High Performing Buildings - Fall 2010 - (Page 32)

© rmA Architectural Photography a high albedo (solar reflectance) roof helps minimize heat gain. The building’s nonlighting load includes computers, HVAC, two refrigerators, plotters and printers and miscellaneous plug loads. In addition to lighting efficiencies, the building’s reduced electricity use from the grid is attributed to the occupancy sensors under each desk, the office’s 50% occupancy lessons learned daylighting equipment, like electric lighting equipment, is always evolving. The solar tubes are now larger and more efficient. new optical prisms have been added to maximize illumination in early morning and late afternoon, but they also reduce midday illumination levels. solar tubes that extend above the roof are available to help eliminate shadowing from architectural elements or mechanical equipment. Automated daylighting systems are becoming more robust and reliable. The fine-tuning of occupancy sensors and daylight tuning was time consuming. The designers wanted to ensure the lighting did not stay on too long after an employee left her office or lights turned on when an occupant walked by an office door. likewise, the designers wanted to ensure the daylighting prompted the lights to dim as soon as possible and turn off completely to recover maximum savings. The designers recommend a second commissioning after the building has been occupied for some time to fine-tune it for maximum savings and employee comfort. Commissioning is an evolving need. The control system is being updated and modified regularly to maximize lighting efficiency and increase the level of savings. lamps, rate and the electricity produced by its photovoltaic panels. conserving Water, Materials As the Los Angeles basin enters its ninth year of drought, water is a critical resource. The small area of landscaping is drought tolerant, native to the region, and can be hand watered, if necessary. Artificial turf installed in the planters looks like a lush grass Left The original concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall was repainted for a cost-effective, but clean look. One lesson learned from this room is the need for soundproofing in rooms used for video conferencing. A rug will be added to improve the acoustics. Right Light fixtures dim down and up, supplementing daylight to keep light levels consistent. The office is 100% daylit during working hours. Fans circulate air and draw hotter air upward and out through the roof monitors when the automated windows are opened for natural ventilation. The blue soundproofing wall is made from sawdust, seaweed and recycled blue jeans. ballasts, occupancy/vacancy sensors and daylight sensors are regularly tested, which piques the curiosity of employees and guests. fiber-optic daylight transfer systems, such as the one that lights the lobby chandelier, are expensive for their level of illumination, and have quite a few limitations, including distance to the source, low light levels on anything except the brightest days — or none in the case of a cloud passing over — and relative difficulty of installation for proper function. sometimes the best solution doesn’t exist yet. That does not mean it should not be explored. ldA president and coauthor Chip israel designed hybrid solar/electric systems using different manufacturers’ standard products. The hybrid systems keep the ceilings looking clean aesthetically and help ldA designers maintain constant light levels at their desks and conserve energy. The hybrid system was not much more expensive than having the two systems side by side, as would be done traditionally, because it was a single installation. learning from its experience, ldA is now looking at modifying this concept for an upscale 2 by 4 system for spaces such as schools, which have many of the same lighting needs as commercial spaces. Being sustainable is about long-term goals and daily maintenance. Building infrastructure for goals such as rainwater collection and piping for a future shower (installed february 2010), allows ldA to keep striving for leed Platinum without great cost or inconvenience. daily sustainable initiatives such as recycling and carpooling remind and educate employees of the company’s dedication to sustainability. Having a leed-certified building is about creating a responsible office culture, not about a checklist of construction requirements. The most important lesson was that the needs of the users, as described by them, and not just as assumed by the design team, should be the defining factors from the beginning of design. The assumption that no one cared about having windows, and the subsequent discussions with ldA’s designers regarding daylight and glare, created an opportunity to develop and learn about the many options for daylight in the everyday office environment and resulted in this energy-efficient innovative space. 32 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 1 0

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2010

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2010
Table of Contents
IDeAs Z2 Design Facility
Lighting Design Alliance
Manassas Park Elementary School and Prekindergarten
FC Gulf Freeway Office Building
Capturing Condensate
National Australian Built Environment Rating System
Tyson Living Learning Center

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2010