Sustainable and Net-Zero Buildings on the NREL Campus

The 182,500-ft² LEED Platinum Energy Systems Integration Facility features 14 laboratories, an Insight Visualization Center, a High-Bay Control Room, and the most energy-efficient super computer in the world.

Energy Use

• Office space designed to have an energy use intensity of 25 kBtu per square foot, per year
• Non-data center space designed to perform 30% better than ASHRAE 90.1 2007 standards
• Natural ventilation through operable windows
• About 80% of regularly occupied spaces have daylighting
• Open office design and a narrow floor plate of 60 ft
• LED lights with a lighting control system
• Radiant heating and cooling

Sustainability

• About 27% of building materials contain recycled content

Water Conservation

• Dual flush water closets
• Low-flow fixtures, including toilets, urinals, showers, and faucets
• Thermosyphon cooler significantly reduces the need for data center cooling tower water use

The 362,055-ft² Research Support Facility is an award-winning model for LEED Platinum, net-zero, and high-performance building design that incorporates the best energy efficiency and environmental performance technologies and practices in a large-scale commercial office building.

Designed to be a net-zero building, the 1,660-ft², LEED Platinum South Site Entrance Building provides security services as an entry/exit point.

Energy Use

• Daylighting
• Natural ventilation, including a 35-ft wind-catch tower and under-floor air distribution system
• 16.1-kW roof-mounted PV
• Geothermal water-to-water heat pump
• Radiant heating and cooling
• LED lights with a lighting control system

Sustainability

• More than 35% of building materials contain recycled content
• 2.5% of building materials are rapidly renewable
• Low-emitting building materials

The 71,347-ft² Science and Technology Facility was the first federal LEED Platinum building.

Energy Use

The building was designed to provide a 41% reduction in energy cost compared to a standard laboratory building.

• Roof uses ENERGY STAR-certified materials
• Building design exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 1999 requirements for energy efficiency
• Windows on the north and south facades provide natural lighting
• Energy is recovered from exhaust air to temperature-condition fresh air
• Displacement ventilation is used for the offices
• High-efficiency chiller saves energy for both the Science and Technology Facility and the adjoining Solar Energy Research Facility

Sustainability

• About 27% of the total building materials were manufactured within a 500-mile radius
• No chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants used in heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning
• About 80% (by weight) of the construction, demolition, and land-clearing waste was recycled or salvaged
• At least 25% of the total building materials were composed of 20% post-consumer waste recycled content

Water Conservation

• Storm water collects on the butterfly roof and flows into a series of ponds used to irrigate the landscape
• Low-flow fixtures, such as ultra-low-flow (0.5 gallon per flush) urinals

The 27,000-ft² LEED Gold Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility features a high-bay biochemical conversion pilot plant that handles up to 1 ton of dry biomass per day, multiple stand-alone fermentation systems, and compositional analysis laboratories.

Energy Use

• Natural ventilation through operable windows
• Daylighting
• Open office design
• LED lights with a lighting control system

The 12,140-ft² LEED Platinum cafeteria holds 250 occupants and uses about 25% less energy than a cafeteria built to current commercial code.

Energy Use

• Designed to have an energy use intensity of 150 kBtu per square foot, per year
• Daylighting and tubular skylights achieve uniform light distribution across the main dining area space to limit the use of electric lighting
• ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and other high-efficiency equipment reduce the need for power
• A kitchen ventilation system with demand-controlled exhaust hoods
• Cutting-edge duct grease sensors monitor build-up and alert the operator when cleaning is necessary
• LED lights with occupancy sensors in the walk-in refrigerator, freezers, and hoods that turn on and off automatically

Water Conservation

• Dual-rinse, water-conserving dishwashers
• Methods for recycling stormwater
• Low-flow, pre-rinse water valves

NREL's parking garage is designed to LEED Platinum standards and is expected to perform 90% better than a standard garage built to code. The 578,320-ft² structure has 1,800 parking spaces and 108 electric vehicle charging stations.

Energy Use

• Daylighting and translucent skylights
• Natural ventilation
• 1.2 MW of facade- and roof-mounted photovoltaics used within the energy boundary of the Research Support Facility
• LED lights with a lighting control system

Sustainability

• Bird-friendly glass
• Electric vehicle charging stations
• Incentive parking for high-occupant vehicles and low-emitting vehicles
• About 35% of building materials contain recycled content
• Low-emitting building materials
• Recycling drop-off center for paper, plastic, glass, batteries, and electronics

Water Conservation

• Drainage swale to encourage ground infiltration of stormwater and snowmelt

NREL's first showcase building, constructed in 1994, the 6,459-ft² Education Center proudly displays technologies that can save energy, create jobs, and generate clean electricity and fuels from plentiful domestic, carbon-free sources.

Energy Use

• Trombe wall that lights and heats the exhibit hall
• Direct evaporative cooling system
• LED lights with a lighting control system
• Energy management system monitors temperature, humidity, and occupancy