World Birding Center Headquarters

Photo credit: Hester + Hardaway, Paul Hester

Energy

The narrow floor plate promotes effective daylighting and provides views. The buildings are oriented on an east-west axis, allowing for efficient solar control. Deep porches facing south, east, and west block summer sun. An exterior trellis and exterior louvers shade windows from direct solar gain. Thermal-mass walls slow heat gain during the day and release heat to the night sky. Behind this mass wall is a deep airspace and radiant barrier to repel additional heat gain before it reaches the insulated wall cavity. South-facing walls are fully shaded at buildings A and C. The envelope is 11% better insulated than required by the state energy code.

The reflective metal roof and radiant barrier shield a high-volume vented attic space over most of the building, buffering the highly insulated interiors from the Texas sun. High-performance thermal glazing varies in light transmittance from high to low, maximizing effective daylighting and views while minimizing unwanted heat gain.

The narrow floor plate allows 95% of the spaces to be effective daylit. Additional lighting is rarely necessary during the day outside of the exhibit space. High-efficiency compact fluorescent fixtures were used extensively. Multi-use and exhibit spaces utilize light-sensing dimming controls. Occupancy sensors shut down lighting in workspaces, restrooms, and support areas when they are not in use. High-efficiency (SEER 16 to 17), variable-speed mechanical units evenly distribute low-velocity air through fabric ducts. User-controlled dual-opacity interior shades minimize glare while maximizing daylight penetration. The lighting wattage is 11% more efficient than that required by the state energy code.

Brick-paved porches allow for shaded external circulation, gathering, and connections to the garden spaces. This reduced the project's construction cost and requires far less energy than conventional, climate-controlled, interior circulation space. Operating hours for the facilities correspond to daytime periods. Individual buildings are accessed from the exterior and function to allow for the utilization of some portions of the facilities without impacting the other areas.

Green Strategies

• Solar Cooling Loads
  • Use light-colored exterior walls and roofs
  • Orient the building properly
  • Use radiant barriers in roofs
  • Use east and west windows with a low SHGC
  • Locate garages and porches on the east and west sides of the building
  • Shade south windows with exterior louvers, awnings, or trellises
  • Use south windows with a low SHGC
• Daylighting for Energy Efficiency
  • Design an open floor plan to allow exterior daylighting to penetrate the interior
• Non-Solar Cooling Loads
  • Make a high internal thermal mass building
  • Reduce internal heat gains by improving lighting and appliance efficiency
• Cooling Systems
  • Use AC systems with a high efficiency rating
• Lighting Controls
  • Use modulating photoelectric daylight sensors
  • Use occupancy sensors
• HVAC Distribution Systems
  • Use variable frequency drives for fans

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Our thanks to the ENERGY STAR program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to the U.S. Department of Energy, and to BuildingGreen, Inc. for hosting the submission and judging forms.

For more information about the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, contact AIA/COTE. For help on how to use this Web site, contact .