ELPC Green Office Update, II
Thursday, July 15, 2010
ELPC Green Office Update: Location and Lighting
ELPC moved into our first green office in 1998, when green architecture was new and less familiar. Today, green building practices are becoming the norm. ELPC is proud to have played a role in that transition both through our advocacy on green building standards and through ELPC’s investments in our own eco-office where we work.
ELPC’s new green office is in the same building as that first green office—three floors higher—in Chicago’s oldest skyscraper. The “Jewelers Building” is located on the banks of the Chicago River in the Loop, near walkways and bike paths, water taxis, the Metra, and CTA buses and trains. ELPC staff regularly ride bikes and public transportation to commute to and from work. The new office’s shower room, featuring low-flow fixtures, and bike racks provide further incentive for employees to bike their commute.
In the heart of an urban landscape, our office design maximizes daylighting through exterior windows and internal pathways to reduce electricity used to supply artificial light.
Natural Daylighting and Efficient Lighting Systems
ELPC’s green office dramatically cuts energy use through natural daylighting and efficient lighting systems, a state-of-the art HVAC system, low-flow plumbing fixtures and EnergyStar® appliances.
ELPC’s efficient lighting—a combination of high-efficiency fluorescent and LED lighting technologies—beats ASHRAE standards by more than 30%. Since lighting uses the least amount of energy when it’s not on, we have sensors in place throughout the office to automatically dim or turn off lighting when daylight is strong or when an office is not occupied. At night-times, all lighting will be timed to go off automatically.
By maximizing ceiling height near windows, using daylight dimming sensors and glazing interior walls to help natural light spread into the corridor, ELPC is able to flood the office with natural light. That light continues to flow through frosted glass doors, transoms and interior windows so that interior office space has the same benefits as exterior offices. That’s good for energy use reduction and very good for ELPC’s staff health and well-being, as well as enjoyment of our workplace.
There have been many studies highlighting the health and productivity benefits of natural daylight and outdoor views. The energy savings also directly add to ELPC’s bottom line. Finally, the new office will help ELPC practice what we preach by saving energy and avoiding global warming pollution.
We’ll continue to update you on our progress and highlight different elements of the office space as we prepare to move into our new green office space later this month. The next office update will focus on our countertops, cabinets and surface materials.
