The United States and Going Green

• The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has recently opened its new Research Support Facility in Golden, CO. This $64 million 220,000 square foot office building will only use the energy it creates and it will use 50% less energy than comparable buildings AT CURRENT COMMERCIAL CODE. This building has the following key elements:
  
  • Oriented to allow daylight and natural ventilation which will minimize unwanted heat losses and gains.
    
  • Has a labyrinth of thermal storage in crawl space for passive heating of the building.
    
  • Outside air will be preheated by transpired solar collectors.
    
  • ALL of the workstations will be lit with natural daylight.
    
  • Most windows will be operable and are triple glazed.
    
  • The concrete is precast with insulated panels
    
  • Uses water as the cooling and heating medium instead of forced air.
    
  • Has under-the-floor ventilation
    
  • Has an energy efficient data center and workstations.
    
  • Has an on-site solar energy system.
    
• US Postal Service
  
  • Installed Green Roof in New York City plant.
    
    • Reduces polluted storm water runoff by 75% in summer and 40% in winter.
      
    • Saving 40% in electricity each month.
      
    • The roof will last about 50 years.
      
  • They had a goal to reach a 30% reduction in energy use by 2015, they are already 2/3rds of the way there.
    
  • Cut energy intensity by 21% since 2003.