Contract - October 2010 - (Page 44)

green HOK’s Net Zero Co2urt may be the first-generation Prius of zero emissions office buildings By Bill Valentine, FAIA, HOK In the early 1990s, Toyota assembled a special design team charged with developing an affordable “mean and green” vehicle that would have all the amenities of a modern car with the lowest emissions possible. By late 1997, the first-generation Prius hybrid car was available for sale in Japan. Those first-generation Priuses were fuel-efficient but not perfect. But by proving that it was even possible to produce a hybrid car that people really liked, Toyota set in motion a critical chain of events that today is transforming the automotive industry. Reasonably priced, high-performing hybrids of all types are zooming into the mainstream. Looking ahead 10 years, we can imagine that new cars powered solely by fossil fuels will be in our rearview mirror. The 170,735-sq.-ft Net Zero Co2urt (left) is a new prototype for reasonably priced, readily constructible and marketable zero carbon emissions office buildings. Mythbusters for Zero Emissions Design Our Net Zero Co2urt team found out that designing for carbon neutrality demands integrated, unflinching design and analysis, and that nothing is too important to be questioned or changed. Our science-based approach challenged the veracity of several long-held architectural beliefs: Myth #1: All glass buildings are the future of low-energy and low-emissions design. Although daylighting is the single-most important way to reduce electricity and carbon emissions, carbon neutral design requires a precise balance of light and heat. To determine the right combination of energy-efficient glazing and insulated wall panels, we modeled the daylighting savings offset by the energy penalty of increased floor-to-floor and glass area. These calculations told us how much glass we should use. Myth #2: We can’t go wrong by planting trees. We quickly discovered that placing trees in the wrong places would impede the daylighting solution. The landscaping must preserve access to natural light and be completely integrated with the building design. Myth #3: Photovoltaic panels are effective only in bright, sunny, warm climates like California’s. While our climate analysis showed that there are 150 to 180 cloudy days per year in St. Louis, there is more than enough sun to generate the required on-site solar power. We also learned that solar panels are more efficient in cooler climates—heat is their enemy. Myth #4: We can’t design a zero emissions building to be higher than three stories. We designed four floors. Admittedly, we needed to use the roof surface of the parking structure to house 17,000 sq. ft. of photovoltaic panels. Myth #5: Zero emissions isn’t possible for a conventional project budget. Detailed cost estimates calculated the construction cost to be $223 per sq. ft. Annual energy cost savings through energy efficiency and solar power will be $185,000. The payback for the investment to reach carbon neutrality compared to our baseline building would be 12 years if the rise in fuel costs outpaces general inflation by 4 percent a year. The payback would be less than 10 years today in the many other areas of the United States where electricity is more expensive. Policy changes supporting low-carbon and low-energy initiatives, including additional federal and state incentives for renewable energy, could bring zero emissions buildings much closer to our grasp. Readers who believe reaching carbon neutrality is important can help by encouraging their local politicians to support more incentives and tax breaks for investment in renewable energy. 44 contract october 2010 www.contractdesign.com http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - October 2010

Contract - October 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry
Resources
Focus: What's Next
Focus: A New Conversation
Materials: Cork and Circumstances
Green: Net Zero
Practice: The Office That Never Closes
Splashy and Sustainable
The Art of Healthcare Design
Best Foot Forward
Harmonious and Healthy
Of Sea and Stone
Live Long and Prosper
Trends: From Illness Care to Wellness Care
Process: On the Front Line
Designers Rate
Sources
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - October 2010