Pro Tour: Electrified Town Garage in Montpelier, VT
Monpelier, VT
United States
AIA (pending)
Join NESEA for a Pro Tour where we will learn about Montpelier Vermont's decision and process to electrify its new city garage, which could be a replicable solution for other towns in the Northeast. This is the first building of its kind that NESEA has featured in our Pro Tour program.
Our day will start with an opening presentation from our hosting team, including municipal representatives. As part of the opening presentation, attendees will learn the details of the life cycle cost analysis that revealed that the electric design had virtually the same 30-year life cycle cost as the lowest efficiency high carbon building, an analysis that enabled the Town to select the better option. This is a highly replicable project, as it uses current technologies and construction methods to achieve low operating costs. There are many of these garages being built throughout the region and the City and the project team hopes this project can serve as an example for others.
After the opening presentation, attendees will then break into small groups to tour the facility while hearing more from the interdisciplinary team of experts who made the building possible. After the tour, we’ll regroup for a reception and Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to chat with the day’s speakers and each other. We hope to see you there!
Additional Information
Energy Use
50 kW roof mounted PV array is expected to offset annual usage. Conduit installed to outdoor location for future batteries. 22,000 gallon thermal storage for peak demand reduction. 4 staged 5 ton ground source heat pumps, extracting heat from open loop 75 gpm well, with return water to a separate well. Wells pump speed modulated based on difference between supply and return well water. High efficiency pumping on all pumps, with flow rates set for maximum efficiency. Unique use of sprinkler storage tanks for thermal storage for peak electric demand reduction. Air source heat pump for office area, with 'outdoor' unit located to extract heat from/reject summer heat to the 8000 sq.ft. garage. LED lighting with controls. EV car charging on separate meter to avoid added peak demand charges. Electrical entrance sized for future electric highway equipment. demand controlled ventilation is heated by directing outdoor air over the heated slab. Ventilation is not expected to run enough hours to justify energy recovery.
Special Architectural Measures and Materials
Wood framing (some steel beams/columns), wood fiber insulation in the walls, graphite impregnated EPS SIPs panels on the roof, some low carbon concrete with low emission cement substitutes, excellent thermal breaks, high efficiency overhead doors, fiberglass frame tripane R-5 windows, vented metal cladding.
Tentative Schedule
| 12:30 PM | Doors open, registration, networking and coffee |
| 1:00 PM | Welcome by NESEA |
| 1:10 PM | Overview of the project by the host |
| 2:00 PM | Tour of project begins; attendees rotate through content-specific stations |
| 3:45 PM | Group reconvenes and travels back to initial meeting point |
| 4:00 PM | Reception with light refreshments |
| 4:15 PM | Q&A panel with members of project team |
| 5:00 PM | Event concludes |
If you have questions about this event, you can contact us via protours@nesea.org. Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here.