2005 Federal Energy Saver Showcase Award Winners
East Campus Complex
U.S. Department of Energy
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
The newly constructed 376,000-square-foot East Campus Complex at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) consists of laboratory and office space, as well as an efficient, automated central energy plant. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™)-certified complex features sustainable and energy-saving measures such as: recycled and low-VOC materials, reflective roofing, roof and wall insulation, high-performance glazing, high-efficiency lighting, direct digital controls, energy efficient motors, high-efficiency chillers, and variable air volume systems. Built on a former brownfield site, the complex also includes rainwater-fed landscaping with native vegetation. The complex saves more than five million gallons of water and 10 million kilowatt-hours per year compared to baseline construction, and is about 32 percent more energy efficient than comparable older buildings at ORNL.
Escalante Science Center
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Escalante, Utah
The Bureau of Land Management's Escalante Science Center at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, nominated for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification, was constructed to incorporate environmentally-sensitive, sustainable features throughout the facility. Daylight controls with dimmable ballasts, skylights, and interior and exterior light shelves reduce lighting output and control direct lighting for increased occupant comfort and productivity. Natural ventilation, operable windows, and low-VOC materials also contribute to a healthy indoor environment. Water-saving and reuse technologies reduce wastewater volume by 50 percent. A 7.5-kilowatt, grid-connected photovoltaic system generates 11 percent of annual electricity needs; the remaining 89 percent is met through a green power purchase. These features, along with occupancy sensors, increased insulation, and evaporative cooling make the facility more than 40 percent more energy efficient than a comparable building.
Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters and Kettle Pond Visitors Center
U.S. Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Charlestown, Rhode Island
The environmentally-sensitive and sustainable Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Kettle Pond Visitors Center is a result of a collaborative design effort between the Fish and Wildlife Service; the city of Charlestown, Rhode Island; Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island; and William D. Warner Architects and Planners. Minimal site disturbance and careful site planning effectively integrate parking and roadways among sensitive and historic site features. Recycled and low-VOC building materials include engineered wood, plastic lumber, linoleum and bamboo flooring, sheetrock, fiberboard, and carpet with high recycled content. Super insulation of the building envelope, high efficient lighting, daylighting, and optimal building orientation will reduce energy use by 20 percent over a traditional office building, while a renewable geothermal heat exchange system will save $7,000 in energy costs annually.
Building 4600
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama
Environmentally sensitive construction practices make the 139,000-square-foot NASA Building 4600 at George C. Marshall Space Flight Center a model for sustainable design. The building's east-west orientation and sun shades minimize sun exposure, while an open floor plan allows for an abundance of natural light. Other energy-saving features include light sensors, photovoltaic roof panels, and a white, reflective ENERGY STAR® roof membrane. Waste water from the campus chiller plant is distributed to a retention pond for irrigation, saving 3.5 million gallons of potable water annually. More than 85 percent of construction waste was re-used or recycled, and 20 percent of the building material is made of recycled content. Low-VOC materials, efficient air flow, and greater access to daylight and views provide a healthy and productive interior work environment.