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Yale’s Engineering Research Building (ERB), otherwise known as the Malone Center, is a 64,700 sq. foot laboratory building. Construction was completed in 2005 and achieved a LEED Gold rating in 2006. Although the building meets LEED Gold standards, Yale recognizes that we can further improve design and construction standards going forward. Below is a brief overview of the sustainable design features of the Malone Center.
Transportation
The Yale Engineering Research Building is located in an area with readily available public transportation. The site, a former parking lot with some soil contamination, is adjacent to an historic trail – the Farmington Canal Greenway. A state-wide effort to restore the 80-mile long trail was embraced over ten years ago, and the restoration of the segment of the trail running through the university campus was included in the scope of the project. The university anticipates that the restoration of the canal will attract wildlife and encourage alternative modes of transportation for commuters, such as biking and rollerblading.
Site and Landscape
Most plants on the site are native or adapted species, eliminating the need for irrigation. The plants selected provide habitat on multiple stories and reduce storm water runoff. All storm water is retained and filtered on site, ensuring that the project does not add water to the municipal storm water system. The building was constructed with reflective roofing materials in order to reduce the urban heat-island effect.
Materials
Materials within the Malone Center have been extensively researched and selected based upon several environmental criteria. Materials were selected for their high recycled content, and whenever possible, locally manufactured materials and products were chosen. Additionally, over 75% of the building’s woodwork was sourced from sustainably managed forests. The polished concrete floors were selected for durability and ease of cleaning. No harsh chemicals or wax is required for their maintenance. Even paints, coatings and adhesives were carefully chosen for low emission of contaminants likely to lead to sick building syndrome. Over 90% of the project’s construction waste was recycled.
Water Management
Water conservation is an important feature of the building. Potable water use has been greatly reduced by reusing the waste-stream of the lab water purification system for toilet flushing. The use of this greywater, along with low-flow taps, allows for an 85% decrease in potable water use over a conventionally equipped building, which equates to potable water savings of 95,000 gallons per year.
Indoor Environmental Quality
The high indoor environmental quality of the Malone Center was a significant focus of the project. Offices were all moved to the perimeter to maximize views and as a result, over 90% of workspaces have access to direct views to the outdoors. In addition to the pleasure people receive from being able to see the outdoors, this also adds to the natural day lighting of the workspace and reduces the need for artificial lighting. The building has excellent indoor air quality. Occupants breathe 100% filtered outdoor air. In addition, carbon dioxide sensors have been installed to control ventilation in order to ensure comfort and maintain that good air quality.
Energy Efficiency
The Malone Center uses almost 10% less energy than allowed by the State Energy Code. Extensive computer modeling was used to evaluate and compare energy savings strategies during design. Steam for heating and chilled water for cooling are produced efficiently in the large Central Plant and piped to the building. The ventilating system recovers heat from the exhaust air, returning that heat to the building. The building is outfitted with occupancy sensors to reduce energy consumption. The sensors switch off lights and reduce ventilation rates when labs or offices are unoccupied. When the light through the north facing glass and other windows is sufficient, the artificial lighting dims, maintaining a constant light level in the hallway and offices. By reducing the need for lights we are able to lower energy costs and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. A process called Commissioning was used to verify that all the mechanical and electrical systems were integrated and working correctly before the building was occupied. An extensive monitoring system was installed to collect data and monitor the operation of the building. With this data we can continue to make improvements to the systems in the future.
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