Piloting the Use of Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria
in the Design and Construction of a Laboratory Facility
Jack Mizner, Sandia
National Laboratories
Background:
Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico (SNL/NM) has incorporated
sustainable elements into the design and construction of its facilities
since 1999, primarily through the application of the U.S. Green
Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED)
rating system. LEED, however, applies primarily to office buildings
and non-process water and energy use. SNL/NM has employed best practices
and energy efficient design, using Labs21 and other resources, and
required specific performance measures for its laboratory spaces,
but determining a relative measure of "greenness" has
been difficult. Recently Labs21 has developed the Environmental
Performance Criteria (EPC) rating system to augment the LEED™
rating system and to specifically address sustainable design issues
for laboratories. SNL/NM is piloting the use of the EPC, in addition
to LEED™, in the design and construction of the Center for
Integrated Nano-technologies (CINT), a 92,000 ft2 research and development
Laboratory. Both rating systems have been used since the beginning
of design as tools to incorporate sustainable elements and efficiencies
into the facility.
Currently the CINT project is beginning Title II design. The project
has been using the combined LEED™/EPC ratings since the programming
phase. The EPC was not included as a program requirement, however,
the user and A/E firm agreed to participate in the current EPC Pilot
Program. A preliminary score for each of the ratings was established
during the sustainable design charrette, and has formed the basis
of evaluation through the various phases of design.
Objectives:
The objective of this presentation is to evaluate the use of the
draft EPC and present the results of applying the combined use of
LEED™/EPC to the design of CINT.
Findings:
The findings that will be presented reflect the project progress
in incorporating and evaluating LEED™/EPC criteria through
Title II design. Specific items that will be addressed include:
- Acceptance to follow EPC by the A/E firm and by the laboratory
user.
- Current scores for CINT based on LEED™ and EPC.
- Evaluation of EPC with SNL/NM practices as follows: 1) Current
practices that already meet the criteria, 2) Current practices
that do no presently meet the EPC criteria, but could with slight
improvement and effort, 3) EPC criteria that require a fundamental
change in the SNL/NM process to achieve.
- Identification of the documentation that is required to verify
that the EPC criteria have been met.
- Evaluation of CINT as a Labs21 Showcase Facility and the value
of using EPC as part of that evaluation. The project will also
be seeking a DOE Showcase Facility designation.
- Determination of added design effort to use EPC and the resultant
benefits.
Labs21 Connection:
The following aspects are included in the CINT project:
- Adopt Energy and Environmental Goals
- Use Life-cycle Cost Decision-Making
- Commission Equipment and Controls in New Construction
- Employ a broad range of Sustainable Energy and Water Efficiency
Strategies
- Measure Energy and Water Consumption and Track Emissions
- Specify "Green" Construction Materials
Biography:
Jack Mizner, a Pollution
Prevention Coordinator with Sandia National Labs, has over 18 years
experience in both the public and private sectors in the areas of
domestic and industrial water and wastewater treatment; groundwater
treatment; hazardous and radioactive waste management and treatment;
pollution prevention and sustainable design. His education includes
a B.S. in Biology from GA. State and M.S. degrees in Ecology and
Environmental Engineering from GA Tech. He is a registered Professional
Engineer in the state of New Mexico and a Certified Hazardous Materials
Manager.
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