PROJECT OVERVIEW

·SIZE: 212,888 sq. ft., single story. Warehouse: 168,960 sq. ft. Office: 25,103 sq. ft. High-bay training: 18,825 sq. ft.

·LOCATION: Gresham, OR

·COMPLETION DATE: October 2001

·UTILITIES: Portland General Electric & Northwest Natural Gas

·TECHNOLOGIES: Daylighting and controls, T-5 fluorescent lamps, occupancy sensors, high-efficiency chiller and boiler, variable air volume HVAC units, raised-floor plenum, radiant slab heating, exhaust heat recovery, natural ventilation, integrated DDC sequences, tuned and optimized glazing, rainwater harvesting, water-efficient fixtures and landscaping.

American Honda Motor Company’s Northwest Regional Facility is the first mixed-use industrial facility to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Gold Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Located in Gresham, Oregon, American Honda’s Northwest Regional Facility is a 212,888-square-foot parts distribution and training facility that serves nine Western states. Since its completion in October 2001, the facility has garnered national attention as a model of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products and practices.

The facility’s innovative integrated lighting design, which earned an award from the Illuminating Engineering Society - Oregon Chapter, boasts a lighting power density ranging from 25 to 50 percent less than code and delivers more than [SIHO]25,000 per year in lighting energy savings.

“The intelligent lighting design has definitely been one of the key benefits of this project, and also one of the most noticeable green aspects of the facility,” says Barbara van Gaasbeek, national administrator of Green Building Programs for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “There is always plenty of daylight by which to work both in the warehouse and office. As the outside light level changes with the seasons or time of day, the light level in the office remains constant.”

The heating and cooling system takes advantage of natural airflows. The office space has a raised-floor air distribution system, and the high-bay-training center uses radiant in-slab heating. Ventilation is assisted with passive “gravity turbines” that put the area’s east winds to work.

American Honda benefits from a high-performing building with a low life cycle cost. The facility is using about 50 percent less energy than Oregon Code and saving more than [SIHO]36,000 per year in energy costs.

 FEATURES

Daylighting fenestration with selective low-e coatings, exterior shading and interior light shelves. The 120 warehouse skylights have improved thermal performance.

Reduced lighting power density, with T-5 fluorescent, high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps controlled by continuous and stepped daylight dimming controls as well as occupancy sensors.

A water-cooled chiller and gas-fired condensing boiler provide high-efficiency heating and cooling for the following: The office has variable air volume roof-top units with underfloor air distribution served by fan-powered terminal units; mixed-mode natural ventilation uses wind-assisted, roof-mounted gravity turbines. The training area has in-slab hydronic radiant heating and an integrated ventilation system with exhaust heat recovery.

Integrated direct digital control allows night flush pre-cooling and optimizes HVAC system performance.

Other sustainability features include: rainwater used for graywater and irrigation; water-conserving fixtures; drought-tolerant plants; locally-produced, recycled-content building products and furnishings; wood flooring from sustainably managed forests; low-toxicity finishes; preferred carpool and covered bike parking; refueling stations for alternative-fuel vehicles.

BENEFITS

ENERGY SAVINGS. The facility was designed to use at least 47 percent less energy than a similar facility built to Oregon energy code, saving American Honda more than [SIHO]36,000 per year.

WATER SAVINGS. Rainwater harvesting and water-efficient fixtures and irrigation are resulting in a 50 percent reduction in water consumption compared to a conventional building.

HIGH-QUALITY, PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. Daylighting in the service bays and office area contributes to a bright, airy atmosphere. “It’s a very soothing environment in which to work, and has been received very positively by Honda associates,” says van Gaasbeek.

COMFORT. Underfloor air distribution allows highly individualized temperature control. Radiant slab heating delivers heat close to occupants in the service bays.

RECOGNITION AS A LEADER. More than 1,500 visitors have toured the facility and numerous articles have highlighted its sustainability features. It has served as an example for other corporations as well as other American Honda facilities.

LESSONS LEARNED

Pre-planning is important. Honda and the entire design team were deeply committed to sustainable design from the beginning. A multi-disciplinary team explored the costs and benefits of different options. ”We anticipated the project may cost more than a conventional facility. So it was crucial to have the proper financing in place, and the proper expertise available to avoid unnecessary cost overruns,” says van Gaasbeek.

Demnstrate daylighting for the client. Group Mackenzie tested a variety of window sizes, skylights, light wells, light shelves and exterior shades at the BetterBricks Daylighting Lab in Seattle and brought simulated results directly to Honda’s conference room by video.

Raised-Floor plenums must be airtight. To maintain adequate pressure, it’s critical to seal the walls from the floor as well as penetrations in the floor. It’s also important to keep the plenum clean during construction.

Commissioning pays off. Commissioning identified the cause of rapid cycling between mechanical cooling and natural ventilation as a missing sensor and control sequence. “It’s beneficial to have a detailed set of control sequences ready when you go out to bid,” says Larry Luskay, P.E., commissioning agent with Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. 

FINALCIAL ANALYSIS 

Total project cost: [SIHO]18 million ([SIHO]85/sq. ft.)
Incremental Cost: [SIHO]460,413 (2.5% of total)
Annual energy savings: [SIHO]36,354

Electricity:[SIHO]33,958

Natural Gas: [SIHO] 2,396

TEAM

Building Owner:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Architect/Designer:
Group Mackenzie, Portland, OR

BetterBricks Adviser:
Joel Loveland, Daylighting Lab, Seattle, WA

Energy Modeling:
Solarc Architecture and Engineering, Inc., Eugene, OR

Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: System Design Consultants, Portland, OR

Commissioning:
Portland Energy Conservation, Inc., Portland, OR

Interior Design:
American Honda Facility Planning, Torrance, CA

Environmental Consultant:
WLC Architects, Rancho Cucamonga, CA