The Wisconsin Energy Institute serves as the collaborative home of energy research and education for the

University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

campus and greater Midwestern region, and houses the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, along with research space for the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Located at 1550 University Avenue, the building is bordered by the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery to the east, the College of Engineering to the south, and the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences to the north. This location places the Wisconsin Energy Institute at the heart of what is known as the UW-Madison Energy Corridor. Before construction, there was no single facility dedicated to energy research on the UW-Madison campus, though over 90 faculty worked in areas of clean energy research. These faculty members were scattered among 24 other campus buildings. Today, the facility houses over 200 researchers and administrators.

Building Information

Design and Construction

Construction began in December 2010, was substantially complete in November 2012, and the building gained occupancy in January 2013. Size: 107,000 sq ft
Cost: $57,153,600 Notable sustainable features include: * Projected to use 48% less energy than code minimum * Approximately 95% of

construction waste Construction waste or debris is any kind of debris from the construction process. Different government agencies have clear definitions. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA defines construction and demolition materia ...

was recycled * 20 kW photovoltaic solar arrays predicted to provide 26,573 kWh annually * 20-ton

heat pump A heat pump is a device that can heat a building (or part of a building) by transferring thermal energy from the outside using a refrigeration cycle. Many heat pumps can also operate in the opposite direction, cooling the building by removing ...

chiller system to employ

waste heat Waste heat is heat that is produced by a machine, or other process that uses energy, as a byproduct of doing work. All such processes give off some waste heat as a fundamental result of the laws of thermodynamics. Waste heat has lower utility ...

* An advanced heat recovery chiller, resulting in energy savings of 85,880 therms, or an annual cost savings of $55,943 * More than 35% of the building’s electricity provided from green power * Chilled beam technology used for cooling offices areas, which doesn’t require air movement and increases energy efficiency * Building design and orientation optimized for daylight, reducing electricity demand * Low-flow plumbing fixtures improve

water efficiency Water efficiency is the practice of reducing water consumption by measuring the amount of water required for a particular purpose and is proportionate to the amount of essential water used.Vickers, Amy. “Water use and conservation." Amherst, MA ...

by 33% over typical fixtures * Reclaimed and recycled wood, glass, steel and carpet used throughout the building * Bio retention basin provides filtration of runoff water from the building roof and surrounding sidewalk areas * Native landscape plantings reduce the need for watering

Awards

* LEED Gold, US Green Building Council * Project of the Year, 2014 Commercial Design Awards, Madison InBusiness Magazine * Green-Built Project, 2014 Commercial Design Awards, Madison InBusiness Magazine * New Construction Award of Merit, 2013 Se2 Leadership Awards, Wisconsin Green Building Association * Award of Merit in Safety, 2013 Midwest Awards, Engineering News Record * Top Project, Top Projects of 2012, The Daily Reporter * Awards for General Contractor in New Construction, 2013 Build Wisconsin Awards, Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin * Award for Specialty Contractor in Exterior Finishes, 2013 Build Wisconsin Awards, Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin * Specialty Trades Award in Mechanical, 2013 Projects of Distinction, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.

External links

Wisconsin Energy Institute

References

{{University of Wisconsin–Madison, state = autocollapse University of Wisconsin–Madison