{"id":1004472616,"date":"2020-08-23T16:04:38","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T00:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004472616"},"modified":"2020-08-25T07:15:20","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T15:15:20","slug":"passive-house-standards-energize-illinois-recreation-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/passive-house-standards-energize-illinois-recreation-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Passive House Standards Energize Illinois Recreation Center"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Prairie Activity and Recreation Center (PARC) in Plainfield, IL is the newest addition to the Bott Park complex and is projected to be the first building of its kind in the U.S. to earn the Passive House Institute US PHIUS+ Source Zero certification. Image courtesy of Wight & Co.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Keeping score has a new meaning at the Prairie Activity and Recreation Center (PARC) in Plainfield, Ill. When visitors come and go through the front entrance of the facility completed in December 2018, an interactive feature displays  building energy use and solar energy production<\/a> information. The data is impressive and the interactive feature is a sign of these energy-conscious times.<\/p>\n

The two-story, 37,000-square-foot PARC building is the newest addition to the Bott Park complex of ball fields, soccer fields and playgrounds. The facility features a 4,000-square-foot fitness center and studio with a full-size basketball court, an elevated 10-lap walking track, a 1,600-square-foot multi-purpose room for classes and special events and a preschool suite.<\/p>\n

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READ ALSO:<\/strong> Top 10 LEED-Certified Buildings in Illinois in 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

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PARC is the first building of its kind in the U.S. to earn the rigorous Passive House Institute US PHIUS+ Source Zero certification. Buildings that meet the PHIUS+ standard use 40 to 60 percent less energy for space conditioning than conventional buildings. PHIUS+ buildings are said to provide superior indoor air quality, resilience during power outages<\/a> and an extremely quiet, comfortable indoor environment.<\/p>\n

Also designed to net-zero specifications, PARC boasts a 28,600-square-foot solar array and a highly insulating building envelope that helps it achieve 65 percent more energy efficiency than a conventional commercial building of the same size in a similar climate.<\/p>\n

Practicing Environmental Stewardship<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For many years, the Plainfield Park District had held its indoor recreation activities in local schools and had leased a vacant bank for its preschool and day care programs. In order to bring all its programs together under one roof, the Park District commissioned Chicago-based Wight & Co. to design and construct a new recreation center.<\/p>\n

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Visitors are able to see and keep track of the building\u2019s impressive energy use and solar energy production information whenever they pass through the lobby. Image courtesy of Wight & Co.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

According to Carlo J. Capalbo, executive director of Plainfield Park District, the district\u2019s Board of Commissioners were looking for the upcoming Prairie Activity & Recreation Center to make a sustainable commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough our architecture team it was brought forward to the District the opportunity for a Net Zero grant through the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation that held a requirement to obtain a Passive House Certification,\u201d<\/em> Capalbo said. \u201cThe design team in cooperation with the District team determined that Passive House fit the project scope and was attainable to meet the requirements of the grant,\u201d<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n

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READ ALSO:<\/strong> Green Building Gains Territory<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Passive House Institute, an organization committed to making high-performance passive building the mainstream standard, is spreading the word that its principles can be applied to all building typologies. That includes multifamily apartment buildings, office towers, single-family homes and recreation facilities. Using a set of guidelines meant \u201cto attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency within a specific quantifiable comfort level,\u201d<\/em> PHIUS\u2019 goal is to make sure that passive buildings are designed and constructed following these design principles:<\/p>\n