SEF's Net Zero Energy Office Building Receives National Attention

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With a high performance building that was designed to demonstrate that a Net Zero Energy approach can be used for a leasable office building for a similar development cost to comparable office buildings, the Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) has received national attention.

Green Building & Design has a feature article on “5 Net Zero Energy Building Examples Worth Emulating.” The SEF Office Building is one of five net zero energy building examples to model your next project after.

The SEF project has also been named a finalist for the 2020 Groundbreaker Awards by Green Building United. Finalists exemplify green building leadership, innovation, and impact in the greater Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, and Delaware region. Four winners will be announced during the live, virtual event on December 17 and the fifth winner will be a People's Choice, selected live by attendees. Learn more about the awards…

“This project provides a blueprint for achieving net-positive energy within the financial structure of a speculative building,” explains Andrew Schuster, Principal and leader of our firm’s commercial architecture practice. “We were excited to collaborate with a client like SEF who set this bold goal and shares our commitment to regenerative design and the proven value it offers to all stakeholders.”

Several design and technological strategies were deployed for achieving this high standard of efficiency while delivering the project within budget limitations:

  • The building is oriented carefully on a former apple orchard to take maximum advantage of sun and shade. It’s surfaces and openings are positioned to minimize energy expenditures while enhancing the interior environment

  • An array of photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of the single-story building will generate all necessary energy for the operation of the facility, with 30% excess to sell back to the utility.

  • The building envelope is designed for high performance, with continuous insulation and an an air leakage rate below the Passive House US standard of 0.08CFM75

  • All building systems—from HVAC to plumbing to electrical and lighting—are selected and engineered for optimal balance between cost and performance.

Located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, it is the first and only net-positive building in this traditional steel-producing region. It will provide over 12,000 square feet of leasable office space and offers shared amenity spaces for tenants, including a conference room/classroom, kitchen, and restrooms.

Derek Goodroe