Danvers, MA – GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.recently joined in the celebration of the opening of the first state-owned Zero Net Energy Building (ZNEB), a health and student services building at North Shore Community College in Danvers.
The 58,000sf three-story building provides new classrooms, labs and offices for the campus. A building is classified as a ZNEB if over the course of a year it will produce as much energy onsite as it consumes.
The building includes geothermal wells for heating and cooling, chilled beams and energy recovery ventilation, roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, high-performing HVAC systems, natural day lighting and controls that adjust lights based on daylight. The building is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification.
The Architectural firm of DiMella Shaffer designed the building and selected GZA for the Geothermal Design. Walsh Brothers, Inc served as Contractor on the project.
The efficiency of this building promises to save the Commonwealth several million dollars in reduced energy costs over the next 20 years while preventing several thousand metric tons of carbon emissions over the same time period.