Note: the preliminary site location for this design is in Massachusetts.

Design Goal Brainstorm:

• net zero energy building (site energy)
• net positive water building
• minimize embodied carbon from building materials
• leverage use of modular and/or prefabricated building systems
• maximize use of passive solar design strategies (minimize reliance on active mechanical systems)
• Build a relatively cost-effective building
• make an accessible and useable community space

Design Goals

Design Goal 1: Net Zero Energy (site energy)

• Design goal
• Over the course of a year of operation, the building show generate as much energy as it uses.
• Measure
• Annual site energy (in kWh or kBtu) and Annual PV generation (in kWh or kBtu)
• Targets
• minimum acceptable target - 90% reduction in energy use intensity of a similar building type and size in MA.
• design target - net zero energy on on annual basis.
• Strategies
• passive solar design techniques (thermal mass, southern facing windows, low-e glazing, trombe walls, sunspaces, natural ventilation with stack effect)
• maximize daylighting (solar tubes, solar shelves)
• all electric heating system (eliminate natural gas/fossil fuel use onsite)
• solar PV (roof, canopy, integrated glass skylights)
• ground source heat pumps
• cool roof
• overhang shading devices

Design Goal 2: Net Positive Water (annually)

• Design goal
• capture as much water as is used onsite on an annual basis.
• Measure
• gallons of water used
• Targets
• minimum acceptable target - 80% reduction in water use intensity of a similar building type and size in MA.
• design target - net zero water on on annual basis
• Strategies
• Rainwater collection infrastructure (tanks, pipes, collection, storm drains)
• grey water system
• in-building water treatment system
• low flow appliances and fixtures

Design Goal 3: Minimize Embodied Carbon

• Design goal
• Choose materials that minimize the environmental impact of producing and constructing those materials (from material extraction through building construction).
• Measure
• Life cycle assessment of key building materials (e.g. structure, finishes, mechanical equipment) with an output of 100-year Global Warming Potential (in lbs or tons of CO2eq released into atmosphere).
• Targets
• Minimum acceptable value = 25% reduction in lbs CO2eq/sf for a typical, similar size building of same type in MA.
• Target value = 50% reduction in lbs CO2eq for a typical, similar size building of same type in MA.
• Strategies
• Choose low carbon structural materials
• mass timber
• if concrete, use mixes that have waste product aggregates (e.g. like fly ash)
• limit the amount of concrete and steel
• limit the amount of aluminum (used for window framing)

Design Goal 4: Cost Effective Design

• Design goal
• Many people associated “Net Zero” anything leads to cost premiums for products and systems. The goal is to use cost as a controlling factor to make this design realistic and not be ridiculously expensive.
• Measure
• Cost per gross SF ($/SF) for building construction.
• Targets
• Minimum acceptable value = limit the building design to cost no more than 50% than a typical commercial/exhibition building in MA.
• Target value = limit the building cost to no more than 35% more than the typical commercial/exhibition building in MA.
• Strategies
• control the amount of glass on the exterior (e.g. where not needed for passive solar design techniques).
• understand $/SF for different types of structure
• Predictable and constructible design to allow for contractor to increase productivity
• keep spaces similar enough that there are less custom spaces that may decrease productivity
• steer clear of curved glass or custom shapes where possible
• use prefabricated products where applicable to gain efficiencies onsite.