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Research ProjectsBigHorn Improvement Center — Silverthorne, ColoradoCambria Office Building — Ebensburg, Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Studies, Oberlin College — Oberlin, Ohio Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Environmental Center — Annapolis, Maryland Four Times Square Building — New York City, New York Solar Energy Research Facility, NREL — Golden, Colorado Thermal Test Facility, NREL — Golden, Colorado Visitor Center, NREL — Golden, Colorado Zion Visitor Complex, Zion National Park — Springdale, Utah More details on these projects are also available in the High Performance Buildings Database. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Acrobat Reader. BigHorn Improvement CenterSilverthorne, Colorado
High-performance design is the cornerstone of the BigHorn Home Improvement Center. The project includes a department store, a hardware store/lumber yard, and warehouse space that was completed in three phases. Phase I, the department store, was completed in February 1998. Phase II, additional retail space, was completed in 1999. Started in May 1999, Phase III is a 36,980-ft2 hardware store/lumber yard that incorporates aggressive energy-efficient technologies taken from lessons learned.
For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 698 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Cambria Office BuildingEbensburg, Pennsylvania
An "integrated" design process was used to build the Cambria Office Building. This design concept evaluates and minimizes energy use and pollution created in the production of building materials used in construction. It also reduces the energy use and pollution the Cambria building will create throughout its lifetime. The design concept was extended to include the interior of the building, where paints were chosen with low-level volatile organic compounds. Installed air quality monitors are used to monitor temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide inside the building. In addition, all building occupants have access to daylighting in their work environment and are able to control lighting and temperature in their individual work areas.
For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 269 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, Oberlin CollegeOberlin, Ohio
A "living classroom" is the highlight of the Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College. It is a working model where the building itself is the main topic of study. It also serves as an example of design that looks at its affect on future generations. This 13,600-ft2 building is oriented along an east-west axis to optimize passive solar heating and lighting; a Living Machine treats wastewater using a system of microbes, plants, snails, and insects and is designed to treat up to 2,500 gallons of the building's wastewater daily. A 4,682-ft2 solar electric system on the main south-facing curved roof provides electrical energy for the building. Recycled and reused products were used in it's construction, including the steel framing, ceramic tiles in the restrooms, and carpeting. Passive solar design features include overhanging eaves and shading trusses that shade the summer sun while allowing winter heat gain. Thermal mass in concrete floors and exposed interior masonry walls retains and re-radiates heat to temper the space. Natural light comes into the building through clerestories and south-facing windows, reducing the need for electrical lighting.
For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 1.5 MB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Environmental CenterAnnapolis, Maryland
Chesapeake Bay has lost approximately 98% of its oysters, 90% of its underwater grasses, 60% of its wetlands, and 50% of its forests. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's primary purpose is to "Save the Bay" through resource restoration and protection, environmental advocacy, and education, and this principle was extended to their new headquarters building, which uses two-thirds less energy than a typical office building of the same size. A unique whole-building design process produced the 32,000-ft2 building for the Foundation. This award-winning building serves as a global model of energy conservation and sustainable building techniques. Energy efficiency features include natural ventilation, which takes advantage of the Bay's breezes to cool the building without relying completely on air conditioning. When sensors determine that the outdoor climate is suitable, the mechanical system shuts down, motor-operated windows open, and "open window" signs signal employees to open their windows. Active solar features produce a portion of the building's electricity using solar-electric panels. Solar water heating reduces electricity demand. Composting toilets that don't require flushing reduce nutrient pollution from human waste and rooftop cisterns capture rainwater for hand washing and fire suppression. An important design feature is the parking design that reduces harmful runoff from surfaces into the Chesapeake Bay by placing parking under the building and using gravel surfacing for parking outside the building. Remaining storm-water runoff flows through a bioretention storm-water treatment system designed to treat oils and then through a constructed wetland.
