— Personal Environments for employee control, comfort and productivity
— abundant natural daylighting (and views) for energy efficiency and employee satisfaction and productivity
— open ceilings decreased materials used and showcase building systems
— accessibility to alternative transportation such as buses — bicycle racks and showers for employees
— water-efficient fixtures reduce use by 20 per cent
— rainwater recovery system in cooling towers
— storage and collection of recyclables (in kitchen space on each floor)
— aggressive construction waste management plan
— resource re-use, many building materials re-used from old
building such as re-used concrete forms
— building commissioning to verify and calibrate systems to
operate as designed
— lighting uses t-5 lamps high output with fewer fixtures, lowering
energy use
— mechanical and electrical systems designed for maximum
efficiency includes intelligent control system
— high-shade, efficient window system
— roof-mounted weather system for accurate energy applications — occupancy satisfaction measurement system via intranet
— CO2 and VOC monitoring through building automation systems — smoking ban in building and courtyard.
Typical energy and utility costs for a building of this kind run between $1.20 and $1.25 per square foot per year according to BOMA average measures. During initial discussions, it was expected that the Brengel Center would operate between $1.00 and $1.05, yet actual operations costs are running between $0.90 and $0.95. Interestingly, the adjacent building is currently enrolled in the LEED for Existing Building’s pilot programme, attempting to become one of the first organisations with dual certification, in facilities that were built 100 years apart, no less.