Sustainable features of this new facility include a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, thermal energy storage, daylight harvesting, radiant floor, and green roof areas. Interface Engineering worked with CALMAC and Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand, to upgrade the central utility plant, which produces cold water to feed all the buildings on the campus.

The thermal energy storage system and solar PV panels are also sized to classify the pavilion as a net zero energy building. This means the pavilion uses no more energy than is provided by its on-site renewable energy sources. At night, ice is made using energy from the grid. During the day, the solar panels produce energy, which offsets the night-time energy. Excess energy is utilized to offset energy consumption in the rest of the building. This use of distributed energy storage and solar energy enables the state to rent out the conference spaces in the pavilion to generate revenue while its use of day-time energy costs nothing.

“The focus of the state was on energy efficiency that was fiscally responsible,” said Mike Stanton, Interface Engineering. “Besides helping meet targets for modeling energy efficiencies that beat California Title 24, the pavilion was also net zero and helps supply renewable energy to the rest of the building.”

“Net zero energy is a building market transformation that will eventually be a requirement. In California, for example, buildings will need to be self-sufficient by 2030,” said Mark MacCracken, CEO of CALMAC. “Building owners should prepare to use less energy and generate the rest. Distributed energy storage helps with this preparation by working with renewables to help buildings operate more efficiently.”

For more information about CALMAC, visit www.calmac.com. For more information about Trane, visit www.trane.com.

Publication date: 1/7/2013