goals. This first year, we will be monitoring and reporting on the building’s energy performance in order to obtain our Zero Energy and ENERGY STAR certifications, and we will continue to track energy performance into the future to ensure optimal energy performance over the life of the building. Climate Benefits Each year, the Climate Innovation Center is estimated to generate enough clean energy to avoid the emissions of 37.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is equivalent to not driving an average passenger car over 95,000 miles! Clean Energy Financial Incentives used at the Climate Innovation Center We’re thankful for a host of financial incentives that we took advantage of to make this project a reality. Scan the QR codes to read more about them. Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart New Construction & Major Renovations Incentive Program https://www.rockymountainpower.net/ savings-energy-choices/business/wattsmartefficiency-incentives-utah/ut-incentive-lists/wbnc.html Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Battery Incentive Program https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savingsenergy-choices/wattsmart-battery-program.html Rocky Mountain Power EV Charger Incentives https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savingsenergy-choices/electric-vehicles/incentives.html Blue Sky Grant Program (Funded by Rocky Mountain Power Customers) https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savingsenergy-choices/blue-sky-renewable-energy.html 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energyefficient-commercial-buildings-deduction Investment Tax Credit (For Solar and Battery Storage) https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/federalsolar-tax-credits-businesses Looking Forward This project embodies Utah Clean Energy’s dedication to transforming buildings to be ultra-energy efficient, zero‑energy and emission-free. Looking forward, my colleagues and I are excited to inspire greater adoption of zero-emission buildings through in-person tours of the building for industry and community groups and our standalone website: climateinnovationcenter.org. Step 7: Climate-wise transportation. From the earliest design, we knew we wanted to encourage our staff and guests to use low and zero-emission transportation options for getting to and from the Climate Innovation Center. One reason this location stood out to our team is its convenient proximity to public transportation. And, to make it convenient to ride to work, we installed ample bike parking as well as a power outlet to charge e-bikes. The last element of climate-wise transportation at the Climate Innovation Center is the electric vehicle (EV) charging installed onsite. We installed three Level 2 chargers and three 110v outlets for Level 1 charging. Our Level 2 EV chargers have the ability to monitor and balance the energy load between the chargers which helps us avoid “peak demand” charges from the utility. The 110v outlets allow EV charging to take place if the grid loses power with a much smaller electricity draw on our building battery. Thanks to our onsite solar, our staff who drive EVs and ride e-bikes literally get around town on sunshine! Step 8: Low embodied carbon emission materials and products. Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas emissions generated over a product’s entire lifecycle. This includes extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance and disposal of construction materials. It was important that as many materials as possible used to construct the Climate Innovation Center had a low embodied carbon footprint. As I mentioned before, the first step in lowering our embodied carbon was to give new life to an existing building by retrofitting. But it may surprise you how many actions to reduce embodied carbon were made during the design phase of our building. For example, we eliminated steel and concrete framing wherever possible. In their place, we used mass timber solutions, such as glulam beams, wooden posts, and CLT or “cross-laminated timber” ceiling panels. The mass timber products that we used are FSC-certified. We chose mass timber for its environmental benefits over traditional steel and concrete. By using the CLT we reduced waste and saved time because the installation is faster than alternative materials. And there are so many material selections that can impact embodied carbon. From the carpets, the drywall, paint, countertops, and even the tile, we picked materials with high recycled content and the lowest possible “embodied carbon.” Whether it’s mass timber, recycled materials or carbon neutral flooring — expand your mind to think about low carbon options, like water-wise and pollinator-friendly landscaping. We carefully selected plants that are suitable for our arid climate, which allows us to eliminate landscaping water consumption and also supports the local pollinator population, such as native bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The majority of rainwater that hits the building is directed into the front planter box. Step 9: Occupancy and energy tracking. The work to achieve zero energy continues far past construction. Now that we’re in the building, our team is beginning to monitor and analyze the building’s energy performance under real-world conditions. Things like seasonal variations, energy consumption patterns, and occupant behavior can all impact achieving our zero energy 23
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