The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission headquarters is one of the greenest buildings in America, according to American City & County.
The building opened in 2012. It uses roof-mounted solar panels to provide as much as 7 percent of its energy. The 13-story structure offers high efficiency mechanical systems, natural ventilation and what the story calls “daylight harvesting.”
Other features include shades that minimize heat gain, light shelves that reflect daylight into the building for heat and leading edge wastewater recycling. The air conditioning system is customized to operate as efficiently as possible in San Francisco’s unique climate.
There are Daikin Magnitude chillers that have 250- and 500-ton capacities. They feature magnetic bearing oil-less compressors and integral variable frequency drives. These are 40 percent more efficient compared to standard compressor chillers.
Last month, Contracting Business featured a case study of Daikin Applied's installation at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. The deployment was in two residence halls connected by a lounge. All told, the area is 52,720 square-feet. Three units, installed over time, have reduced humidity levels from more than 80 percent to less than 55 percent.
