A research facility at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory has received the top LEED designation for green building.
The 71,000-sq. ft., $22.7-million, state-of-the-art Science & Technology Facility (S&TF) in Golden, Colorado is the first federal laboratory building to receive a platinum rating. Only 28 other buildings in the world have achieved the LEED platinum designation.
LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. It recognizes and measures building performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“Our built environment uses 40% of the nation’s energy. As the country’s largest energy consumer, it is incumbent upon the federal government to lead by example and use energy as efficiently as possible,” Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner said.”
The multi-story building was designed to fit into the gently sloping side of a mesa, where care was taken to minimize disturbing the natural terrain and conserve and manage water resources. Architectural features such as daylighting, evaporative cooling and efficient motors, fans, windows and lighting reduce the building’s energy requirements, saving 41% in energy costs.
NREL staff worked with the architect and construction contractor to make certain that 11% of the building materials were from recycled materials and 27% of the construction materials were manufactured within 500 miles of the building site.
The building’s office area is 100 percent day lighted. Glare-free natural lighting coupled with large window views of the outdoors not only saves energy, but decreases eye strain, improves ‘see-ability’ and has been shown to increase productivity.
About 55 researchers and support staff work in the S&TF. The Science & Technology Facility houses some of NREL’s solar and hydrogen energy research and was designed to help accelerate the development and commercialization of promising new energy technologies. It was completed in June 2006. The SmithGroup of Phoenix, AZ, was the design architect. M.A. Mortenson Company of Denver, CO, was the general contractor.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.
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