project of the month
Ivy Tech Fall Creek
The Ivy Tech Fall Creek building had its ribbon cutting ceremony on January 20. The opening of the project marks 5 years of design and construction efforts for this landmark facility. The project involved reuse and restoration of 64,000 square feet of the old St. Vincent's Hospital originally constructed in 1911 that had been under-utilized for the last 30 years (see the before/after photos below for the dramatic impact). The total square footage for the project is just over 200,000.
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| Original picture of St. Vincent's Hospital |
The project is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification. Contributing points to earn this level of certification will be the great urban location of the building and the reuse of the existing structure. The largest contributor though, is the high efficiency VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) mechanical system being used for the facility. This system is expected to be a 15% improvement over the standards set by ASHRAE 90.1 - 1997.
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| Grand Staircase - before |
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| Grand Staircase - after |
Ivy Tech should be commended for salvaging such a historic structure in Indianapolis, and making it a valuable asset to the community once again. The project will serve as the flagship for Ivy Tech's Indianapolis campus which has grown by more than 35,000 students. It really raises the bar to a new level for facilities in the area and across the state.
news
Schmidt Associates energy reduction efforts
Schmidt Associates energy reduction efforts
Schmidt Associates made great strides in 2011 to reduce the energy expended in their daily activities. They used Energy Star's National Building Competition as a launching point to challenge employees to change their behaviors and to provide some office improvements focused on reducing energy use. The goal established was to reduce by 20%. I am happy to report that the office ended 2011 with a reduction of -23.44% compared to 2010. The National Building competition ended last fall, but Schmidt Associates has continued to monitor and look for ways to improve its energy efficiency. Keep up the good work.
What is VRV?
As mentioned above in the Ivy Tech Fall Creek update, a key component to achieving LEED Silver for that facility will be the use of the VRV mechanical system. VRV (variable refrigerant volume) or sometimes referred to as VRF (variable refrigerant flow) is not a new system, but it has taken awhile to catch on in the United States. VRV uses refrigerant liquid as the cooling/heating medium, and allows one outdoor condensing unit to be connected to multiple indoor evaporators. Each indoor evaporator is controllable by its user, varying the amount of refrigerant being sent to it. By operating at varying speeds, VRF only works at the rates needed. Heat recovery VRV allows indoor units to heat and cool as required, while the compressor benefits from the internal heat recovery. Energy savings for these systems can be up to 55% over comparable unit systems. Ductwork sizes are often reduced because conditioned air is not being routed throughout the building, which could also lead to smaller plenum spaces, and potentially reduce the height of the building if designed appropriately.
Overall it has proven to be a highly efficient alternative to traditional 4-pipe HVAC systems, resulting in reduced installation and operational costs.
opinion
This week the NFL has invaded Indianapolis for it's annual championship game. The transformation of the downtown area over the last few weeks, and really the last year, has been monumental. It is an impressive site, and, as an Indianapolis resident, a source of pride. This is a great opportunity for Indianapolis to be noticed in the national spotlight.
Indianapolis's sustainable virtues are what gives it an advantage as host to the game. The proximity of the downtown to the stadium and entertainment is unmatched by other large cities. The entire experience becomes truly pedestrian. The hotels, village, convention center and stadium are all interconnected with a series of skywalks and tunnels that will be invaluable in inclement weather.
The NFL has also ramped up its efforts to green the game and surrounding events. Below is a clip from the NFL on their green initiatives:
SUPER BOWL XLVI ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM
As mentioned above in the Ivy Tech Fall Creek update, a key component to achieving LEED Silver for that facility will be the use of the VRV mechanical system. VRV (variable refrigerant volume) or sometimes referred to as VRF (variable refrigerant flow) is not a new system, but it has taken awhile to catch on in the United States. VRV uses refrigerant liquid as the cooling/heating medium, and allows one outdoor condensing unit to be connected to multiple indoor evaporators. Each indoor evaporator is controllable by its user, varying the amount of refrigerant being sent to it. By operating at varying speeds, VRF only works at the rates needed. Heat recovery VRV allows indoor units to heat and cool as required, while the compressor benefits from the internal heat recovery. Energy savings for these systems can be up to 55% over comparable unit systems. Ductwork sizes are often reduced because conditioned air is not being routed throughout the building, which could also lead to smaller plenum spaces, and potentially reduce the height of the building if designed appropriately.
opinion
This week the NFL has invaded Indianapolis for it's annual championship game. The transformation of the downtown area over the last few weeks, and really the last year, has been monumental. It is an impressive site, and, as an Indianapolis resident, a source of pride. This is a great opportunity for Indianapolis to be noticed in the national spotlight.
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| photo by Duane Dart |
The NFL has also ramped up its efforts to green the game and surrounding events. Below is a clip from the NFL on their green initiatives:
SUPER BOWL XLVI ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM
The NFL Environmental Program has developed a series of initiatives to minimize the impact of Super Bowl activities on the local and global environment. Environmental projects are developed in partnership with the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and local, state and national organizations.
These initiatives include:
Solid Waste Management/Recycling -- Comprehensive solid waste management at major NFL event facilities. This project diverts waste from local landfills through recycling and reusing potential waste materials. Sites include Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center (100 South Capitol Ave.), and the hotels serving as team headquarters, NFL headquarters and the Motorola Super Bowl Media Center. In addition, Pepsi is providing recycling bins for the NFL Experience and the Lucas Oil Stadium.
Prepared Food Recovery -- Extra prepared food from Super Bowl XLVI events will be collected for donation in partnership with Second Helpings, an Indianapolis-based non profit community kitchen and food rescue agency. Food recovered through this effort will go to soup kitchens, shelters and other local organizations that provide meals to those in need.
Materials Donation -- Decorative materials, building materials, office supplies and other reusable items will be recovered and donated to local nonprofit organizations. Some materials are appropriate for reuse while others will be used as fund raising auction items or remanufactured into new products.
Sports Equipment and Book Donation Project -- The Super Kids-Super Sharing Sports Equipment and Book Donation project was developed in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts, the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, Martin University and Greater Indianapolis public and private schools. Local students are bringing gently used or new books, sports equipment and school supplies to their schools. These items will be collected then donated to pre-selected local schools and organizations serving children in need. On Thursday, Jan. 19, media is invited to Martin University (2171 Avondale Pl.), where hundreds of students and coordinators will bring donated items between 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders and mascot will attend the event and take part in a brief thank you ceremony with NFL officials at 10:30 a.m. (Best photo opportunities will be from 9:45-11:00 a.m.).
Climate Change Initiative -- Steps being taken to reduce the overall greenhouse gas impact of Super Bowl activities and events include:
» Use of renewable energy certificates to provide "green" power for major Super Bowl XLVI event venues including Lucas Oil Stadium, the Motorola Super Bowl Media Center, NFL Super Bowl headquarters, the NFL Experience and the AFC and NFC team hotels.
» Use of carbon offset credits to address the transportation emissions created by Super Bowl team travel. These offsets will cover both air and ground travel for both Super Bowl teams.
» Incorporation of solar power into the Rebuilding Together community project as part of the overall Near East Side Legacy Project. The renewable energy, solar power and travel offset projects are made possible through a partnership with Green Mountain Energy
» The planting of several thousand trees in local neighborhoods in partnership with the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful as part of the overall "greening" of Super Bowl XLVI.
If you enjoy football or not, the transformation of our city to cater such a grand event has raised the bar. It usually takes a great challenge for people to show their capabilities,much the way sustainable design challenged the building industry to improve building performance. Although it can be painful at times to adjust to the challenge, in the end you have the proof that you have succeeded.
Enjoy the game,
