North Shore Community College Zero Net Energy Building

Project name: North Shore Community College Zero Net Energy Building

Location: Danvers, Mass.

Firm name: RDK Engineers

Project type, building type: New construction, school (college, university)

Project duration: 1.5 years

Project completion date: Oct. 28, 2011

Project budget for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection engineering only: $3 million

Engineering challenges

Challenges included identifying and intelligently integrating the MEP/FP sustainable systems so that the building could meet the requirements of a zero net energy building. U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver as well as a zero net energy rating for the building are the primary project goals. This facility is noted as being the Commonwealth’s first zero net energy (ZNE) building, meaning that the building will utilize zero net energy consumption and emit zero carbon emissions annually.

Solutions

Systems integrated included: high-efficiency mechanical systems, 80 geothermal wells for heating and cooling, a roof with mounted photovoltaic panels, and a green roof.

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