Knock on brick. [use of masonry for energy efficiency]

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Progressive Architecture; (United States)

OSTI ID:6475998

Browning, W ^[1]; Arcidi, P

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1. Rocky Mountain Inst., Snowmass, CO (United States)

In 1978, the Netherlands International Bank (NMB) needed a new image and a new headquarters in Amsterdam. It was created by an interdisciplinary team: architects, construction engineers, landscape architects, energy experts, artists, and bank employees worked for three years on the design. The architect Anton Alberts describes the building as [open quotes]anthroposophical,[close quotes] bases on Rudolph Steiner's design philosophy, where the orthogonal gives way to organic volumes and forms to elicit humane spaces with a spiritual sensibility. The integration of building design, daylighting, and energy systems has yielded impressive results. NMB's former headquarters consumed 422,801 BTU of primary energy per square foot each year. The new building consumes only 35,246 BTU per square foot. By way of comparison, an adjacent bank, constructed at approximately the same time and cost, consumes five times the energy per square foot. Construction costs of $162 per square foot (in 1991 dollars) include land, structure, landscaping, art, furniture, and equipment. Costs attributed to the energy systems were approximately $700,000, but estimates for the annual energy savings are $2.6 million. Using early 1980s technologies the energy measures had a three-month payback.

• OSTI ID: 6475998
• Journal Information: Progressive Architecture; (United States), Journal Name: Progressive Architecture; (United States) Vol. 74:3; ISSN PGRAAM; ISSN 0033-0752
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320107* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
AIR CONDITIONING
BRICKS
BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDINGS
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEAT
HEAT STORAGE
HEATING SYSTEMS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MATERIALS
OFFICE BUILDINGS
POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
WASTE HEAT
WASTES