ABSTRACT
This new 9,400-square-foot, $7.5 million branch library in the San Francisco Bay area is the first publicly bid net zero energy building in the state. The West Branch was one of four Berkeley public libraries that was either renovated or replaced over a five-year period. On a square foot basis, this net positive energy branch cost about $64 per square foot more than the other new branch library that was LEED Gold certified (see Box 6.1 for a summary of project details). Both were completed in 2013. Passive strategies like natural ventilation and daylight contribute to the West Branch’s high performance while reducing operating costs. Box 6.1: Project overview https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
IECC climate zone
3C
Latitude
37.87°N
Context
Urban
Size
9,399 gross ft2 (873 m2)
Footprint
8,920 ft2 (829 m2)
Site area
11,970 ft2 (1,112 m2)
Height
1 story
Program
Library, assembly
Occupants
9 full-time; 421 visitors/day
Annual hours occupied
Approximately 2,616
Energy use intensity (March 2014–February 2015)
EUI: 23.6 kBtu/ft2/year (74.5 kWh/m2/year)
Net EUI: –0.94 kBtu/ft2/year (–3 kWh/m2/year)
National median EUI for libraries 1
91.6 kBtu/ft2/year (289 kWh/m2/year)
EUI required by California Title 24
35 kBtu/ft2/year (110.5 kWh/m2/year)
Energy Star Portfolio Manager benchmark for site energy use intensity
