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HARC’s Building

A Living Lab that Embodies Our Mission

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 Legacy
321.09 Tons of CO2 Emissions Saved
5352 Equivalent Trees Planted
13.51 Water Usage of Average Office Building
99 Energy Star Rating

Leading by Example

HARC’s Living Lab Headquarters has received several certifications and designations recognizing its excellence in energy efficient design and performance. 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. 

HARC’s 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. Everyday our carbon footprint reduces, and since opening, we’ve offset the same amount of carbon as 10 heavily forested acres. 

HARC’s office has been recognized by several organizations for its sustainable design and performance.Living Lab Certifications; Net-Zero Energy logo; LEED Platinum logo, energy star logo

These designations include:  

  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certified. 
  • Certified LEED Net Zero Energy building means that we have produced more renewable (solar) power on-site than the power consumed by the building over the past 12 months. 
  • International Living Future Institute’s Zero Energy certification recognizes HARC as being one of less than 50 certified zero energy office buildings in the United States, and the first in Texas. 
  • U.S. Environmental Energy’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR rating of 99/100 for seven years in a row. HARC’s building energy use intensity, a measure of its 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 Living Lab’s Energy Star certification rates 99 (out of 100), which means that our Headquarters is more efficient than 99% of all office buildings in the United States.
  • EPA’s ENERGY STAR NextGen certification, distinguishing it as one of the nation’s most energy-efficient and low-emissions buildings. 
HARC Building Dashboard

Bird-Friendly Space

HARC’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. 

bird-friendly space badges

Work with HARC’s Living Lab

HARC’s award-winning, Net Zero, LEED Platinum building is more than an example of sustainable development, it’s an excellent place for companies to pilot innovative sustainability solutions. The high-performance Living Lab showcases how hardware, software, and best practices can push a site above and beyond. 

Our team has expertise in measuring and optimizing building and site interventions and embraces a triple bottom line approach.  

Work with HARC's Living Lab

HARC forges sustainability solutions that improve people’s quality of life for generations to come.

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