Achieving High-Performance Federal Facilities Strategies and Approaches for Transformational Change (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix G: Getting to Net-Zero Energy: NREL's Research Support Facility--Jeffrey M. Baker
Appendix G: Getting to Net-Zero Energy: NREL's Research Support Facility--Jeffrey M. Baker
Pages 115-124
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From page 115... ...
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is one of 17 national laboratories and major science capabilities operated by DOE. DOE is the single largest funder of physical sciences, with work performed not only in its national laboratories, but at more than 300 universities across the nation.
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From page 116... ...
laboratory building completed in 1994, won numerous awards for its innovative and highly successful use of daylighting in office and laboratory space. The Science and Technology Facility, a 71,000 GSF laboratory building housing a highly complex research and development infrastructure for photovoltaic and related technologies, was the nation's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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From page 117... ...
In fact, the integrated delivery, whole-building design approach, supported by extensive energy modeling, produced a largely passive design that met all of our mission requirements by using free environmental benefits such as ample daylight and cool, dry nighttime air. We estimate that the cost to achieve this level of energy efficiency is only 1 to 2 percent more than the total cost to design and construct a conventional office building on a square foot basis, with much of the additional cost attributable to the more intense and interactive design process.
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From page 118... ...
Building air supply is conditioned using stored thermal energy provided by an EERE-funded invention called a transpired solar collector in a concrete labyrinth in the RSF's basement (Figure G.4)
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From page 119... ...
Although such an approach entailed a great deal of work, especially early on in the design process, it also created a great deal of value. Our acquisition strategy focused on performance goals instead of the more traditional approach of providing technical specifications such as building size, construction materials to be used, and so on.
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From page 120... ...
(By the way, BOX G.1 Request for Proposals Performance Goals for the Research Support Facility Tier 1: Mission Critical Goals • Attain safe work/design • LEED Platinum • Energy Star "Plus" Tier 2: Highly Desirable Goals • 800 staff capacity • 25,000 Btu per square foot per year • Architectural integrity • Honor future staff needs • Measurable ASHRAE 90.1–2004 • Support culture and amenities • Expandable building • Ergonomics • Flexible workspace • Support future technologies • Documentation to produce "how to" manual • Allow secure collaboration with visitors • Completion by 2010 Tier 3: If Possible Goals • Net-zero energy • Most energy-efficient building in the world • LEED Platinum Plus • 50 percent better than ASHRAE 90.1–2004 • Visual displays of current energy efficiency • Support public tours • Achieve national and global recognition and awards • Support personnel turnover
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From page 121... ...
Design-Build Project Delivery Approach The design-build project delivery approach, as opposed to the more traditional design-bid-build approach, creates a good deal of apprehension in some parts of the organization, such as the acquisition and project management organizations, as we used performance goals rather than technical specifications. Keys to making the design-build acquisition strategy work are up front and continuous owner commitment and involvement, clearly defined performance goals, substantiation criteria for these goals, and a firm fixed-price contract that shifts the performance and financial risk to the contractor.
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From page 122... ...
. Other technologies and tools used in the RSF were developed or improved through EERE research at NREL, including a photovoltaic module for the production of electricity from sunlight, photochromic glass that darkens when heated, and photoelectric glass that darkens when a small electric current is applied, in order to shield occupants from direct sunlight, and, of course, the energy models that were critical to the RSF's design.
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From page 123... ...
What we got, through our performance-based design-build integrated project delivery approach and our commitment to working with the private sector to lower the project risk through superior project definition, was every "mission critical," "highly desirable," and "if possible" performance goal contained in the RFP. In doing so, the RSF demonstrates that, through superior energy performance based on an ultra-high energy efficient design, getting to net-zero energy responsibly and affordably is possible today.
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