Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Utah Department of Natural Resources

The Utah Department of Natural Resources building is a three story 120,000-square-foot facility that includes numerous energy-efficiency measures. Key features include an HVAC system with high efficiency motors and variable speed drives, an efficient lighting system, and passive solar design. The building also includes 700 linear feet of light shelves mounted horizontally on the south side the building which channel daylight 38 feet into the building interior.

The project took two years to complete, with an incremental cost of approximately $300,000 for the energy-efficiency measures. The efficiency measures are expected to cut energy consumption by 42 percent compared to the same size building just meeting the state’s energy code. Computer modeling of the facility predicts the efficiency measures will yield a 15-20% return on their investment through the energy savings. The rate of return is limited in part by the relatively low electricity prices in Utah.

In February 2002, the U.S. EPA labeled the facility (as well as the State Tax Commission Building) an Energy Star^® building. The Energy Star^® Label is applied to those buildings that are in the top 25% in terms of energy efficiency for a particular building type. Both buildings rated in the top 20% compared to other office buildings. For more details on the energy efficiency features of this building, see EPA's case study.

© 2002-2008 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Rd. Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org

Last Updated: 01/28/2008