This fall Lab Design published our article, “Lab synergistics enhance energy efficiency.” Andrea Love looks at integrating energy-efficiency strategies into design early in the process and viewing strategies in tandem rather than isolation. We’ve shared an excerpt here. For the full article, visit Lab Design.
Many energy-efficiency strategies are often viewed in isolation, not allowing projects to realize their full potential. When viewed as part of the cooling system, the integration of a high-performance envelope with exterior shading is able to decrease the size of equipment needed. Decoupling the heating and cooling loads from the ventilation with a radiant system, along with the integration of an ambient and task lighting scheme, can allow a building to reduce its floor-to-floor heights. These symbiotic relationships between systems can save construction costs, while yielding high-performance, low-energy research labs. Conventional thinking assumes there’s a premium to be paid for a “green” building. However, we have observed that a high-performance building can also be a lower-cost building through the integration of synergistic strategies.
For the full article, click here.
Cape Cod Community College’s Frank and Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center is a net-positive energy building designed to transform the heart of campus.
The project approaches sustainability through a holistic and global approach, implementing a range of moves including passive solar shading overhangs, air-source heat pumps, high performance materials with low embodied carbon and the expansion of the range of thermal comfort and lighting power density. Combined with on-site photovoltaics, the project achieves net-positive energy use.
The project’s thermally modified wood rainscreen façade is a study of the modern expression of vernacular Cape Cod architecture while reducing embodied carbon. Early lifecycle assessments identified the immense carbon savings of wood over fiber cement. The design team did not stop there, furthering reductions by peeling back unnecessary finishes like carpet and ceilings. Together, these decisions enabled a 19% reduction in embodied carbon.
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