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Welcome to High Performing Buildings |
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This new quarterly magazine is published by ASHRAE and distributed to building owners, facility managers, architects, contractors and engineers. Our mission is to help decision makers in the building community learn about the benefits of innovative technologies and energy-efficient design and operation. We’ll be doing this with case studies of exemplary buildings, developed through the support of leading practitioners in the sustainability movement. |
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High Performing Buildings is available in digital form at no cost. Click on the animated icon to view the current issue. The articles are also posted in pdf form below. |
Lillis Business Complex
The students of the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon learn future professions in a building that teaches environmentally responsible decision making. The complex is 37% more efficient than Oregon’s energy code. Sustainable features include daylighting, thermal mass and ceiling fans, night flush cycle and photovoltaics. Read more
Science and Technology FacilityWith energy-efficient and sustainable design features such as underfloor air distribution, daylighting and process cooling, the facility provides a comfortable environment for researchers to develop photovoltaic technologies. Located on NREL’s Golden, Colo., campus, the Science and Technology Facility houses nine laboratories for advanced materials synthesis, analysis, characterization and support, as well as a 10,170 ft 2 process development and integration laboratory. Read more
The Untapped Resource The minimum annual water consumption needed to sustain life, including food production, is 7,500 gallons per year. In the United States, the average consumption is 500,000 gallons per year. To change this number, water needs to be conserved and recycled. Rainwater harvesting, tidal flow wetlands and environmentally sound water treatment systems not only lower building water use, but also reduce energy consumption. The author discusses the link between water and energy, and various water saving techniques.
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North Exelon Pavilions
The North Exelon Pavilions support Chicago’s goals in sustainability by incorporating photovoltaic modules into a curtain wall system. Photovoltaic modules cover about 80% of the exterior wall area, and vision glazing constitutes the remaining 20%. The buildings’ small footprint and strategic placement of the vision glazing allowed for over 90% of the work areas to receive daylight.
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The SolaireThe residents of the Solaire residential tower in New York City are benefiting from sustainable building features. Vapor and air barriers minimize random air filtration, providing residents with excellent indoor air quality. Energy-efficient systems lower residents’ electric bills, and a pesticide-free rooftop garden provides natural insulation for the building. To fine-tune efficiency, the building is commissioned each year. Read more
EMGP 270A 10,000 ft 2 office building on a Paris metro line in Aubervilliers, France, is the first private commercial building certified under the High Environmental Quality Offices program, a French sustainable building certification. The building achieves a 20% lower than average operations cost with chilled beams, air renewal system, commissioning and rainwater harvesting. Read more |
Great Seneca Creek Elementary SchoolIn a county with 138,000 students and 130 public elementary schools, Great Seneca Creek Elementary School was the school system’s pilot project to test the benefits of a third-party certification. With the success of Great Seneca Creek, Montgomery County requires new schools to achieve at least USGBC LEED ® Silver certification. The 82,500 ft 2 school building is equipped with a geothermal mechanical system, low flow fixtures and an energy-efficient building envelope. Read more | |
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