{"id":15730,"date":"2013-08-14T06:08:18","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T06:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leedpoints.com\/?guid=c8f09aed9a197a5d7bbffd2459beb39b"},"modified":"2013-08-14T06:08:18","modified_gmt":"2013-08-14T06:08:18","slug":"arizona-desert-hosts-worlds-largest-net-zero-energy-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leedpoints.com\/green-building-blog\/arizona-desert-hosts-worlds-largest-net-zero-energy-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona desert hosts world’s largest ‘net zero energy’ building"},"content":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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The new Phoenix regional office of DPR Construction has been officially certified as a “net zero energy”<\/a> building by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI)<\/a>. It’s the largest building in the world to achieve net zero energy building certification through the institute to date.<\/p>\n

SmithGroupJJR<\/a> designed the comprehensive renovation of the windowless, 1970s concrete block building, transitioning it into a model for sustainable adaptive reuse. The entire project was completed in less than 10 months and is the first net zero energy building SmithGroupJJR has designed.<\/p>\n

Located at the corner of 44th and Van Buren in a once declining area of Phoenix, the 16,533-square-foot storefront had most recently operated as an adult-themed boutique before standing vacant for three years. The eyesore building was purchased by national general contractor and construction manager DPR Construction<\/a>, which was looking to build a modern and highly efficient workplace.<\/p>\n

“Many building owners may think it’s impossible to turn an aging, neglected building into something highly sustainable – especially in an extreme climate like Phoenix,” said Mark Roddy<\/a>, SmithGroupJJR design principal. “But that’s precisely what we’ve achieved.” <\/p>\n

Net zero energy facilities integrate a combination of energy-producing technologies such as solar and wind and implement efficient HVAC and lighting systems to reduce a building’s overall energy usage. To achieve the building certification, a facility must demonstrate a net energy consumption of zero over the span of one year.<\/p>\n

DPR Construction and SmithGroupJJR incorporated a range of advanced design solutions to achieve net zero energy, including:<\/p>\n