Page 42 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 2

CASE STUDY NO. 8 IBEW-NECA JATC TRAINING FACILITY
IBEW-NECA JATC Training Facility
Case Study No. 8
Data Summary
Building Type: Classroom /
Office
Location: San Leandro, CA
Gross Floor Area: 45,000 gsf
Occupied: June 2013
Energy Modeling Software:
eQuest 3.63
Modeled EUI (Site):
18.0 kBtu/sf-year
Measured EUI (Site):
16.3 kBtu/sf-year (July 2014— June 2015)
On-Site Renewable Energy System Installed:
154 kW (DC) Solar PV-flat panel 12 kW (DC) Solar PV-tracking 12 kW (DC) Wind Turbines
Measured On-Site Energy Production:
267,500 kWh/year
20.3 kBtu/sf-year
Solar Thermal Production:
Not measured.
Owner/Client
IBEW Local 595 / National Elec- trical Contractors Association— Northern California Chapter
Design Team
Architect: FCGA Architects, Dublin, CA
Structural Engineer: Belden Inc., Pleasanton, CA
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineer: Belden Inc, Pleasan- ton, CA
Sustainability Consultant (En- ergy Modeling): EBS Consul- tants, San Francisco, CA
Landscape Architect: Gates & Associates, San Ramon, CA
Master System Integrator: Energy Etc, Union City, CA
General Contractor
Novo Construction Company
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Like Case Study No. 7, the IBEW-NECA JATC Training Facility is an example of a renovation of an existing low-rise building converted from one type of use to another. Whereas the DPR Office project is located in a moderately dense urban setting, Case Study No.8 is in a suburban area of light industrial development, very typical in many communities on the outskirts of metropolitan areas.
These types of renovation projects make interesting case studies since some of the standard ZNE design strategies are limited or simply not possible given the constraints imposed by the na- ture of the existing building. As these projects demonstrate, many successful design approaches are still possible within the budget limitations. The key to this success lies with good design, involving the continuous referencing of low-energy use as the development and integration of design features proceed.
Background
The project was initiated by the Alameda County Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), an organization created to develop the advanced training and education of electrical ap- prentices. The JATC consists of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 595 (IBEW) and the Northern California Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Associa- tion (NECA). The organization provides educational and training programs in association with the local community college for electrical apprentices to obtain union certification and for continu- ing education of already certified electricians as the electrical industry continues to change in response to the technological advances in building design.
In fact, the stated vision for the building is based on the general national goal of training workers for the emerging green building technologies, including renewable energy systems, and prepar- ing them for the changes in the building industry as these technologies develop.
The JATC leadership went further and also proposed that the renovated building be designed to perform at zero net energy utilizing the most practical cutting edge technologies, particularly those involving renewable electrical power, communications and control systems. The vision for the building was that it function as a teaching laboratory for electrical workers, not only within the program spaces, but also as demonstrated in the building itself. As part of this vision, the descrip- tion of the design intent for the A/E team was that the ZNE building features related to electrical systems should be showcased as part of the design and that the building design should illustrate these systems as fundamental to the future of carbon-neutral buildings.
Built in 1981, the existing 45,000 sq. ft. “tilt-up” concrete building was purchased by the IBEW and NECA in 2011 with the plan to renovate it into classrooms, workshops and office space.
(Below) View of the original 1981 building before renovation. (Photo courtesy FCGA Architects)
Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings: Volume 2