NPS -- Brad Richie - Entrance Area Visitor Center and Mary Tidlow - Eielson Visitor Center
Denali National Park Eielson Visitor Center is located deep within the park and the primary function is the exhibit and viewing area; although, the building will have secondary functions that include an office, apartment, first aid room, bookstore, and restrooms. The building operates 100% off grid while effectively negotiating the harsh climate and varied visitor loads.The Denali National Park Entrance Area Visitor center is located one mile off the Denali Park Road. This facility includes a theater, rest rooms, shuttle and tour reservations, ticket pick-up, Junior Ranger Program, backcountry permits and sign-up for ranger-led Discovery Hikes.
Several energy efficiency strategies have been included at both the Denali Entrance Area Visitor Center and the Eielson Visitor Center at Denali National Park: high performance windows; energy efficient lighting; natural ventilation; energy recovery ventilators with multi-speed fans servicing theater and offices; demand controlled ventilation (CO2 control) of energy recovery ventilators; multi-speed fans in furnaces. The Entrance Area Visitor Center is designed for a 60 percent reduction in energy use and the Eielson Perhaps the most noteworthy innovative uses of clean energy are the building integrated photovoltaic system in the Entrance Area Visitor Center and advanced daylighting design which has been incorporated at both centers as a clean energy source. The Eielson Center is completely off grid and powered by a Micro-Hydro power generator.
IIndividuals can expect to enjoy a naturally lit and healthier (low to no VOC's, no urea-formaldehyde resins) interior space. Additionally, they will learn about new and innovative technologies which they can implement in their own lives. Society gains the establishment of welcome centers which will serve to educate the populous as to the benefits of green building and energy conservation. Reduced government spending and the increased investment in the green energy, green materials, and green construction industries will benefit the national economy. The environment will benefit reduced carbon emissions, reduced resource extraction, reduced water consumption, diverted waste materials and the use of recycled materials.
As pilot NPS projects, both the Denali Entrance Area Visitor Center and the Eielson Visitor Center will effect the NPS, and potentially other branches of government, by establishing a president for future development. This president will show that future construction of government buildings can incorporate cutting-edge, energy-saving features while working within the perameters of established budgets/pro-formas. Additionally a comprehensive green cleaning program has been established for both facilities which can serve as the basis for additional NPS and other federal facilities.
Individuals will learn the benefits and ease of implementating energy saving features into new/existing buildings. The establishment a model for future public development will serve society for years to come. The national budget will see a reduction in operating costs which will free previously allocated money. By establishing a baseline for energy reduction which can be imposed on other government buildings the government's impact on the environment will be reduced. The Entrance Area Visitor Center is estimated to use 60% less energy than a typical basecase which is saving over 40,000 kWh per year.
The Denali Entrance Area Visitor Center and the Eielson Visitor Center will reduce the consumption of carbon-based conventional energy, in turn reducing the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere, provide a green building educational tool/case study, and provide a new development model for future government development.
When commissioning results show that the energy efficiency improvement have in fact reduced the energy consumption of the buildings, a case can be made to implement these or similar measures into future NPS, or other government, buildings.