Commercial Green Building Design

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Featured Case Study:

NREL’s Research Support Facility located in Golden, CO

What: New construction of a Net Zero Energy use office

Size: Total building size 220,000 SF (2 story)

Cost: ~$64,000,000 (~$290/SF)

Age:Under Construction

Financing: Government

Project Duration:N/A

Players: NREL, RNL, Haselden Construction, Stantec Consulting

Results (estimated):

LEED NC Platinum

Zero Net Energy Use

31.75 kBtu/SF/YR (approx. one third of a standard comparable building)

~50% decrease in energy usage

Showcase for energy efficiency in commercial buildings

Design & Technology Highlights:

• Building Footprint: “Lazy H”- Two narrow (not more than 60′ wide) wings connected by one enclosed footbridge to allow for maximum daylight penetration
  

• Envelope: Precast insulated concrete (13′ x 30′), 6″ exposed concrete on exterior
  

• Windows: Triple glazed with exterior overhangs and side fins to maximize natural light while reducing glare and heat gain
  

• Daylighting: Interior light reflecting devices, highly reflective interior paint, low workspace partitions
  

• HVAC: Mainly natural ventilation- automatic opening windows (summer nights) “thermal labyrinth” and transpired air collectors. Evaporative cooling, radiant heating/cooling and heat recovery from data center
  

• “Thermal Labyrinth”: Subterranean “S” shaped concrete walls used as thermal mass to store and release warm/cool air (depending on season). Air is pulled down and pushed up through shafts via fan power
  

• Transpired Air Collector: (used in heating season) Dark perforated metal on south facade that generates and pulls in warm air to pre-warm ventilation
  

Comments: Denver Green Buildings was not involved in this project.

This case study illustrates that zero energy buildings are achievable with today’s technology.

For more information on this project including photos and videos, visit RNL or NREL.