Significant energy efficiency is achieved by using water rather than air to heat and cool the space. Cold and hot water is pumped through small capillary mats in the metal ceilings panels throughout. Fresh air ventilation comes from the raised floor system that covers the floor except at our core. By replacing large fans and ductwork with small pumps and piping, both space and energy are saved.
Combining strategies of daylighting, occupancy sensors, highly efficient equipment, radiant heating/cooling, low velocity under floor air-distribution and a rooftop energy-recovery wheel reduces the project’s energy usage by approximately 58%. A live metering and monitoring system makes sure it’s all properly working together.
A heat recovery unit, also referred to as an enthalpy wheel, exchanges heat and humidity from one air-stream to another on the rooftop. Rather than discard used building air, an enthalpy wheel salvages useful energy and transfers it to incoming, fresh air. This saves energy by reducing the need for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Two MicroTurbines, which are compact turbine generators, produce electricity onsite. Although they can run on a variety of fuels, Perkins + Will uses natural gas as a clean fuel source. Meanwhile, an adsorption chiller uses municipal water as the refrigerant and silica gel as the desiccant, rather than CFCs or Freon, lithium bromide, or ammonia. Eliminating these substances eliminates the potential for hazardous material leaks, aggressive corrosion, chemical testing, and damage to upper-level atmospheric ozone.
This project has received multiple awards and praise from the community.