NREL’s Zero Energy Office Building Sets High Standard

---

The Research Support Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory continues to set an example for high-performing zero energy buildings worldwide in the design and construction process.

The Research Support Facility (RSF), located on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) campus in Golden, Colorado, remains a groundbreaking standard for energy efficiency and design for commercial office buildings around the world. This living laboratory incorporates smart design, load reductions, and innovative applications of existing technologies to achieve net zero energy on a fixed budget.

In February 2020, the RSF’s zero energy operations and performance were validated through the U.S. Green Building Council’s zero energy LEED certification. The RSF, which is 362,055 square feet, is one of the largest zero energy LEED Platinum-certified commercial buildings in the world.

As a direct result of NREL’s energy efficiency and renewable energy research efforts, the RSF showcases many unique features that sets it apart from other office buildings in the field. Thanks to these features, the RSF:

• Generates an energy use intensity of 35 kBtu per square foot, per year
• Performs 50% better than a commercial office building built to current commercial code
• Utilizes a 2.5-megawatt photovoltaic system that resides on the rooftops of the RSF and campus parking garages
• Reduces the data centers’ energy use by 50% over traditional approaches by implementing evaporative cooling, outside air ventilation, waste heat capture, and more-efficient servers
• Enhances daylighting by using south-facing windows, which reflect light to the ceiling and deep into the space with light-reflecting devices
• Delivers fresh air through triple-glazed operable windows that cool the building passively
• Includes ENERGY STAR®-certified, energy-efficient appliances and computing equipment.

Researchers working in the RSF use real-time building performance data to study the building’s energy use and adjust as needed. The successful leadership of the RSF has also brought about energy-use and energy-saving practices that can help guide product development within the commercial building sector. NREL experts continue to utilize RSF data in their modeling and simulation work for commercial buildings research.

Learn more about NREL’s sustainable facilities and innovative buildings research that is pioneering the way in building design and performance.