University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington (UNCW) is partnering with Labs21 on three different projects. The first project at UNCW is a retrofit of an existing building. The 100,000 square-foot building has old building systems and controls that haven’t been maintained or calibrated, resulting in wasted energy, high exhaust and ventilation rates, and filter carryout. The project began with the replacement of all of the boilers in the building. The university saw immediate energy and monetary savings as a result of this effort and plans to use the Labs21 Energy Benchmarking Tool to make further improvements. Current energy data will be measured before any further changes are instituted to provide a benchmark for future improvements. Following benchmarking, designers will look to reduce air flow, with specific respect to fume hoods, by using energy-efficient fume hoods and occupancy sensors. Additionally, UNCW will upgrade its outdated HVAC system, currently operating on an OS-2 platform, with a more efficient one.
The second project at UNCW, a new building project, was in its initial design phase when it was put on hold. Pending funding, the 70,000 square-foot building will be commissioned from the start of construction and will utilize a number of energy-efficient systems. The Labs21 Technical Team will work with the building design team to incorporate efficient equipment, systems, designs, and practices into as many components of the building as possible. They plan to use modular insulation boilers, occupancy sensors, and chilled water systems, among other items, to increase efficiency. Construction will not begin until maximum efficiency measures have been determined. The building is being designed to meet LEED® certification standards.
The third project is a 24,000 square-foot Oyster Research Hatchery. Once complete, the hatchery will produce billions of eyed larvae to help reestablish the North Carolina's oyster population and educate the public on the oyster’s value to the quality of coastal waters.1 This facility will consist of wet and dry laboratory space along with a small office area and required mechanical and utility space. The Labs21 Technical Team will assist this facility's planners to include multiple sustainable features and strategies into the new facility design. Sustainable features will include daylighting and stormwater management.
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Established in 1946 as part of the University of North Carolina School System, UNCW specializes in the natural sciences, especially biological sciences, chemistry, and marine sciences. With more than 100 programs and nearly 12,000 students, the university has been ranked in U.S. News and World Report "America’s Best Colleges" Guidebook as one of the top 10 regional public universities in the South for 10 consecutive years. Please visit the UNCW Web site for more information.
1 Press Release. (2009). Frank Harmon Designs "Green" Oyster Research Hatchery . Retrieved February 18, 2009.
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