For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 679 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Four Times Square BuildingNew York City, New York
Four Times Square is the first project of its size to adopt state-of-the-art standards for energy conservation, indoor air quality, recycling systems, and the use of sustainable manufacturing processes. This 48-story building is setting higher standards for energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable materials, responsible construction practices, and for operating and maintenance procedures. All systems and construction technology in this 1.6-million-ft2 building were evaluated for their impact on occupant health, environmental sensitivity, and energy reduction. The building features environmentally efficient gas-fired absorption chillers and a state-of-the-art curtain wall with excellent shading and insulating performance. The air delivery system provides 50% more fresh air than industry codes, and a network of recycling chutes serve the entire building. The building has received awards from the National American Institute of Architects and the AIA of New York State. The project was also honored by World Architecture Magazine, the Alliance to Save Energy and the New York City Audubon Society and was featured in cover articles in both World Architecture and Architectural Record.
For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 792 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Solar Energy Research FacilityGolden, Colorado
NREL's Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) is a state-of-the-art research facility used to develop technologies for converting sunlight into electricity. Completed in October 1993, SERF houses approximately 190 employees in 42 laboratories that conduct research on photovoltaic (PV) or solar-electricity, superconductivity, and related material sciences. The $19.6 million, 115,000-ft2 facility less than half the cost of a typical research facility, was designed and constructed to meet or exceed all applicable environmental, safety, and health codes and standards for the three adjoining modules. Each module has two pods; a laboratory pod in the back and an office pod in the front.
SERF was designed and built to use less energy and take advantage of sunlight. Annual energy costs for the building's lighting, heating and cooling, and auxiliary power equipment are 51% lower than a similar building designed to meet Federal standards. Total annual energy costs (including energy used for laboratory work) were expected to be 36% lower than the Federal standard. For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 559 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Thermal Test Facility, NRELGolden, Colorado
NREL's 10,000-ft2 Thermal Test Facility is an open-plan laboratory/office building designed with a high-performance, whole-building approach. Its design incorporates many passive solar and energy-efficient features that meet the needs of its occupants while minimizing building loads. Research conducted in the laboratory includes the study of advanced cooling systems, ventilation systems, ventilation pre-heat, and active solar systems. In addition to housing research facilities, the building itself was designed as a research model that provides data that can be applied to buildings designed in the future.
The building is a showcase for integrated energy efficiency features that are reduces energy use by nearly 70%. NREL researchers closely monitor the energy saving features-including high-efficiency lighting, space conditioning (heating, ventilating and air conditioning), water heating and daylighting design-to determine how well the features perform as an integrated system. For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 331 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. Visitor Center, NRELGolden, Colorado
While NREL's Visitors Center houses a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency exhibits, the building itself is an impressive demonstration of solar design. Incorporating passive solar energy technologies, the building is a testament to how thoughtful architectural design can enhance energy efficiency while creating a distinctive visual appearance. The facility was built by the Midwest Research Institute, which manages and operates NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Zion Visitor Complex, Zion National ParkSpringdale, Utah
TOUR ZION ONLINE!The Zion National Park Visitor Center and Comfort Station is one of the National Park Service's (NPS) most efficient complexes. Features included in the design of the 7,600-ft2 (706-m2) Visitor Center and 1,100-ft2 (102-m2) Comfort Station are daylighting, Trombe walls for passive solar heating, downdraft cooltowers for natural ventilation cooling, energy-efficient lighting, and advanced building controls. It is estimated that these features result in about 10 kW of electrical demand savings. A roof-mounted photovolatic (PV) system provides electrical power. The PV system reduces the amount of power purchased from the utility and it supplies backup power when grid power is not available. Transportation inside the park is part of the redesign. Clean-running propane buses shuttle visitors to nine stops in Zion Canyon and six stops in the nearby town of Springdale, dramatically reducing the number of vehicles inside the park and improving the visitor's experience. For more information, read a detailed brochure (PDF 803 KB) or visit the High Performance Buildings Database. |
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Last updated: 10 December 2007