October 24, 2007—The Molecular Foundry, a nanotechnology research facility located at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has received a US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. This is the first gold certification awarded to a building in the City of Berkeley.
The Molecular Foundry’s Gold rating–the second-highest ranking obtainable under the rating system for high-performance green buildings—is based on the utilization of a myriad of features, including optimally designed electrical and HVAC systems, an energy-efficient chiller and boiler plant, and the innovative design of traditionally energy-intensive areas such as labs, a cleanroom, and a server room.
The Molecular Foundry reportedly consumes 28% less energy than the already-stringent California building efficiency standard. The facility also consumes 35% less energy than the national energy standard, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) standard 90.1. In addition, the Foundry produces 85% less greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional facility that meets the ASHRAE 90.1 standard, says LBNL.
“LEED classification is a holistic look at the sustainability of a building and is much more than energy efficiency,” says Berkeley Lab’s Joe Harkins, project manager of the Molecular Foundry. “While the Foundry is one of the most energy efficient buildings ever constructed at Berkeley Lab, it also provides an exceptional work environment. Extensive use of daylighting, operable windows, protection of indoor air quality through low-VOC materials and clean-construction practices, all contribute to a great work environment.”
Completed in March 2006, the Molecular Foundry was designed by the SmithGroup of San Francisco and constructed by Rudolph and Sletten General Contractors, working in close collaboration with Berkeley Lab staff.
The $85 million, six-story, 96,000 square-foot steel, concrete, and glass facility provides users from around the world with instruments and techniques to enhance their studies of the synthesis, characterization, and theory of nanoscale materials. It houses six facilities, and establishes a hub for collaborations among researchers from diverse disciplines.
For more information about the Molecular Foundry, visit the Berkeley Lab Web site.
