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Moshofsky Center Makes Energy Edge Team
The Ed Moshofsky Sports Center at the University of Oregon illustrates highly effective natural lighting. This photo was taken without the benefit of artificial lights. University of Oregon football fans gather before each home game for a "mega-tailgate" party in the new Ed Moshofsky Sports Center. With food booths and television monitors--not to mention up to 6,000 fans in various Duck garb--few fans may notice the energy saving features that earned the building an Energy Edge Award from Eugene Water & Electric Board. To claim the award, designers made the facility 25 percent more efficient than Oregon building code requires. But this 110,000 square foot facility next to Autzen Stadium is not your "garden variety" commercial building. The Moshofsky Center is primarily an indoor practice field for UO athletic teams. Let the Sun Shine InBuilding designers knew that most of the electricity would be used to light the huge indoor practice field. One simple way to reduce energy used for lighting is to let the sun shine in. About 5,700 square feet of skylights and another 3,400 square feet of clerestory windows allows light to stream into the building. The glazing material used is Kalwall, a translucent structural panel made from two sheets of fiberglass separated by an aluminum I-beam. The space between the fiberglass sheets is filled with translucent fiberglass insulation to improve thermal performance. The translucent panels also control glare, an important consideration when a receiver is looking for the long pass. Control NeedsUsing available daylight can dramatically reduce the amount of electricity used. However, the sun in western Oregon isn't consistent. So, the Moshofksy Center has 156 custom-made, metal halide light fixtures. These fixtures bounce light off of the ceiling to spread illumination throughout the room and reduce glare. These artificial lights supplement the natural daylight to maintain about 50 footcandles at the playing surface. Two light sensors mounted on the skylights detect the amount of natural light available and dim the electric lights accordingly. In one section of the field house, additional lights are used only for softball practice and batting cages. These lights are controlled from a separate switch. They can be used only when needed. A computer model estimates lighting controls alone will cut electricity use up to 30 percent. Keeping CoolIn addition to slashing electricity use, more efficient lighting systems generate less heat and reduce cooling needs. Lower cooling needs translate into smaller cooling equipment and cost savings. The large field house isn't cooled with compressors or chillers like a typical commercial building. First, R-19 insulation in the roof and the insulated Kalwall panels block a considerable amount of heat gain. Second, six large fans at one end of the building extract hot air, while an inlet louvre assembly at the other end allows outside air in. This "ventilation cooling" is especially appropriate for western Oregon where hot summer days are often followed by cool nights. Operating the fans at night cools the building in preparation for the next hot day. "Go Team"The design team for the Moshofsky Center included WBGS Architects, Hatten/Johnson Associates, Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers, the UO Energy Studies in Buildings Lab and the Oregon Office of Energy. EWEB's Energy Smart Design program also made a significant contribution. In addition to recognizing the project, the program provides technical and financial assistance to take energy performance to a higher level. Energy Smart Design also distributes information about projects. This teamwork paid off for athletes, staff and fans who now enjoy more comfort. And tailgaters can now have fun--and get out of the weather--on game day.
This article originally appeared in Efficiency By Design, Fall 1998
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