Rocky Mountain Institute's work on the Seven Generations Office Park has
helped the Fort Collins property become the first in North Colorado to
receive the distinguished LEED platinum award.
By incorporating a combination of high-performance window glazing, light
shelves, high ceilings and other innovations, Victor Olgyay and Josh
Hathaway -- consultants with RMI’s Built Environment Team -- ensured the
56,000 square-foot office space received all of the LEED daylighting
credits.
This means that 90 percent of the building is 'day-lit' -- utilizing as much
natural light as possible.
As well as adding windows and other components, the consultants determined
how to best direct the light. For instance, inside light shelves can bounce
light off of ceilings, light tubes can direct overhead sun into a room and
high ceilings allow for deeper penetration of natural daylight.
These measures not only lower electricity use and minimize cooling loads,
they also provide a comfortable internal environment that boosts health and
productivity among the building's occupants.
Window glazing reduces heat gain and loss with no compromise in lighting.
External light shelves, which are horizontal light-reflecting overhangs,
improve daylight penetration, create shade near the window and help reduce
window glare.
The offices' high ceilings also allow sunrays to enter from a higher angle
with light able to permeate throughout the office.
Seven Generations incorporates a variety of other best green building
practices, including: native landscaping, which helped
reduce exterior water use by 84 percent; recycled and locally-sourced
materials; highly efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
systems, that contributed to a 50 percent reduction in total energy usage.
Attaching photovoltaic panels to window overhangs clinched the LEED platinum
designation. The overhangs create energy while improving visibility.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a nationally
accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of
high-performance “green” buildings, according to the U.S. Green Building
Council.
It promotes a whole-systems approach to sustainability by recognizing five
categories for which companies are awarded points for certification:
sustainable site development, water efficiency, materials and resources
selection, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
According to its developers, leasing and sales prices of Seven Generations
are comparable to conventional designs while operating costs are
approximately 50 to 70 percent less than average through increased energy
and resource efficiency.
