Page 71 - Designing for Zero Carbon - Case Studies of All-Electric Buildings

KAISER MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING
CASE STUDY NO. 3
Design Process and Low-Energy, Zero-Carbon Design Strategies
Planning Concept and General Design Considerations
Kaiser has had a number of established energy consumption (EUI2) goals applicable to every project. These numbers have been ratcheting downward in recent years as the projects success- fully meet their design goals in practice, from approximately EUI = 140 in 2010 to an average EUI = 70 for buildings opened in 2015. Kaiser was interested in going further with this MOB project, due to open in 2018, with an EUI in the neighborhood of 40.
For Kaiser, the ultimate criterion for any design decision is “cost effectiveness” as determined by life cycle cost analysis. The design strategies to achieve this further-improved EUI performance goal were to be routinely tested during the entire design process by ongoing cost analyses and modeled energy savings.
The design team further proposed that Kaiser consider a goal of zero-net-energy (ZNE) perfor- mance by including an on-site solar PV system in the building program as well. Kaiser agreed to add this feature if the cost parameters indicated that it would be cost effective by the same life-cycle cost criteria and would meet the pre-established project budget. This proved to be chal- lenging during a period of construction cost escalation that occurred while the project was in the design phases. Fortunately, the project delivery method ensured an accurate evaluation of the costs of these design alternatives.
(Below) View of the Kaiser MOB site from the north. (Photo: © Steve Proehl)
2 EUI = Energy Use Intensity, kBtu/sq/ft. per year
Designing for Zero Carbon: Volume 1
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