Natural Ventilation, Modern Design, Zero Energy Consumption
Too often, when considering a building’s energy use, most people will immediately think of the electricity used by lights, computers, televisions, and appliances. One of the largest energy consumers, however, is forced-air ventilation and air conditioning. As a way to address ever-swelling energy costs, many builders, facility managers, and architects are now including natural ventilation systems in their plans for both new and remodeling construction projects. Natural ventilation utilizes operable windows and/or skylights to create airflow throughout a building, passively cooling and refreshing the interior spaces.
AP+I Design, a full-service architectural, planning and interior design firm in Mountain View, California, was looking to increase ventilation in their building’s new office without adding energy costs. The firm purchased a 30-year-old building for its new headquarters, and challenged themselves with the audacious goal of retrofitting it into a net zero energy (NZE) building, one that generates as much power as it consumes. With Coltlite Natural Ventilators from BILCO as one significant part of the plan, AP+I succeeded in being the first NZE commercial building in Mountain View.
In addition to using solar panels to harvest energy and operable skylights to bring in natural lighting, AP+I installed Coltlite louvered ventilators in a unique manner. Normally, these louvered window ventilators are installed in the façade of a structure to control outside airflow to the building interior. AP+I took a different approach, and integrated the Coltlite louvers into their interior design, using them as stylish walls for the smaller offices and conference rooms around the perimeter of the 14,300-square-foot building. The open office layout has seven large fans that network into an advanced building management system that controls them and operable perimeter windows. These large fans move air around the office, and the smaller rooms can open their Coltlite ventilators to circulate the air into the adjacent spaces.
As a design element, the Coltlite louvers take advantage of the copious amounts of daylight flooding the space, while also allowing for privacy in the offices and conference rooms. With a simple hand crank, employees can open the louvers and allow air and ambient work noises into their office, or close them for a practically soundproof calm.
“We chose the Coltlites as a design element forming the bottom of our ‘lanterns,’” said Carol Sandman, Founder and Principal of AP+I Design. “They are one of the first things that are shown on our tour of the office. The unique use of what is normally an exterior element draws a lot of questions, but it was the right element to help achieve our Net Zero Energy goals.”
Because the firm has significantly reduced the need for mechanical forced air HVAC system and has used Coltlite louvers to encourage natural ventilation, AP+I has eliminated its own energy bill and now uses their own facility to demonstrate sustainable building design principles to potential clients.
“We want clients who visit our office to see how achievable a Net Zero Energy project is. We want them seeing us doing the right thing not only for the environment, but for our staff’s health and well-being as well,” said Sandman. “As anyone on our staff will tell you, bringing in daylight and fresh air makes everyone both feel and work better.”
For more information on Coltlite louvered ventilators or BILCO’s other products, call (800) 366-6530 or visit www.bilco.com.
About BILCO
For over 85 years, The BILCO Company has been a building industry pioneer in the design and development of specialty access products. Over these years, the company has built a reputation among homeowners, builders, architects, and engineers for products that are unequaled in design and workmanship. BILCO – an ISO 9001 certified company – offers a line of basement egress window wells and doors that improve the look, function, and safety of basement areas, along with a complete line of commercial access products. For more information, visit www.bilco.com.
Keep up with the latest news from The BILCO Company by following us on Facebook and LinkedIn.