Taking the lead. Way before LEED.
More than a decade before green and/or LEED-certified buildings were part of everyone’s vernacular, we were building a dynamo in sustainable construction at the University of Central Florida that created plenty of ‘green’ buzz. Erecting this forerunner with a goal of being the most energy-efficient office building possible in Central Florida — all at a reasonable cost — proved to be a rewarding challenge. And today it still stands as an example of energy efficient design that is both attainable and affordable.
Designed to be “The World’s Most Energy Efficient Building”, the UCF Solar Energy Center is a state-of-the art 70,000 sq ft facility equipped with a 21,400 sq ft laboratory and a two-story 41,000 sq ft office structure and is located at University of Central Florida’s Brevard Campus. Demonstrating that energy-efficient, solar-driven design is not only reasonable in cost but readily attainable, one of the primary goals of the project involved using off-the-shelf, commercially available products. This helped further illustrate that energy-efficiency and fiscal responsibility were feasible on a large scale.
“Truly a building before its time, the UCF Solar Energy Center is a timeless example of energy-efficient design that is both sustainable and affordable.”
The $7.1 million project involved cutting-edge, experimental technologies including photovoltaics and renewable hydrogen as well as using alternative fuels and transportation. The structure itself takes full advantage of natural daylight monitored extensively by photosensors. Taking advantage of Central Florida’s abundant natural day lighting, fluorescent lighting is equipped with electronic dimmable ballasts linked to photosensors that monitor the level of natural light and adjust the artificial light accordingly.
The project included HVAC, lighting controls and fire alarms controlled via an energy management system (EMS). This system, along with other monitoring equipment in the building, is used to verify and optimize system the performance of various energy reducing components of the facility.
The Solar Energy Center is not only a building that continues to successfully exemplify energy efficient design and construction techniques, it is also an education destination for training professionals and the general public about the benefits of energy efficient technologies.
