At HARC, we are fortunate in that we don’t just have the opportunity to work on research projects that help to make our world more sustainable, we pursue this work in a building that embodies green building design, efficient technologies, and net zero operations in action.
Our campus is not only a hub for innovation, but is also a bird and pollinator friendly space, featuring native plants and natural stormwater management systems, including bioswales, that support local wildlife and enhance the surrounding ecosystem.
Building a LegacyThe Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certified building utilizes innovative design and technologies such as a high-performance building envelope, a geothermal heat exchange-based heating and cooling system comprised of a closed-loop network of 36 wells descending 300 feet a piece, and a 252 solar panel 88-kW rooftop solar array.
Because of our work to optimize energy and water use and continually monitor data generated by the building’s systems, the HARC Living Lab exceeds its design and modeled performance targets.
The building’s energy use intensity, a measure of a building’s annual energy use relative to its size (square footage), is just under 16 kBTUs/sqft/yr, lower than the 22 kBTUs/sqft/yr model during the building’s design phase. The building’s Energy Star certification rates 99 (out of 100). This means that our building is more efficient than 99% of all office buildings in the United States.
HARC Living Lab is now a certified, net-zero energy building, meaning that we have produced more renewable (solar) power on-site than the power consumed by the building over the past 12 months. Our Zero Energy certification was issued by the International Living Future Institute in March 2020. We are now one of less than 50 certified zero energy office buildings in the United States, and the first in Texas.
Everyday our carbon footprint reduces, and since opening, we’ve offset the same amount of carbon as 10 heavily forested acres.
HARC Building DashboardHARC’s campus is a certified Bird-Friendly Space by Houston Audubon, dedicated to fostering habitats to mitigate urban threats and support bird populations. This commitment not only benefits birds, but also supports a diverse array of animals, like bees, butterflies, bats, and squirrels, ultimately promoting a healthier landscape.
HARC has received six badges for accomplishing bird-friendly activities on our campus.
Convene your next team meeting, community event, or educational program at HARC’s LEED Zero Energy building. Our friendly and experienced staff will assist you throughout the planning process.
RESERVE SPACE
