IDeAs Z² Design Facility

Integrated Design Associates (IDeAs) opened their new office, the IDeAs Z² Design Facility, in October 2007. The building is the first certified Zero Energy, Zero Carbon project. It was designed to produce more electric energy than it uses by careful shell design and providing onsite power through a rooftop-mounted photovoltaic system. The building is carbon neutral, using no fossil fuels for heating or cooling. The design team for the project – EHDD Architecture (architects), Integral Group (mechanical engineers), and IDeAs (electrical engineers) – has a long history of working together collaboratively on several highly sustainable projects. The team transformed a windowless 1960s concrete former bank building into a beautifully lighted space that is not only highly green but also spacious, serene, and comfortable for its occupants.

An outstanding example of highly sustainable adaptive reuse, the building underwent massive changes in its transformation and has many unique features to save energy. A combination of different design strategies was used to achieve the seemingly ambitious goal of a zero-energy, zero-carbon building. The primary heating and cooling source is a ground-source heat pump driven by the photovoltaic power source. The heat pump efficiently produces chilled water and hot water, thus lowering energy use to help meet the Net Zero Energy and Zero Carbon emission goals. The system takes advantage of what the earth naturally provides—a constant belowground temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius. The building plan mandated that all heating and cooling be achieved through an in-slab radiant system. Using water to heat and cool space with this system uses considerably less energy than a traditional forced air system.

Daylight was used to light all workspaces and was provided by several strategically located skylights. During the building’s opening, IDeAs hosted the City of San José’s public release of a 15-year plan to conserve energy, combat climate change, and secure Silicon Valley’s position as the nation’s green tech innovation center. Mayor Chuck Reed selected IDeAs’ new Z2 Design facility to showcase how ambitious environmental protection and economic development goals can be realized.