Studio G’s Managing Principal, Gail Sullivan, recently escaped the harsh Boston winter for a trip to San Francisco where she participated in a tour of the Packard Foundation headquarters led by the Living Future Institute. This innovative LEED® Platinum building was designed to consciously reflect the values of the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and is now the largest Net Zero Energy certified building in the world, producing more power than it consumes each year. Our Studio G team is always on the hunt for cutting-edge sustainable design practices, materials, certifications and technologies – and the Packard Foundation building was a gold (green?) mine of inspiration!

Here are a few facts about this amazing building:

Net Zero Energy

Offset 100% of building’s energy needs by:

• Electricity production via  915 rooftop solar panels
• Effective use of daylight to supplement artificial lighting
• Efficient heating and cooling using innovative chilled beam technology

Water Conservation

Reduce water consumption by 40% through:

• Storing up to 20,000 gallons of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing
• Use living green roof and rooftop gutters to assist with rainwater collection
• Irrigate only when and where needed using drip irrigation and smart controls

Materials and Waste

Reduce water consumption by 40% through:

• Storing up to 20,000 gallons of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing
• Use living green roof and rooftop gutters to assist with rainwater collection
• Irrigate only when and where needed using drip irrigation and smart controls

Ecosystem Impact

Care for local ecosystems by:

• Using 90% California native plants in our landscape to eliminate pesticides needed by foreign plants – See plant list
• Plantings provide familiar food and shelter for local birds and insects and attract native pollinators
• Using rain gardens and permeable paving to reduce runoff and filter pollutants

To learn more, please visit:

http://www.packard.org/about-the-foundation/our-green-headquarters/