New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation Headquarters, Albany NY
Architect: Gregory J. Seleman, P.C.
William Bobenhausen provided a range of environmental
consulting services for this new 15-story 511,000 sq. ft. building which now
houses approximately 1,800 NYSDEC employees. Collaboration on this project was
with the New York State Office of General Services, architect Gregory J. Seleman,
PC, developer, The Picotte Companies, and mechanical engineer Quantum
Engineering Co., PC. Environmental design work was conducted by Steven Winter Associates under
the FlexTech Program of the New York State Energy Research & Design Authority (NYSERDA).
Services included:
- Environmental programming of spaces;
- Detailed computer modeling of the facility to analyze energy-efficiency strategies;
- Life cycle costing;
- Lighting system reviews;
- Overall building analysis using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED™ rating system;
- Recommendations for environmentally-preferred materials, including materials that improve IAQ.
The detailed DOE-2 energy analysis resulted in an energy-efficient design which is projected to reduce energy consumption by 43%, or $235,500 per year when compared to a building designed to meet minimum requirements of the NY State Energy Code. The simple payback for implementing the options recommended by SWA is approximately 3 years, with an increase in first cost of less than 1% of the total cost of construction. The potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is also significant: the recommended options would yield annual reductions of approximately 1720 tons of carbon dioxide, 4 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 2 tons of nitrogen oxides, again in comparison to a code-compliant building.
Recommendations for environmentally preferred building materials took into account the importance of IAQ, as well as a variety of life-cycle considerations (manufacture, transportation, installation, in-place performance, and eventual disposal). As a result of this study, the following materials were included in the specifications for the DEC project:
- Carpet tiles with low-VOC (volatile organic compound) backings and adhesives;
- Low-emission wall coverings made from spun glass or paper/cotton;
- Low-VOC or no-VOC paints;
- Millwork constructed with wheat-straw particleboard, or non-formaldehyde MDF board (medium-density fiberboard);
- Stone flooring from local quarries.
Mr. Bobenhausen also initiated analysis using the U.S. Green Building Council's new LEED™ building rating system, which ascribes performance 'credits' for various environmental improvements.