Introducing Utah Clean Energy’s Climate Innovation Center

Transforming an Inefficient Building into a Zero Energy, Zero Emissions Showcase

In a significant step towards redefining sustainable building, Utah Clean Energy recently unveiled the brand new zero energy office building, the Climate Innovation Center. This innovative space, spearheaded by a dedicated team including myself, goes beyond reducing our carbon footprint; it represents a commitment to our planet’s future and our employees’ well-being.

A Mission-Critical Building

Utah Clean Energy is a mission-driven non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring healthy, thriving communities for all, empowered and sustained by clean energy. Since our inception, tackling the pollution from the built environment has been at the forefront of Utah Clean Energy’s work. When finding a permanent home for Utah Clean Energy, we needed to lead by example.

In addition to serving as Utah Clean Energy’s headquarters, the Climate Innovation Center is a teaching tool and model of how to retrofit existing buildings to achieve zero emissions. This aspect of the project was essential to Utah Clean Energy’s mission, given that globally, buildings contribute an estimated 42% of total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

What is a Zero Energy Building?

We’re not alone in making this transition. The United States Department of Energy recently published the first National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building. The stated goal of this new national definition is to “support the buildings sector moving toward zero emissions and advance public- and private-sector climate goals.” Unsurprisingly, the Climate Innovation Center meets this definition, which includes three elements:

1. Superior energy efficiency
2. No on-site emissions from energy use, and
3. Being powered solely by clean energy.

This new national definition aligns perfectly with the independent certification that we’re seeking for the Climate Innovation Center. The Center is registered to receive Zero Energy certification through the International Living Future Institute. This certification requires that 100% of a building’s energy use is generated through onsite renewable energy and doesn’t allow onsite combustion for space heating, water heating, etc. We’ll soon begin our 12-month performance period for our Zero Energy and ENERGY STAR certifications. In this article, I’ll walk you through the nine steps we took to bring the Climate Innovation Center to fruition.

Nine Steps to Zero Energy at the Climate Innovation Center

To help more builders and developers adopt zero-energy practices, Utah Clean Energy developed a custom website and video series, www.climateinnovationcenter.org, detailing the eight key steps, milestones and lessons learned from building the Climate Innovation Center. Consider the following steps to zero energy followed at the Climate Innovation Center:

Step one: Set an ambitious goal and create the right team

Our Climate Innovation Center aimed for a zero energy building. We assembled a dedicated team and integrated this goal into our project requirements from the outset. To guide our design decisions, we created an energy model to predict the building’s performance. Learn more about this step.

Step two: Recycling a building through renovating

To minimize embodied carbon emissions, we opted to renovate an existing building instead of constructing a new one. We retained key structural elements of the 1951 cinderblock building, including walls, roof structure, and wooden boards, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to new construction. Learn more about designing and renovation strategy.

Step three: Use an energy model to create a plan to reach your energy target!

An energy model helped us predict and optimize the building’s energy performance, guiding design decisions and achieving a 27.8 EUI, surpassing our goal and earning an ENERGY STAR score of 86, placing our retrofitted building among the top 14% most energy-efficient commercial buildings in the U.S. Learn more about our energy modeling activities.

Step four: Building envelope and commissioning

A well-insulated and airtight building envelope is crucial for energy efficiency. We hired a commissioning agent to monitor and address issues during construction, ensuring our building met insulation and air leakage targets. By using high-performance insulation materials, minimizing thermal bridging, and implementing airtight construction practices, we achieved a robust building envelope that significantly contributed to our zero energy goals. Learn more the Center’s building envelope strategy.

Step five: Ultra-efficient HVAC system and commissioning

Our all-electric Climate Innovation Center uses a VRF heat-recovery HVAC system with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) and includes an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system and direct evaporative cooling for optimal efficiency. We incorporated a natural ventilation mode for suitable weather conditions. A system commissioning agent ensured the HVAC system’s performance throughout the design, construction, and occupancy phases. Learn more about the Center’s HVAC strategy.

Step six: Solar and battery storage

We installed a 37.1 kW solar array and a 90 kWh battery storage system to achieve 24/7 solar power for the Climate Innovation Center. By optimizing panel placement and utilizing creative solutions, we met the building’s energy needs and exceeded expectations, even enrolling the battery in our utility’s demand response program. Learn more about solar and storage at the Center.

Step seven: Climate-wise transportation

To promote sustainable transportation, we leveraged the Climate Innovation Center’s close proximity to public transit and provided bike parking with charging outlets. Additionally, we installed EV charging stations with load balancing capabilities, allowing staff to utilize solar-powered transportation options. Learn more about how we implemented clean transportation at the Center.

Step eight: Low embodied carbon emission materials and products

To minimize embodied carbon emissions, we prioritized the use of low-carbon materials like mass timber and recycled content products throughout the building. By retrofitting an existing structure and making conscious material choices, we significantly reduced the project’s overall carbon footprint. Learn more about our strategies to reduce embodied carbon.

Step nine: Operating a zero energy, zero emission building

We are embarking on this step now by working with our project partners to fine-tune the HVAC, solar, and battery systems to ensure smooth operation. We’ll be providing updates on this blog as well as the Center’s website as we collect data about the building’s energy performance.

Climate Benefits

Each year, the Climate Innovation Center is estimated to generate enough clean energy to avoid the emissions of 37.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This amount of avoided pollution is equivalent to not driving an average passenger car over 95,000 miles!

Clean Energy Financial Incentives used at the Climate Innovation Center

We’re thankful for a host of financial incentives that we took advantage of to make this project a reality.

• Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart New Construction & Major Renovations incentive program: https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/business/wattsmart-efficiency-incentives-utah/ut-incentive-lists/wbnc.html
• Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Battery incentive program: https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/wattsmart-battery-program.html
• Rocky Mountain Power EV charger incentives: https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/utah-commercial-incentives.html
• Blue Sky grant program (funded by Rocky Mountain Power customers): https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/blue-sky-renewable-energy.html
• 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energy-efficient-commercial-buildings-deduction
• Federal Investment Tax Credit (for solar and battery storage): https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/federal-solar-tax-credits-businesses

Looking Forward

This project embodies Utah Clean Energy’s dedication to transforming buildings to be ultra-energy efficient, zero energy, and emission-free. Looking forward, my colleagues and I are excited to inspire greater adoption of zero emission buildings through in-person tours of the building for industry and community groups and through our standalone website: www.climateinnovationcenter.org.