Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio
Highlighting high performance oncerned about the environmental half of the center’s electricity. A closed- Cdebt inherent in creating and loop groundwater heat pump system maintaining most buildings, Ohio’s Oberlin provides cooling and some of the heating. College designed the Adam Joseph Lewis Designers incorporated energy-efficient Center for Environmental Studies with a components, and materials are local, focus on sustainability. Designers were non-toxic, and durable. conscious of the ecological impact of The center is both a venue for classes and their choices, from energy sources to a focus of study for a variety of disciplines, landscaping, and created a building that and it has encouraged relationships will adapt and change as more sustainable between such fields as the arts and sciences. solutions unfold. They also established a Thousands of visitors have toured and building that is a laboratory in itself, trying learned about the building, and it has new strategies to save energy—even if they become a center for many local community are not cost-effective by today’s standards. events. The building emphasizes the values The net result is a building with a measured and knowledge the center provides, helping energy savings of 63% as compared to a base the college maintain its commitment to the case building. future—its students. The 13,600-square-foot building relies heavily on the sun for daylight, passive heating, and power—an expansive Biology professor David Benzing stands with a wastewater photovoltaic system supplies more than treatment system that is modeled after natural wetland ecosystems. ��������� Sustainable Design at the Adam Joseph Lewis Center Lighting for Environmental Studies The building’s expansive south-facing windows provide daylight for the atrium and classrooms. Where electrical lighting is needed, efficient fixtures, dimmers, and sensors all reduce the amount Materials Energy of energy used. Dimming systems allow occupants to control Designers emphasized sustainability and More than 4,000 square feet of photovoltaic (PV) panels cover the roof, ������� the lighting levels, saving energy by reducing the use of full- ����� low environmental impact when choosing supplying up to 45 kilowatts of electrical energy for the building. The PV system ��������� strength lighting. Classrooms, offices, corridors, and restrooms materials. Among their priorities were durable, is grid-interconnected: the building exports energy back to the grid when the PV system ������ low-maintenance products, such as concrete produces more than the building uses, and it imports energy when the PV system does have motion-sensitive lighting, turning on when the rooms are occupied. Hallway lights are also connected to photo sensors, masonry units for interior walls, brick not produce enough to meet the building’s needs. Integrated building controls manage ��������� exterior walls, and recycled steel frames. mechanical, security, fire, and water treatment systems, optimizing energy efficiency. which override the occupancy sensors if there is enough daylight. ����������� Other recycled or reused products include Light-colored surfaces and interior windows make the most of aluminum for the roof, windows and the light in the building. curtainwall frames, ceramic tiles in Roof drainage Photovoltaic diverted to cistern panels the restrooms, and toilet partitions. Geothermal well field ����������� Designers also looked for Demonstration ����� gardens products of service—products Orchard that are leased rather than pur- Overhang sized for summer shading chased—and leased carpeting for the building. Carpeting is Voids filled laid in squares that can be with perlite replaced as they are worn. 3" rigid The leasing company can insulation reuse or recycle the used carpet that it removes CMU from the building. Exterior Wood throughout brick the building came from certified sustainably managed forests in 1" airspace northern Pennsylvania.
Prevailing breezes from the Southwest
Heating, Cooling & Ventilation Ohio’s climate has both heating and cooling extremes. In the summer, heat and humidity are prevalent; winter brings cold temperatures with lots of cloud cover. Designers chose Heating mode only to temper the building with a closed-loop Sun plaza Storage Heat Pond groundwater heat pump system, which Tank pump uses the constant temperature of the Earth Hot water radiant Cooling PV Production underground to heat and cool the building, floors and unit heaters 600 Heating % Load Met 200 by PV and through passive techniques. retain and re-radiate heat to temper the Ground source water loop Lighting Equipment In this system, water circulates through space. The glass panes are treated with a Above red line, 500 building is net Boiler (backup) energy exporter the building from 24 geothermal wells, each low-emissivity coating to reduce the Landscape 150 240 feet deep. Heat pumps transfer the heat amount of heat loss. The surroundings of the building are an integral part of the 400 Room Adam Joseph Lewis Center. The landscaping includes a sampling from the pipes into the building. Individual In the summertime, overhanging eaves heat pumps water-to-air pump units heat and cool shade south windows from the high sun, Air Air of ecosystems, including microcosms of hardwood forest and 300 100 the classrooms, offices, auditorium, and and a trellis is designed to shade the atrium once-common wetlands native to Ohio.
