Page 217 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

LOS ANGELES AUDUBON NATURE CENTER—A LEED-CERTIFIED PLATINUM PROJECT 187

Figure 7.1 Los Angeles Audubon Center. Photograph courtesy of LA
Audubon Society. „ EHDD Architecture/Soltierra, LLC.

building materials, and maintenance of native landscaping. The main office building
of the project is entirely powered by an on-site solar power system that functions “off
the grid.” The building water purification system is designed such that it uses consid-
erably less water for irrigation and bathrooms. To achieve the platinum rating the
building design met 52 out of the total available 69 LEED energy conservation points
outlined in Table 7.3.
The entire building, from the concrete foundation and rebars to the roof materials,
was manufactured from recycled materials. For example, concrete-reinforcement
rebars were manufactured from melted scrap metal and confiscated handguns. All
wood materials used in the construction of the building and cabinetry were manufac-
tured from wheat board, sunflower board, and Mexican agave plant fibers.
A 26-kW roof-mount photovoltaic system provides 100 percent of the center’s elec-
tric power needs. A 10-ton solar thermal cooling system installed by SUN Utility
Network Inc. provides a solar air-conditioning system believed to be the first of its
kind in southern California. The HVAC system provides the total air-conditioning
needs of the office building. The combination of the solar power and the solar thermal
air-conditioning system renders the project completely self-sustainable requiring no
power from the power grid. Figure 7.2 shows a roof-mount solar photovoltaic panel
installation. The cost of this pilot project upon completion was estimated to be about
$15.5 million. At present, the project houses a natural bird habitat, exhibits, an
amphitheater, and a hummingbird garden. The park also has a network of many hik-
ing trails enjoyed by local residents.