In Depth Case Studies

Alliance Center Building (Alliance Center Building)

Overview

• Location: Denver, CO
• Climate Region: 5B: Cool - Dry
• Building type(s): Commercial office
• Renovation of a 1908 building, last renovated in 2006
• 38,000 ft2 (3,530 m2)
• Project scope: 6-story building
• Urban setting
• Completed 2006
• Rating: EPA Energy Star --Level: 85
  Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED EB O&M --Level: Gold
  Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Commercial Interiors 2009--Level: Silver

The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado is a nonprofit organization started in 2004 to "advance sustainability through collaboration among nonprofits, business, government and education." The Alliance purchased a 100-year-old warehouse, previously renovated in the 1970s, in Denver's historic Lower Downtown; a major renovation to the building in 2006 created the Alliance Center. The building provides tenant space for 35 sustainably-focused nonprofits. The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado recently launched a project titled "Modeling a NetZero Future: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings". Several documents developed for the project were referenced in this report.

Environmental Aspects

The Alliance Center performs very well in terms of actual energy use when compared with other buildings. The actual energy use of the building is currently 42 kBtu/sf/yr, which is 55% better than the average for U.S. office buildings. A number of features contribute to this low energy use:

• Direct digital HVAC control system
• Occupancy sensors
• Photocells for daylight harvesting (fifth floor only)
• High-efficiency glazing
• Commissioning
• T8 fixtures with dimmable ballasts
• Commissioning
• Photovoltaics
• Translucent wall panels
• Increased insulation
• Sun shades (sixth floor only)
• Un-refrigerated water fountains

[Added to the HPB Database by New Buildings Institute - White Salmon, WA]

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 130 people, 40 hours per person per week

Keywords

Commissioning, Operations and maintenance, Insulation levels, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Daylighting

next topic: Process

 

Case Studies Database provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's
Building Technology Program, High Performance Buildings.