The builders of the country's greenest office building discovered a lot about what works—and what doesn't work
By Stephanie Simon
GOLDEN, Colo.—When the first employees moved into the Department of Energy's new research facility here last summer, a whole lot of people were watching—with a whole lot of anxiety.
Planners of the $64 million facility, part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, set out to make it the greenest office building in the nation.
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The Energy Department hopes lessons learned in this Denver suburb will help guide green-construction practices around the world. Outside experts in efficient construction point out that some of the technology used at NREL is best suited for high-sunlight, low-humidity climates like Colorado and wouldn't work nearly as well elsewhere. The building also demands a lot from its employees, who must adjust to fluctuating temperatures throughout the day and pop up from their desks to open and shut windows; a work force less dedicated to energy efficiency might rebel.
Still, authorities on green design both inside and outside the NREL project say some valuable do's and don'ts have emerged from the project so far. READ MORE >>
via online.wsj.com
