NREL Thermal Test Facility (TTF)

Warren Gretz

Overview

• Location: Golden, CO
• Building type(s): Laboratory
• New construction
• 10,000 ft2 (929 m2)
• Project scope: a single building
• Other setting
• Completed October 1996
  ground breaking on 9/13/95 opened/dedicated on 10/3/96 Researchers were able to monitor construction

Completed in August of 1996, the 10,000 square-foot Thermal Test Facility (TTF) was constructed to consolidate the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) active solar, passive solar, and ventilation test facilities in a central location.

The TTF is an open-space, high-bay area containing various laboratories and research equipment. The facility's layout gives researchers flexibility to easily rearrange experiments. An open plan office area provides workspaces for researchers. The building itself serves as an important research test bed for investigating the integration of passive-solar and energy-efficiency technologies.

A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING – This case study, located in Climate Zone 6, demonstrates the potential for savings beyond 30% with aggressive strategies and integrated design.

Environmental Aspects

The main environmental benefit of the building is its significant reduction in energy use. A thorough analysis has shown that the TTF use 63% less energy, by cost, than an equivalent code-compliant building for heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and lighting.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned by U.S. Department of Energy, Federal government
• Occupants: Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 10 people, 50 hours per person per week

The office is occupied from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Laboratory occupancy varies due to irregular experiment schedule.

Building Programs

Keywords

Integrated team, Design charrette, Simulation, Contracting, Commissioning, Performance measurement and verification, Operations and maintenance, Indigenous vegetation, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Massing and orientation, Insulation levels, Glazing, Airtightness, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, Adaptable design, Durability, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Ventilation effectiveness, Thermal comfort