Colorado Real Estate Journal - May 6, 2015
The U.S. General Services Administration recently rededicated the 18-story Byron G. Rogers Federal Building & Courthouse. The approximately $160 million project, $147 million of which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, revitalized the 620,000-square-foot building at 1961 Stout St. in downtown Denver into a modern, highly efficient workspace for 11 federal agencies. The improvements are expected to create 55 percent overall energy reduction in the federal building resulting in the GSA reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2,908 tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 612 cars off the road or providing energy to 266 average sized homes. The primary goal of the modernization was to upgrade all of the major building systems. This included replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the federal building. The project also replaced 250 windows in the courthouse with double-glaze, low-E, gas-filled high-efficiency units. GSA selected design constructor Mortenson Construction, which teamed with project architects Bennett Wagner & Grody Architects and HOK. The facility was built in the 1960s and required a deep retrofit to reduce energy use while preserving its historical significance, according to the GSA. The facility is expected to attain a LEED New Construction Gold certification. “We are one of the largest and most diversified public real estate organizations in the world and, as such, we have a responsibility to help lead the government’s sustainability transformation. High-performing green buildings provide the best value for the taxpayer and the public because they minimize the federal footprint through efficient use of energy, water and resources, and they create healthier productive workspaces,” said Susan Damour, GSA regional administrator. Green features of the building include: • A design-build goal to achieve a 40 percent reduction in water use. • An “aggressive” energy goal of less than 45.1 kBtu per sf per year, which achieves an annual energy savings of approximately 55 percent. • Installation of solar panels on the roof to offset energy use of domestic hot water. • Primary heating and cooling of the building through the use of an active chilled beam system. • Diverting from the landfill 50 percent of all construction trash and debris produced during the project. • Increasing daylighting at the building approximately 25 percent from prior to the work.
-Xcel Energy recognized 12 Colorado businesses for their efforts to save energy at its biennial Energy Efficiency Expo in April. The awards honor commercial, industrial and small-business customers in Colorado for participating in Xcel Energy 2014 energy efficiency programs. Collectively, the recognized companies saved more than 49 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in a 12-month period, avoiding production of more than 28,000 tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of keeping more than 7,100 cars off the road for a year. The 12 award recipients for efficiency were: • 1670 Broadway Investors LLC, Energy Management Systems Achievement Award; energy savings of 2.6 gigawatt-hours • Denver International Airport of the city and county of Denver, Highest Savings for Multiple Program Participation; energy savings of 12 GWh • The Denver Post, Highest Percentage of Energy Savings at a Single Premise; energy savings of 2.9 GWh • EVRAZ Pueblo, Process Efficiency Achievement Award; energy savings of 4.9 GWh • King Soopers, Lighting Efficiency Achievement Award; energy savings of 2.8GWh • Leprino Foods, Highest Energy Savings at a Manufacturing Facility; energy savings of 14.5 GWh • Mile Hi Bakery, Energy Design Assistance Achievement Award; energy savings of 2.8 GWh • National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Self Direct Achievement Award; energy savings of 2.3 GWh • St. John's Cathedral, Heating Efficiency Achievement Award, energy savings of 24,985 therms • Spradley Barr Ford of Greeley, Small Business Lighting Efficiency Achievement Award; energy savings of 436,000 kWh • Sungard Availability Services, Data Center Efficiency Achievement Award; energy savings of 2.9 GWh • Swire Coca-Cola, USA, Highest Energy Savings Achieved Through Working with Xcel Energy’s Business Solutions Center; energy savings of 987,744 kWh.