Wisconsin Electrical Employees Benefit Fund (WEEBF) Office Building

Green Building

The WEEBF office building was designed and constructed to meet the requirements set forth by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) program. This facility was posted on the USGBC website as registered project 1034090. At the time, this was 1 of only 2 buildings in Madison, WI, to be posted. Final certification has been applied for based on many environmentally-friendly and energy savings features. These include: natural landscaping, recycling, high efficiency heating and cooling, energy recovery, and healthy building materials to provide excellent indoor air quality. See additional Fact Cards throughout the building which explain these features in more detail.

Natural Landscaping

Native prairie was established around the job site as an alternate to ornamental grasses. Once established, the prairie will require no watering, no fertilizer, no mowing, and no pesticide. Furthermore, the prairie can absorb up to 40-inches of rainfall. Contaminants will be filtered by the plant roots and will not reach local lakes. Some ornamental grass was planted around the perimeter of the building and as a fringe around the parking areas. This provides a clean look and also allows the prairie to be safely burned once every few years to keep it healthy.

Indoor Air Quality

In addition to receiving almost three times the ventilation air required by building code, occupants also enjoy working in an environment with products that maintain excellent indoor air quality. The building insulation complies with GREENGUARD Environmental Institute standards and is formaldehyde free. Paints, adhesives, and finishes have little to no volatile organic compounds (VOC) and comply with standards set forth by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, two of the most stringent standards in the country. The carpet is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Program and the carpet adhesive contains no VOC.

Recycling

Almost one-half of the construction waste was diverted from landfill and recycled. Waste recycled during construction included 9700 pounds of concrete, 4000 pounds of metals, 2700 pounds of wood, and 1400 pounds of cardboard. Overall, 82 cubic yards of construction material was recycled. In addition, recycled materials were heavily incorporated into the building structure. The asphalt and concrete contain 100% recycled content. The insulation contains 20 to 30% recycled content. Steel framing contains 31% recycled content. Gypsum has 36% recycled content and uses 95% power plant byproducts rather than native gypsum. The carpet has 45% recycled content.

Lighting and Views

Overall lighting density is just 0.9 watts per square foot or 20% less than conventional office buildings. Lower lighting densities reduce lighting energy requirements, reduce first cost, and reduce energy use to cool the building during the summer. Lights are controlled by occupancy sensors which automatically shut lights off when people are not in the room. Exterior offices and ample windows allow occupants to enjoy the views and make maximum use of natural daylight as an alternative to artificial light.

Energy Recovery

Exhaust air from the building is used to precondition outdoor (ventilation) air before it enters the air conditioning system. Two of these RenewAire energy recovery systems have been installed in this building. Occupants in this building receive almost three times the minimum outdoor air required by building codes and will enjoy excellent indoor air quality. Outdoor air must be heated in the winter and cooled in the summer before it enters the building, these processes use energy. By installing energy recovery, this higher outdoor air rate can be achieved with no increase in energy use. In addition to recovering heating and cooling, these units recover humidity in the winter preventing static electricity, dry skin, and irritated mucous membranes. Another benefit: these energy recovery units are produced right here in Madison!

High Efficiency Heating & Cooling

Six furnace/air conditioning units provide heating and cooling throughout the building. These units are located in the ceiling above the corridors for ease of maintenance; no mechanical rooms were required. The natural gas-fired furnaces are sealed combustion and heat at over 90% efficiency. The associated air conditioning systems cool with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 11.25, 18% more efficient than standard cooling units. Furthermore, the two speed fans in the air conditioning units reduce fan energy use and the refrigerant contains no chlorine, making it safe for the ozone layer.

Costs of High Efficiency

The costs for WEEBF to reach LEEDTM certifiable levels was less than $4 per square foot! With operating costs taken into consideration, the $4 per square foot that WEEBF invested up front will pay for itself in less than 5 years.

All of the HVAC costs (equipment, materials, labor, overhead, and profit) combined result in a total HVAC cost of $8.30 per square foot.

"I just wanted to send a note of appreciation for a job well done. Our building was brought in and ready for occupancy ahead of time and under budget...Our Board of Trustees are very happy with the completed project and are particularly pleased with the air quality, the lighting and the acoustics of the board room...All of the fund employees are very happy with their office space and especially like the heating, ventilating, and cooling system...I definitely would recommend your professionalism and expertise to anyone that is proposing to build a building..."