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11/11/2015
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In conjunction with the Concrete Sustainability Forum 8, held during the American Concrete Institute Concrete Convention and Exposition, Denver, CO, ACI hosted a tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outside Boulder, Colorado. The NREL is the United States Department of Energy’s primary lab for renewable energy, and energy efficiency research and development. The Science and Technology Facility on the campus was the first federal facility to be certified with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. NREL currently has six facilities on its campus that meet that designation. Highlighted on the tour was the parking garage that was built to LEED Platinum standards, although no such designation exists for parking structures. The parking garage is the second largest continuous concrete pour in the state of Colorado behind the Denver International Airport. The structure can hold 1,806 vehicles and with 36 charging stations, the structure can charge 72 electric cars. The parking garage was designed to have 40% open design to allow for day lighting, which reduces light costs. LED lights set to motion sensors provide additional lighting when necessary. The day lighting design also allows for the concrete to absorb solar energy that allows for reduced winter time snow removal efforts. Additionally, the south side of the building and the rooftop has solar panels installed that allow for energy to be collected in both the spring/summer and winter months. The solar energy generated power the elevators within the garage. With this innovative design, the NREL’s parking garage performs 90% more efficiently than similar lots of its size. Julie Buffenbarger, Chair of ACI Committee 130, Sustainability of Concrete, stated that “the National Renewable Energy Laboratory truly optimized the use of concrete in facades, internal structure, and the mass storage of energy elements through all its facilities.” To learn more about the NREL and its sustainability efforts, visit www.nrel.gov/sustainable_nrel Explore Sustainability
In conjunction with the Concrete Sustainability Forum 8, held during the American Concrete Institute Concrete Convention and Exposition, Denver, CO, ACI hosted a tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outside Boulder, Colorado.
The NREL is the United States Department of Energy’s primary lab for renewable energy, and energy efficiency research and development. The Science and Technology Facility on the campus was the first federal facility to be certified with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. NREL currently has six facilities on its campus that meet that designation.
Highlighted on the tour was the parking garage that was built to LEED Platinum standards, although no such designation exists for parking structures. The parking garage is the second largest continuous concrete pour in the state of Colorado behind the Denver International Airport. The structure can hold 1,806 vehicles and with 36 charging stations, the structure can charge 72 electric cars.
The parking garage was designed to have 40% open design to allow for day lighting, which reduces light costs. LED lights set to motion sensors provide additional lighting when necessary. The day lighting design also allows for the concrete to absorb solar energy that allows for reduced winter time snow removal efforts. Additionally, the south side of the building and the rooftop has solar panels installed that allow for energy to be collected in both the spring/summer and winter months. The solar energy generated power the elevators within the garage. With this innovative design, the NREL’s parking garage performs 90% more efficiently than similar lots of its size.
Julie Buffenbarger, Chair of ACI Committee 130, Sustainability of Concrete, stated that “the National Renewable Energy Laboratory truly optimized the use of concrete in facades, internal structure, and the mass storage of energy elements through all its facilities.”
To learn more about the NREL and its sustainability efforts, visit www.nrel.gov/sustainable_nrel
Explore Sustainability
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