FRICK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Stated of America | Living Certified
When targeting zero energy, the project team of the Frick Environmental Center prioritized passive design strategies to minimize energy loads before designing mechanical means to offset that demand. Primary passive design strategies implemented were building massing and orientation, large roof overhangs, and natural ventilation via operable and automated windows throughout the space to promote airflow.
High-efficiency mechanical systems, such as ground source heat pumps, were used to supplement passive design. Additionally, energy conservation measures such as watt meters for monitoring plug loads, occupancy and daylight sensors, and a building automation system were included. These strategies, combined with a large PV array on site that offsets more than 100% of the building energy needs, resulted in the project achieving its Net Positive Energy target. Set in western Pennsylvania’s four-season climate, the Center uses 48% less energy than a comparable building of its size and achieves an EUI of 23 kBTU/sf/yr.
Even while focusing on energy efficiency, the project team integrated numerous biophilic design strategies in order to create spaces that beckon and shelter, gently nudging park visitors from the adjacent neighborhoods toward the heart of the “wild” park beyond.
Overall, the Center’s primary purpose to serve as an educational environmental facility has proven an excellent opportunity to utilize end-user energy strategies. Passive buildings engage with active occupants, and thus conscious reduction of energy use by all building occupants helps further reduce energy consumption while providing teachable opportunities.
303 BATTERY
Seattle, Washington, United Stated of America | Pursuing Energy Petal Certification
The project team of 303 Battery, alongside Sustainable Living Innovations (SLI), designed for efficiency by drastically changing the design/build processes of typical construction. SLI focuses on streamlined, sustainable building construction in order to lower the impacts of energy and construction while increasing the value of high-rise residential projects. Materials for the projects were manufactured at a warehouse in Tacoma, WA, and then assembled at the project site.
Through the implementation of numerous energy conservation measures (ECMs), this Seattle Living Building Pilot Project is designed to be 50% more efficient than a reference building designed to Seattle’s already-stringent energy code. 303 Battery accomplishes these energy goals by:
- Minimizing conditioned space by opening corridors to the outdoors.
- Heating with in-floor radiant heat.
- Reclaiming waste thermal energy from shower, sink, and vanity water and treating it to Class A standard for toilet flushing and irrigation.
- Minimizing penetrations in insulation for sound attenuation and energy efficiency.
- Installing ENERGY STAR appliances.
- Using low-voltage LED lights.
- Maximizing daylighting, solar heat gain, and indoor/outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling doors that open fully to a private deck.
- Providing a custom smart home app so tenants can remotely control their space and compare use patterns to neighbors.
All of these efforts result in a highly efficient space—so efficient that energy and water bills will be covered by the building owner without charge to the tenants.
The building will have integrated building solar panels on the southeast façade, on resident balconies as well as on the roof. With 112 units on the equivalent of a single-family lot, the solar arrays and large storage batteries in the basement will cover more than 40% of the building’s annual energy demand. To achieve a total of 105% of annual energy use from renewable sources, the project team is utilizing Exception EC-012, Off-site Renewables and installing additional solar panels on their warehouse in Tacoma.
Although the project team is pursuing LBC 3.1 and therefore does not have any embodied carbon requirements, the nature of their design and construction processes results in dramatically lower embodied carbon impacts. The SLI design process results in expedited construction schedules, virtually zero construction waste, and buildings that weigh 20% of conventional construction. SLI projects predict a lifespan of over 75 years, nearly double that of typical mid-rise construction.
With more projects following, SLI will be continuously monitoring and improving building performance over time.
