Construction has begun Los Angeles County on what is being called the nation’s largest Net Zero Plus retrofit of a commercial building.
The transformation of the 142,000-sf Electrical Training Center—which was formally announced 11 months ago—should be completed by Spring 2016. (Its grand opening is scheduled for April 21—Earth Day of that year.)
It will be renamed the Net Zero Plus Electrical Training Institute, and the building will demonstrate the future of smart energy efficiency, microgrid system integration, energy storage solutions, resiliency in the wake of a natural disaster or grid interruption, and advanced lighting controls and automated building management systems.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11, with more than 13,000 members; and the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, which represents more than 400 electrical contractors in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, are investing $13 million into this retrofit. The General Contractor on this project is Santa Fe Springs, Calif.-based PDE Total Energy Solutions, and the Electrical Contractor is Chatsworth, Calif.-based O’Bryant Electric.
California’s latest construction codes call for all new commercial buildings to be built to net zero standards by 2030. To that end, the union and association have also launched their Net Zero Plus initiative to accelerate the shift toward a clean-energy economy. This initiative is intended to help the building industry improve grid reliability, implement energy storage solutions, as well as advance energy independence, security, and building control. The initiative also aims at reducing the environmental impacts of commercial buildings, reduce electricity costs, and provide better analytics.
The Training Center instructs over 4,000 apprentices and journeymen electricians annually. The retrofitted facility “will set the standard for training as a replicable model for other electrical training centers around the country,” said Marvin Kropke, the Local’s business manager.
Den Henrich, president of PDE Total Energy Solutions, estimates that the retrofit would reduce the building’s energy consumption by between 15% and 30%. The retrofit will include the installation of one megawatt of solar photovoltaic panels, with two arrays on the roof and two solar shade systems with a charging station in the parking lot.
The energy usage reduction is projected to be 250,000 kWh per year, and the building will have the capacity to produce about one megawatt of energy. The building is also expected to achieve a 28.5-ton annual reduction in CO2 emissions.
The training center is working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to develop, test, and implement strategies that lead to the adoption of energy efficient technologies with the utility’s customers, said David Jadot, PE, LADWP’s director.
Related Stories
| Nov 2, 2014
Top 10 LEED lessons learned from a green building veteran
M+W Group's David Gibney offers his top lessons learned from coordinating dozens of large LEED projects during the past 13 years.
| Oct 30, 2014
CannonDesign releases guide for specifying flooring in healthcare settings
The new report, "Flooring Applications in Healthcare Settings," compares and contrasts different flooring types in the context of parameters such as health and safety impact, design and operational issues, environmental considerations, economics, and product options.
| Oct 29, 2014
Better guidance for appraising green buildings is steadily emerging
The Appraisal Foundation is striving to improve appraisers’ understanding of green valuation.
| Oct 27, 2014
Report estimates 1.2 million people experience LEED-certified retail centers daily
The "LEED In Motion: Retail" report includes USGBC’s conceptualization of the future of retail, emphasizing the economic and social benefit of green building for retailers of all sizes and types.
| Oct 27, 2014
Top 10 green building products for 2015
Among the breakthrough products to make BuildingGreen's annual Top-10 Green Building Products list are halogen-free polyiso insulation and a high-flow-rate biofiltration system.
| Oct 21, 2014
Inside LEED v4: The view from the MEP engineering seats
Much of the spirited discussion around LEED v4 has been centered on the Materials & Resources Credit. At least one voice in the wilderness is shouting for greater attention to another huge change in LEED: the shift to ASHRAE 90.1-2010 as the new reference standard for Energy & Atmosphere prerequisites and credits.
| Oct 16, 2014
Perkins+Will white paper examines alternatives to flame retardant building materials
The white paper includes a list of 193 flame retardants, including 29 discovered in building and household products, 50 found in the indoor environment, and 33 in human blood, milk, and tissues.
| Oct 16, 2014
48 building professionals in 2014 class of LEED fellows
To be selected, LEED Fellows are nominated by their peers, undergo an extensive portfolio review, must have at least 10 years of experience in the green building industry and hold a LEED AP with specialty credential, among other requirements.
| Oct 15, 2014
Harvard launches ‘design-centric’ center for green buildings and cities
The impetus behind Harvard's Center for Green Buildings and Cities is what the design school’s dean, Mohsen Mostafavi, describes as a “rapidly urbanizing global economy,” in which cities are building new structures “on a massive scale.”
| Oct 14, 2014
USGBC awards individuals, firms for leading the way in sustainable construction
This year’s Leadership Award recipients include Christine Ervin, David Orr, Jim DeCesare, Lloyd Alter, Tom Paladino, The Near Westside Initiative, and Mars, Inc.