High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011 - (Page 58)

E n E r G y at a G l a n C E Annual energy use intensity (site) 73.3 kBtu/ft2 natural gas 39.4 kBtu/ft2 electricity 33.2 kBtu/ft2 energy 0.73 kBtu/ft2 Annual source energy 153 kBtu/ft2 Annual energy Cost index (eCi) $1.12/ft2 Annual net energy use intensity 72.3 kBtu/ft2 energY sTAr rating 99 Heating degree Hours 6,033 (base 65°f may 2010–April 2011) Cooling degree Hours 992 (base 65°f may 2010–April 2011) W at E r at a G l a n C E Annual Water use Approximately 4.25 million gallons/year Building Water use Approximately 2 million gallons/year landscape Water use Approximately 2.25 million gallons/year Since Denver has a heating-dominant climate, the southern glazing allows for more natural light and heat to enter the facility during the winter when the sun is lower in the horizon; this decreases the amount of electrical lighting and mechanical heating required. Overhangs over the south glazed areas reduce the intense natural light and heat entering the facility during the summer months, reducing glare to occupants and decreasing the amount of mechanical cooling required. Golden Hill’s two glass-enclosed atriums deliver light to interior spaces and harvest solar-generated heat during the winter months. A four-panel solar hot water system preheats domestic hot water and provides 30% in annual energy savings over a conventional gas-fired water heater. orientation or work to control solar gains during the summer. For such facilities, uncomfortable levels of compensatory airflow to the exterior zones would be required to deliver sufficient levels of cooling. Golden Hill’s designers countered these potential obstacles with site orientation and architectural features, such as overhangs over the south glazed areas and minimal amounts of east/west window glazing, helped counter the potential obstacles for evaporative cooling. The energy modeling predicted energy use for the evaporative cooling (among other systems), but it couldn’t determine if the system would be viable in terms of occupancy comfort. Evaporative Cooling The design team pursued lowcost, high-impact design strategies. Golden Hill’s east/west orientation minimizes east/west window glazing and facilitates natural daylight penetration through the plentiful north/ south window glazing. Golden Hill’s designers took advantage of another feature of Denver’s dry climate and selected an indirect/direct evaporative cooling system. Application of evaporative cooling would not typically be feasible for office buildings that did not site their structures in an east/west Below left This conference room in a second-floor office suite (west building) is adjacent to one of the two atriums. Golden Hill’s two glass-enclosed atriums deliver light to interior spaces and harvest solargenerated heat during the winter months, reducing energy consumption. Below right The open layout in this secondfloor office suite of the west building allows natural light to fill the space. The dominant windows (right) face north. Natural daylight replaces or supplements electrical lighting for many interior spaces throughout the year. 58 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 1 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011
Commentary
Contents
Manitoba Hydro Place
Maplewood Police and Court Building
Omega Center for Sustainable Living
Dockside Synergy at Dockside Green
Golden Hill Office Center
Letters to the Editor
Products
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2011