern. By
installing a tank larger than necessary to collect the precipitation from one event there is a
guarantee of excess water in the system. This can also be remedied by connecting the rainwater
collection system to the gutters on the adjacent MacKinnon Building. This would further reduce
the amount of runoff on the campus walkways.
Restroom Accommodation
There is little to no risk involved in the application of composting toilets. The require
almost no external resources to function, and decompose waste in an organic fashion so as to
not release harmful emissions. One possible risk however is the odour of an unmaintained toilet.
The toilets will remain odourless so long as the organic composting material is maintained. If the

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toilet usage is higher than predicted the composting material must be changed on a more
frequent basis to reduce odour (Sun-Mar, 2016).
Insulation
Risk involving foldable glass wall include air leakage, corrosive metal material, and broken
components. For air leakage, small leakage can have a drastic impact and could have been
occurred from improper installation or building adjustments. It is suggested to detect for air
leakage once a year using a blower door test. As for corrosive metal material can lead to
components not functioning properly and needing replacement. It is suggested that a corrosive
resistant spray is applied periodically to prevent damage. Finally, broken components can occur
from unexpected actions causing them to break, such as shattered glass. It is suggested to contact
the service department immediately for replacement to maintain functionality.
Heating
There are not very many risks when resorting to a renewable source for heating such as
active solar. The sun will be operational long after the Gryph-Bo’s life so there will be no risk on
that front. However, one risk would be if the insulated glass walls fail to keep the heat transfer
of the building at an absolute minimal, only then will energy be completely wasted as the heating
system will have to work even more to maintain the temperature of the Gryph-Bo between 21
℃ and 23℃. The active solar heating system, as well as any other heating system, strongly relies
on insulation in order to keep energy consumption minimal. This problem is what generates high
electricity bills, as many people forget to leave windows closed, or cracks uncovered.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The Gryph-Bo’s design is based heavily on five components: solar power, rainwater
collection, composting toilet, insulation, and heating, with each system as efficient and
environmentally-friendly as possible.
The solar harvesting system is the ideal source for electricity generation for the design. It
utilizes the cleanest, most abundant energy source in the world, all while releasing no harmful
emissions into the atmosphere. The panel arrays themselves are to be installed onto a nearby
structure and wired back to the Gryph-Bo. This allows much more freedom in the orientation of

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the panels which results in maximum energy generation. On the highest energy demand day, a
single square meter of solar panel can generate approximately 1952.371 W/m2. Knowing this
figure the required amount of solar panels is 36m2 or 192ft2. However, in order to reduce the
total area of solar panel, a storage battery will be implemented to receive charge on lower
electrical usage days to help supply higher electrical demand days. With the addition of the
battery the area of panels can be essentially cut in half, reducing the required area to 9m2 or
96ft2.
An onsite rainwater collection system is able to demonstrate environmentally friendly
practices to students on campus first hand. By adding a heating system to the roof maintenance
in the winter is minimized and the filtration system can work more efficiently. Although the
rainwater collection system has a payback period of 13 years and does not save an enormous
amount of money each month, it is an example to the students. If these technologies were
applied on a larger scale millions of dollars could be saved in water bottle reduction, water fees
and water treatment costs.
A composting toilet system is ideal for this design, as it has an incredibly small
environmental footprint, with very limited water requirements while still maintaining a high
degree of functionality and hygiene. This presents a perfect example of sustainable technology
that is applicable and functional in modern day time.
The foldable glass windows are an innovative solution to insulate the Gryph-Bo, along
with active solar heating, as it efficiently minimizes heat transfer to 2902.5 W while maintaining
the atmosphere of a gazebo by visually making the space look more open. This flexible design
allows for the Gryph-Bo to be open or enclosed depending on the weather conditions. In
addition, this system allows the Gryph-Bo to be operated 365 days of the year by managing
constant thermal conditions of around 21-23°C. Thermal comfort and aesthetics appeal to the
students as it is a factor of satisfaction and productivity.
The active solar heating system is a great solution to maintain a comfortable study space
temperature for the students at the University of Guelph. This clean power source provided by
the solar panels, will supply sufficient energy in order to maintain the desired temperature
throughout the winter months. The heating system enforces the Green Gryphon ideals that is the

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foundation for the Gryph-Bo, while simultaneously providing warmth as well as a perfect place
to study.
Recommendations
With a limited amount of time and expertise, not all aspects of the design could be
addressed. For instance, the design specifics of the structure were not looked into. More focus
was put on the solar power, rainwater, insulation, and heating systems rather than the actual
design specifications of the building, roof, and foundation. A learning component in the form of
interior design was to be incorporated inside the building. More time could have been spent
physically designing what the information boards should look like and what facts and statistics
should be included on them. There was also discussion that the rainwater storage tank would be
the central information board, and electronic counters would display how much electricity and
water is being saved. As for future opportunities, a fundamental design component of the Gryph-
Bo is that its design can be adapted to be built in other universities and public parks. The design
is not exclusive to the University of Guelph, and with marketing and public interest, its design will
ideally be implemented elsewhere.

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Appendix A: Response to Feedback
During the entire planning process, our design group was fortunate to receive the detailed
feedback and comments that we did. It was beneficial to have this continuous advice to
implement in our report writing. For the most part, every feedback paragraph began with
congratulations on the great job we were doing. That was then followed with minor flaws in our
report, or components we were missing or needed to expand on. This feedback has gotten us to
where we are now: our final design report.
Proposal
All feedback from the original Design Proposal was taken into account while putting
together the Preliminary Design Report. The Letter of Transmittal was formatted along with the
Title Page and Executive Summary. The Executive Summary was also shortened to be made more
concise. A fee estimate was included, summarizing the predicted hours for each deliverable. All
costs were calculated with an $80 per hour fee. A Solidworks model is under consideration for
the final product but the main tool used was a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This was
incorporated in the decision matrix for the solar panel orientation. A Solar Radiation Model was
used in order to calculate the most efficient slope angle of the solar panels to generate maximum
energy and maximum energy collection per square meter of panel. Building codes for the
locations under consideration were additionally added to the design analysis under the location
section. The text of the report was aligned in the justified setting to give the report a more
professional appearance.
Preliminary Design Report
All the feedback taken from the Preliminary Design Report was considered when
composing the technical and cost memos and the final design report. One of the largest criticisms
was a lack of support from a social, environmental, economic, and health and safety
perspective. In the final design report, under the Design Defense section, we made sure to go
into great detail of the safety, economic, environmental, and social impacts of the various
components of our project. We understand the importance of demonstrating that our project is
viable in all of these areas. Another point we failed to include was a sensitivity analysis, so we
made sure to include this in the final report. Minor technical errors including citing all