Rooms otal Consumption (kWh/day) conference room. During winter, a water- from the sun on the east side, reducing solar An orchard of 50 pear and apple trees and a permaculture 200 to-water heat pump warms the atrium through gain. Operable windows allow for natural garden demonstrate urban agriculture, and a terraced berm reduces 50 Well bores 100 radiant floor heating—circulating heated ventilation, particularly in the atrium. erosion and insulates the north side of the building. A cistern, Percent of Building Load Met by PV verage Daily T
extensive drains, and the wetlands prevent precipitation at the A water through pipes embedded in the floor. When the building is actively heated Fresh Heat To 0 0 The building is elongated along the east- or cooled, an energy recovery ventilator air intake pump rooms center from overloading the city’s storm water collection system Heat Jun- 02 Jan- 02 Jul - 02 Dec- 01 Apr- 02 May 02 Aug- 02 Oct - 01 Feb - 02 Nov - 01 Mar - 02 west axis to provide some passive solar exchanges heat between outgoing and exchanger during heavy rains. Sept - 01 heating during winter months. The lower incoming air. Programmed and individual Exhaust Stale air Paths, stone benches, and a rock garden make up part of the winter sun reaches thermal mass in concrete controls balance energy efficiency and air from rooms building’s “social” landscape, the hub of which is a sun plaza—a Average Energy Performance floors and exposed interior masonry, which occupant comfort. tribute to the heat, light, and energy that the sun provides the center. September 2001 – August 2002 Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Real-time data on the building’s performance is available at www.oberlin.edu/envs/ajlc/. Buildings for the 21st Century
Buildings that are more energy efficient, comfortable, and affordable…that’s the goal of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. To accelerate development and Hands-on Learning wide application of energy efficiency measures, the program: he Adam Joseph Lewis Center building and T its surrounding landscape offer hands-on Conducts R&D on technologies and learning opportunities for students, demonstrat- concepts for energy efficiency, work- ing many of the concepts taught through Oberlin’s ing closely with the building industry Environmental Studies Program. and with manufacturers of materials, A wastewater treatment system modeled on equipment, and appliances natural wetland ecosystems is one such learning Promotes energy/money-saving tool. Students maintain and monitor the system, opportunities to both builders and which treats 200 to 300 gallons of the building’s buyers of homes and commercial wastewater each day. Three aerobic tanks con- buildings taining a variety of tropical and local plants provide an expansive root system that bacteria, Works with state and local regulatory Top: The Adam Joseph Lewis Center algae, microorganisms, snails, and fish live on, roof is covered with more than 4,000 groups to improve building codes, acting as living bio-filters to remove organic square feet of photovoltaic panels. appliance standards, and guidelines wastes, nutrients, and pathogens. The system is Bottom: Daylight and energy-efficient for efficient energy use. designed so the treated wastewater can someday lighting minimize the lighting costs. be recycled through the building’s toilets, helping to conserve water. Contacts Oberlin College More Information Adam Joseph Lewis Center The following table shows some of the key for Environmental Studies energy-efficient and sustainable features of www.oberlin.edu/envs/ajlc/ the building. Architects: William McDonough + Partners 434-979-1111 Key Features www.mcdonoughpartners.com Wall insulation R-value = 19 U.S. Department of Energy Roof insulation R-value = 30 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Windows double- and triple-pane, argon-filled, Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) low-e glass with thermally broken frames 800-DOE-3732 Daylighting clerestory windows, engineered overhangs www.eren.doe.gov Electric lighting T8 and compact fluorescents controlled U.S. Department of Energy by photo sensors and occupancy sensors Building Technologies Program Photovoltaics rated maximum output 60 kW, realized www.highperformancebuildings.gov maximum 45 kW, grid-tied Cooling/Heating closed-loop groundwaer heat pump system, National Renewable Energy Laboratory radiant floor heating, passive solar heating Center for Buildings and Thermal Systems Heat recovery 50% - 60% energy recovered www.nrel.gov/buildings/highperformance from exhaust air Indoor air quality 100% outdoor air every four hours on Produced for the average, nontoxic materials U.S. Department of Energy Materials Designers emphasized local, sustainably by the National Renewable harvested, nontoxic building materials Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY Photo Credits DOE/GO-102002-1532 BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM Robb Williamson: Cover—PIX10855; November 2002 Cover inset—PIX10871; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at Back top—PIX10864; Back right—PIX10873 least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste