Energy-Efficient Design

NRDC remodel earns highest LEED-CI rating ever

The rehab of one floor of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) New York City headquarters achieved LEED-CI Platinum certification. The project received the highest LEED-CI rating (51 of a potential 59 points under LEED-CI v2.0) ever given nationally or internationally. http://www.croxtoncollaborative.com/proj_nrdc08.htm Croxton Collaborative Architects designed the project as a high performance sustainable prototype. The green upgrade featured: • A high efficiency HVAC unit (40.3% more efficient than code) • Lighting design that is 36.8% more efficient than code
March 2, 2011
The rehab of one floor of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) New York City headquarters achieved LEED-CI Platinum certification. The project received the highest LEED-CI rating (51 of a potential 59 points under LEED-CI v2.0) ever given nationally or internationally. http://www.croxtoncollaborative.com/proj_nrdc08.htm Croxton Collaborative Architects designed the project as a high performance sustainable prototype. The green upgrade featured: • A high efficiency HVAC unit (40.3% more efficient than code) • Lighting design that is 36.8% more efficient than code • Thermal upgrade/retrofit via environmentally benign insulation plus high performance glazing • Daylight maximized through optimized ceiling geometries, high reflectance surfaces, dual-zone daylighting control, and a daylight responsive continuous dimming system. A notable strategy was to “democratize the window” with a design that pulls workstations away from the window. This scheme improved circulation within the space, and improves the thermal quality (unobstructed mixing of radiant heat plus glare reduction via upper/lower daylighting control).

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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