Research facility upgrades efficiency with geothermal, modular chillers
The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, a non‐profit, biomedical research facility based in Novato, CA, is the nation’s first independent research facility focused solely on understanding the connection between aging and chronic disease. In spring 2010, the Buck Institute began construction of a 60,000-sq-ft building addition to expand its current 185,000-sq-ft research campus. Looking to identify a solution that could provide the necessary additional HVAC capacity for the expansion, the Buck Institute was driven to identify a mechanical system capacity that would optimize energy efficiency while minimizing overall consumption.
“As a non‐profit entity working toward notable advancements in aging medicine, we want to keep our operational costs down so we are able to focus funding on actual scientific research,” said Ralph O’Rear, vice president of facilities and planning at the Buck Institute.