Sustainable and Net Zero Buildings on the NREL Campus
Many of the high-performance buildings on NREL’s South Table Mountain campus have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) and/or net zero energy status. By incorporating state-of-the-art energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, these buildings are models for sustainability. In addition, the campus features native and xeriscape vegetation.
The 182,500-square-foot LEED Platinum Energy Systems Integration Facility features 14 laboratories, an Insight Visualization Center, a High-Bay Control Room, and the most energy efficient super computer in the world. Learn more.
Energy Use
- Office space designed to have an energy use intensity of 25 kBtu per square-foot, per year
- Non-data center space was designed to perform 30% better than ASHRAE 90.1 2007 standards
- Natural ventilation through operable windows
- About 80% of regularly occupied spaces have daylighting
- Open office design and a narrow floor plate of 60 feet
- LED lights with a lighting control system
- Radiant heating and cooling.
Sustainability
- About 27% of building materials contain recycled content.
Water Conservation
- Dual flush water closets
- Low-flow fixtures, including toilets, urinals, showers, and faucets
- Thermosyphon cooler significantly reduces the need for data center cooling tower water use.
The 362,055-square-foot Research Support Facility (RSF) is an award-winning model for LEED Platinum, net zero, and high-performance building design that incorporates the best energy efficiency and environmental performance technologies and practices in a large-scale commercial office building. Learn more about RSF community awards for sustainability.
Energy Use
- Designed to have an energy use intensity of 35 kBtu per square-foot, per year
- Designed to perform 50% better than ASHRAE 90.1 2007 standards, or a commercial office building to current commercial code
- 2.5 megawatt rooftop photovoltaic system—including systems on the two campus parking garages—generates as much energy as the building consumes
- Energy efficient data center uses evaporative cooling, outside air ventilation, waste heat capture, and more efficient servers to reduce the data center’s energy use by 50% over traditional approaches
- Daylighting from south-facing windows is reflected to the ceiling and deep into the space with light-reflecting devices
- Transpired solar collectors passively preheat outside air on the building’s south face before delivery to the labyrinth and occupied space for heating
- ENERGY STAR-certified energy efficient appliances and computing equipment.
Water Conservation
- Dual flush water closets
- Low-flow toilets, urinals, showers, and faucets
- Roof drainage irrigates rain gardens.
Designed to be a net zero energy building, the 1,660-square-foot, LEED Platinum South Site Entrance Building facilitates security services to those using that entrance as an entry/exit point. Learn More.
Energy Use
- Daylighting
- Natural ventilation, including a 35-foot tall wind-catch tower and under-floor air distribution system
- 16.1 kW roof-mounted PV
- Geothermal water-to-water heat pump
- Radiant heating and cooling
- LED lights with a lighting control system.
Sustainability
- More than 35% percent of building materials contain recycled content
- 2.5% of building materials are rapidly renewable
- Low-emitting building materials.
The 71,347-square-foot Science and Technology Facility (S&TF) was the first federal LEED Platinum building. Learn more.
Energy Use
The building was designed to provide a 41% reduction in energy cost compared to a standard laboratory building.
- Roof uses ENERGY STAR-certified materials
- Building design exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 1999 requirements for energy efficiency
- Windows on the north and south facades provide natural lighting
- Energy is recovered from exhaust air to temperature-condition fresh air
- Displacement ventilation is used for the offices
- High-efficiency chiller saves energy for both the S&TF and the adjoining Solar Energy Research Facility.
Sustainability
- About 27% of the total building materials were manufactured within a 500-mile radius
- No chlorofluorocarbon based refrigerants used in the heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning
- About 80% (by weight) of the construction, demolition, and land-clearing waste was recycled or salvaged
- At least 25% of the total building materials were composed of 20% post-consumer waste recycled content.
Water Conservation
- Storm water collects on the butterfly roof over the office and then flows over the spout at the east end of the building into a series of ponds used to irrigate the landscape
- Low-flow fixtures, such as ultra-low-flow (0.5 gallon per flush) urinals.
The 27,000-square-foot LEED Gold Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility features a high-bay biochemical conversion pilot plant that handles up to one ton of dry biomass per day, multiple stand-alone fermentation systems, and compositional analysis laboratories. Learn more.
Energy Use
- Natural ventilation through operable windows
- Daylighting
- Open office design
- LED lights with a lighting control system.
The 12,140-square-foot LEED Platinum Cafeteria (Café) holds 250 occupants and uses about 25% less energy than a cafeteria built to current commercial code. Read more.
Energy Use
- Designed to have an energy use intensity of 150 kBtu per square-foot, per year
- Daylighting and tubular skylights achieve uniform light distribution across the main dining area space to limit the use of electric lighting
- ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and other high-efficiency equipment reduces the building's need for power
- A kitchen ventilation system with demand-controlled exhaust hoods
- Cutting-edge duct grease sensors monitor build-up and alert the operator when cleaning is necessary
- LED lights with occupancy sensors in the walk-in refrigerator, freezers, and hoods that turn on and off automatically.
Sustainability
- Locally sourced, Colorado Proud foods, where feasible
- All to-go containers, utensils, and straws are compostable.
Water Conservation
- Dual-rinse, water conserving dishwashers
- Methods for recycling stormwater
- Low-flow, pre-rinse water valves.
NREL’s parking garage is designed to LEED Platinum standards and is expected to perform 90% better than a standard garage built to code. The 578,320-square-foot structure has 1,800 parking spaces and 36 electric vehicle charging stations. Read more.
Energy Use
- Daylighting and translucent skylights
- Natural ventilation
- 1.2 MW of façade- and roof-mounted photovoltaics used within the energy boundary of the Research Support Facility
- LED lights with a lighting control system.
Sustainability
- Bird-friendly glass
- Thirty-six electric vehicle charging stations
- Incentive parking for high-occupant vehicles and low-emitting vehicles
- About 35% of building materials contain recycled content
- Low-emitting building materials
- Recycling drop-off center for paper, plastic, glass, batteries, and electronics.
Water Conservation
- Drainage swale to encourage ground infiltration of stormwater and snowmelt.
NREL’s first showcase building constructed in 1994, the 6,459-square-foot Education Center proudly displays technologies that can save energy, create jobs, and generate clean electricity and fuels from plentiful domestic, carbon-free sources. Learn more.
Energy Use
- Trombe wall that lights and heats the exhibit hall
- Direct evaporative cooling system
- LED lights with a lighting control system
- Energy management system monitors temperature, humidity, and occupancy.