UW-Solar Life Sciences Building Photovoltaic Implementation
Executive Summary:
UW-Solar is a student-led organization working with architecture firm Perkins+Will to install building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and rooftop photovoltaics (PV) on the new Life Sciences Building of the University of Washington Seattle campus. The intended installation will serve both as an ancillary source of electrical power and a heat gain control measure on the building envelope. The BIPV panels will also be highly visible and showcase UW as a steward in sustainable construction. The rooftop PV will generate substantial clean energy and reduce the building's carbon footprint.
Student Involvement:
Students from the UW-Solar group, consisting of both students enrolled in a College of Built Environments studio and student volunteers, will be directly involved with the project. The students currently involved with UW-Solar range from undergraduate freshmen to Ph.D. candidates, and come from the UW Colleges of Engineering, Business, Built Environments, and Environmental Sciences. Students will lead the feasibility study and present options and recommendations to Perkins+Will regarding the design of the rooftop PV. Students will also work with Perkins+Will throughout the project, allowing them to become involved in a professional setting, working on project development, design, and construction management during the installation. All students directly involved in this project are receiving school credit through VIP-courses in the Engineering Department.
Education & Outreach:
The BIPV of the Life Sciences Building will be placed on vertical glass fins on the building’s southwest facing facade. The solar array will be highly visible to building occupants, pedestrians along the Burke-Gilman Trail, and commuters traveling along NE Pacific Street. Representatives from UW Facilities supported the installation for this reason during design review meetings in December, citing the ability of this project to showcase the University of Washington as a steward in sustainability.
Although the rooftop PV will not be visible from the street, students, faculty, and visitors can interact with the Siemens dashboard to view the energy produced by the system. In addition, UW-Solar plans to use events and public displays on campus to showcase information about the project. This will communicate the impact of local clean power and raise awareness within the community about energy conservation and renewable energy production. Campus outreach will also include information dissemination through UW student organizations devoted to sustainability, clean energy, and green buildings.
- Energy Use
The estimated lifetime of the BIPV installation is 25-30 years. The estimated lifetime of the rooftop PV installation is 35-40 years. Operations and Maintenance costs are incorporated into our budget.
Environmental Problem:
A solar installation directly adresses the problems of climate change, air pollution, and energy independence. Solar cells generate clean electricity on-site, which reduces the carbon footprint of the building.
Explain how the impacts will be measured:
The addition of BIPV and rooftop photovoltaics to the new Life Sciences Building will have a positive impact on the environment through the on-site production of renewable energy as well as the reduction of energy consumption. BIPV will increase energy self-sufficiency and resiliency by producing nearly 5,000 kWh per year. Initial estimates for rooftop PV range from approximately 80,000 to 110,000 kWhrs of clean energy output per year. In total, we estimate that adding BIPV and rooftop PV will generate approximately 110,000 kWh per year. The presence of vertical fins will control heat gain to the building, decreasing energy consumption associated with internal environmental controls.
A Siemens dashboard located in the lobby of the Life Sciences Building will display the energy metrics for building. Students, faculty, and visitors can interact with the dashboard to see real-time energy production data, including the energy generated by the BIPV and PV systems.
This funding request is a: Grant
If this is a loan, what is the estimated payback period?:
Budget:
| Item | Cost per Item | Quantity | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels*** | 238.60 | 370 | 88,282 |
| Inverters*** | 150 | 370 | 55,500 |
| Racking System | 30 | 370 | 11,100 |
| Weather Station | 500 | 1 | 500 |
| Wiring | 20,000 | ||
| Transformer | 4,000 | 1 | 4,000 |
| Labor (Installation) | 120,000 | ||
| Metering | 7,000 | 1 | 7,000 |
| Permitting | 500 | ||
| Commisioning | 4,000 | ||
| Operations & Maintenance*** | 150/year | 40 years | 6,000 |
| Shipping | 3,000 | ||
| Contingency | 35,000 | ||
| BIPV ADDITIONAL COSTS | |||
| Remaining Balance from $600,000 budget for BIPV | 245,118 |
Non-CSF Sources:
| Name | Amount to be Requested | Estimated Application Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle City Light GreenUp Program | 150,000 | Fall, 2017 |
| American Solar Energy Society | 50,000 | Fall, 2017 |
| Department of Commerce Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants | 300,000 | Spring, 2018 |
Timeline:
| Task | Timeframe | Estimated Completion Date |
|---|---|---|
| Search for Additional Funding | Ongoing | Summer, 2017 |
| Apply for funding | Ongoing | Fall/Winter, 2017 |
| Construction of Life Sciences Building | 2 years | July 12, 2018 |
| Apply to Department of Commerce Grant | 1 month | Spring, 2018 |
| Draft/Submit Request for Proposal | 2 months | Summer, 2018 |
| Construction of Rooftop PV | 6 months | Winter, 2018 |
