Page 102 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 3

CASE STUDY NO. 15 BUTTE COLLEGE CHICO CENTER
Butte College Chico Center
Case Study No. 15
Data Summary
Building Type: Education -
Community College
Location: Chico, CA
Gross Floor Area: 54,633 gsf
Occupied: 2004. (Solar PV System Installed 2011)
Energy Modeling Software:
Energy Pro
Measured EUI (Site):
44.1 kBtu/sf-year (2016)
On-Site Renewable Energy System Installed:
450 kW (DC) Solar PV
Measured On-Site Energy Production:
656 kWh/year (2016)
41.0 kBtu/sf-year (2016)
Owner/Client
Butte-Glenn Community Col- lege District
Design Team
Architect: LPAS Architecture + Design, Sacramento, CA
Structural Engineer: Buehler & Buehler, Sacramento, CA
Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer:
Turley & Associates, Sacra- mento, CA
Electrical Engineer and Lighting Design: The Engineering Enter- prise, Auburn, CA
Construction Management (CM-At-Risk, 2004-5)
DPR Construction Co., Sacramento, CA
Solar Project (2011)
DPR Energy / Chico Electric Sacramento / Chico, CA
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While Butte College embarked on its innovative program of moving to renewable energy as described in the previous Preface, it still had its Educational Master Plan to follow, which meant provision of new or renovated facilities to support that Plan. The community college system has a prescribed process for funding and approval of all new facilities, which had to be integrated with the general campus plans for the transition to the renewable energy infrastructure.
Background
Butte-Glenn Community College District proposed a bond measure for new and improved facili- ties, which was approved by the voters In 2002. This was the start of design and construction according to a facilities master plan, which ultimately included aspects of the three-phase solar PV systems installation that began in 2004. It also included funds for the construction of a much needed satellite campus building in Chico, which would serve the needs of the many students who until then had to commute the fifteen miles to the main Oroville campus.
The “Chico Center” was completed and occupied in 2005, but it was not until 2011 and Phase 3 of the campus-wide program to install solar PV systems that this building would be entirely pow- ered by solar electric energy. In fact, the building actually achieved ZNE performance with the introduction of the solar PV systems at the Chico site, as this case study will show.
Design Process and Low Energy Design Strategies
At the time of its design, the Chico Center was required to meet California’s energy standards, known as Title-24. The District did not require a LEED certification but nevertheless wanted to take advantage of the rebates for energy efficiency available through the Savings By Design program1. This program requires evidence of energy use performance at a minimum 10% better than that required by Title-24, using approved energy modeling software.
Planning Concept and General Design Considerations
The design approach was therefore to utilize conventional systems to achieve the energy effi- ciency required to meet Savings By Design criteria. The planning concept was dictated in part by the desire of the District to make the building visually prominent from the site-adjacent freeway and to provide maximum parking capacity on the remainder of the site. The result was an elon- gated building along the western edge of the site, overlooking the freeway.
Building Envelope
The walls, roof and glazing all meet Title-24 requirements of 2005. Exterior sunshades are not utilized.
Daylighting and Electric Lighting
Electric lighting is basically standard for the year of design, meeting Title-24 limitations on in- stalled power.
Heating, Ventilating and Cooling Systems
Large package HVAC units of conventional type and meeting Title-24 requirements occupy much of the roof area, limiting the possibility of the installation of solar PV panels. In 2011, as a result, when the PV panels were added to the project, they were installed on canopy structures above the south parking area.
1
PG&E Savings By Design (SBD) Program, http://www.savingsbydesign.com/
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 3