Showcase Project: Richard J. Cook Center for Environmental Science
Sector Type
Education
Location
Meadville, PennsylvaniaProject Size
21,000 Square Feet
Annual Energy Use
Baseline (2009-10)
100 kBtu/sq. ft.
Expected (2012-13)
77 kBtu/sq. ft.
Actual
Coming soon
Energy Savings:
23%
Annual Energy Cost
Baseline (2009-10)
$33,000
Expected (2012-13)
$20,000
Actual
Coming soon
Cost Savings:
$13,000
Background
The Richard J. Cook Center for Environmental Science will create the first dedicated home for Allegheny College’s well-respected and long-standing Environmental Science & Studies department through a renovation within Carr Hall. Named in honor of Allegheny’s previous president, the renovation recognizes Richard Cook as a campus sustainability champion and the signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which has led to an institutional goal of climate neutrality by 2020.
MoreBuilt in 1964, Carr Hall is an undergraduate academic building which also housed the Physics department and introductory chemistry labs. The 21,000 square foot renovation within the 47,500 total square foot Carr Hall transformed what was the mathematics department in the Richard J. Cook Center for Environmental Science, complete with added science labs, a GIS lab, a production aquaponics lab, a dynamic new lobby space, and additional classroom and studio spaces.
Preliminary estimates indicate a 23% reduction for consumption of natural gas and electricity in the renovated portion of the building. Cost savings are expected to be approximately $13,000 annually. Construction commenced on the renovation in May 2011 and the center was opened to students in August 2012.
The renovation was the third LEED® certified building on campus and is powered by 100% wind generated electricity through the purchase of RECs for all campus consumption.
Less Solutions
A committee of administrators, faculty and students worked with architects and the contractor to design the renovations to Carr Hall—a multi-use space—to achieve not only increased energy efficiency, but also to transform the space for its new occupants’ needs, including the incorporation of sustainability features that can be used as teaching tools into the design, and the addition of cutting edge laboratories for aquaponics, GIS and more.
MoreThe project also includes faculty offices, seminar spaces, a teaching kitchen, a student lounge, and an innovative lobby space. To create additional teaching space, the project demolished the existing auditorium and re-defined the space as two floors of classrooms.
The renovation features efficiency measures such as:
- Lighting retrofits and sensors are 55% more efficient than the baseline lighting system (savings of $9,700 per year): LED 2x2 and 28w T5 fixtures, occupancy sensors in all renovated areas, daylight sensors in areas with solar tubes, dimmable controls
- Envelope improvements and exhaust heat recovery reduce natural gas heating needs by 9% (savings of $1,000 per year)
- CO2 monitoring moderates interior ventilation to be 45% more efficient than the baseline system (savings of $2,600 per year)
In addition, this project includes alternative materials such as sorghum board, compressed paper counter tops, recycled carpet and rubber/cork flooring, bamboo benches and FSC certified wood; and educational highlights such as solar panels, rainwater catchment, a living wall, aquaponics, and indoor/outdoor gardens.
Click below to view a video on Allegheny College: Deep Infrastructure Sustainability
http://www.planetforward.org/idea/allegheny-college-deep-infrastructure-sustainability
Less Other Benefits
Allegheny College will be seeking LEED certification under the Commercial Interiors Rating System with the minimum goal of Silver. The renovation of Carr Hall is just one component of Allegheny College’s greater efforts to pursue building efficiency and institutional sustainability across campus. Future efforts, including building envelope improvements, lighting and boiler retrofits, will be funded through a commitment of $500,000 each year from now until 2020 for energy efficiency projects.
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