EDC November 2011 : Page 16
ENERGIZED Education IMAGES BY PAUL MULLINS, MULLINS STUDIO. District, the final cost for the project came to $4,603,879. Those funds were put toward a curriculum the district had determined would best serve its students: the green industry. By providing students with an educational pathway and a facility emphasizing future careers in sustainability through vocational classes to educate and train for future careers, this project has become a valuable educational resource for the entire community. Since this facility was built to teach sustainable design and alternative energy systems, it was para-mount that the building be a living and breathing example of both. The facility, as an instructional device, is part of the daily lessons and experiments. Teaching Tool One of the major components to successful vocational education is to provide hands-on experience. The Buchanan Energy and Envi-ronmental Research Center is designed to be a teaching tool, allowing students to have real-time interaction with all the different energy and sustainable elements of the facility. The concrete floors contain radiant floor heating, which can be viewed through Plexiglas view panels. A second story study area allows students access to photovoltaic panel arrays, a vegetative green roof, wind turbines and other such green design ele-ments. There is also a demonstration wall where students can install components they design, build and then monitor to see the energy ramifications. Not only can students physically see two different types of operating wind turbines, they are also able to measure and analyze the energy produc-tion of each. Almost everything about the building’s design and construction was an example of sustainabili-ty and alternative energy concepts. The envelope is super insulated and efficient with insulated concrete form (ICF) walls, efficient window sys-tems and a green vegetative roof. The mechanical systems are high efficiency and provide healthy air quality with the heating and thermal displace-ment cooling systems. An abundance of natural light and ventilation is provided with operable window systems. “The entire building is wired,” Alvis adds. “Students can monitor the output of the wind turbines and the PV arrays in real time. They can compare time of day, temperature and seasonal effects on the different systems. Over-head, plumbing and ducting is purposefully left exposed, much of it labeled so students can see how the whole building is connected.” 16 ed+c NOVEMBER 11
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