AGU Debuts DC’s First Net Zero Energy Renovation

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Geophysical Union headquarters, at 2000 Florida Ave., NW, is the first Net Zero energy renovation of a commercial office building in Washington, DC. Thus, it came as little surprise when Washington, DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 at the building. The bill includes requiring all DC electricity to originate from renewable sources and calls for vast improvements to the energy efficiency of existing buildings within the District.

“Net zero energy” means the annual total amount of energy utilized by a building is equal to or less than the amount of energy created onsite through the use of technologies and renewable power generation. When a building achieves this net zero energy goal, there is a reduction of waste, water and energy consumption to almost zero and greatly reduce the carbon footprint, all with the intent of putting excess power back on the grid.

Once AGU decided that their original 20+ year-old, 88,000 square foot, five-story headquarters was going to be renovated, they approached MGAC who subsequently guided AGU through the selection process to bring the right engineering, architecture, and construction partners onboard.

“MGAC completely aligns with AGU’s mission to advance science and its power to ensure a sustainable future. When it came time to renovate the building, it was a chance to demonstrate what we stand for. We take pride in that our scientists work on societal issues,” says Janice Lachance, AGU’s Executive Vice President, Strategic and Organizational Excellence. “It was challenging to find a team who is willing to think outside of the box—AGU, MGAC and other partners have been efficiently collaborating since day one.”

High-performance design strategies include rainwater harvesting cisterns, a municipal sewer heat exchange system, low-flow plumbing, hydroponic phytoremediation, rooftop photovoltaic panels, a radiant cooling system, and an enhanced building envelope.

“The AGU project is unlike a typical build when it comes to the design process. The building is slated to be completed in Spring 2019 and it is groundbreaking for DC,” says Steve Hay, Managing Director, MGAC.

In order to achieve net zero energy, AGU focused on four key engineering principles—reduction, reclamation, absorption, and generation. More than 50 different strategies, within those areas, were individually researched and tested, with the project team selecting 24 strategies that would take the building to net zero energy. To follow are some of the strategies that allows the AGU building to fulfill the goal of being a net zero energy building.

• The building generates energy through 700 solar panels on the roof and down one side of the building. • It also utilizes a municipal sewer heat exchange system -the first system to be installed in the USA (the system originally came from Germany). • AGU also installed a green wall which works with their HVAC system to reduce energy loads and improve indoor air quality. • Another standout technology in the building is the water reclamation cistern which collects rainwater from the roof as well as condensates it from the dedicated outdoor air system. It also filters, chemically treats, and conditions the water. Through this process, the building will be able to produce all the water needed for flushing toilets and irrigating onsite. Due to strict federal and local water regulations, this project will not be pursuing net zero water strategies although the proper technology for on-site potable water treatment now exists.

“One of my favorite projects, within the renovation, was when 500 bricks were taken off the façade, one by one, and they will now be reused,” says LaChance. “The old sinks and toilets were also all crushed and made into the terrazzo which now covers the boardroom floor.

They literally took materials from their own building and repurposed it for their new building,” says Hay.

The AGU building is not fully occupied with 1.5 floors not being occupied by company employees. A full floor has been leased and half of a floor is still available.

The net zero building is also open to the public where they can view an exhibit which highlights the science surrounding the building and go on net zero tours when possible.