ENERGY STAR Building Design Profile

The 10,000-square-foot Seven Generations Office Park, Building A located in Fort Collins, CO, was designed by RB+B Architects, Inc. to be an example of a building project that is both green and economical. Building owner Seven Generations, LLC believed in the possibility of offering high performance office space at the same cost as traditional office space, which would give it an edge in the marketplace and help spread the word that sustainable building practices help fight global warming and are economically feasible.

RB+B and Seven Generations chose to use EPA’s Target Finder in their overall approach because the tool is nationally recognized for helping design teams set realistic high energy performance goals. The design rated at 96 (out of 100) in Target Finder, thus achieving Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR. Compared to an average office building with similar characteristics, Seven Generations Office Park, Building A is expected to use 56 percent less energy.

The project uses raised access floors for under-floor air distribution, which can be controlled by building occupants and is more efficient than traditional overhead air distribution. The building takes advantage of extensive daylighting strategies to decrease the need for electric light. Additional design strategies to reduce energy used by lighting include: energy-efficient windows, occupancy sensors in restrooms, and reduced exterior lighting power. Through careful placement of the insulation in the wall and roof assemblies and reduced air infiltration, the building’s high performance envelope reduces the heating and cooling loads and the size of the mechanical equipment needed. Efficient plumbing fixtures and draught-tolerant landscaping dramatically reduce water consumption. A small demonstration solar array further helps offset a portion of the building’s electricity usage.

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