| A Model of Energy Efficiency The MMWEC Administrative Office Building (AOB) is located at the end of Moody Street on the former Westover Air Force Base Strategic Air Command site. MMWEC purchased the site when it was declared surplus property by the federal government in the mid-1970s. Built in 1980, by Edward O’Leary Company of Southampton, the AOB is home to approximately 60 administrative and support staff. In addition to the AOB, the site is home to MMWEC’s Stony Brook power plant where 32 additional employees handle plant operations. |
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The building features over 40,000 square feet of office area which includes private offices, cubicle space, and a large cafeteria / meeting area. The building was renovated in 2003 and division areas were reorganized to make better use of the building space. New carpets, wallpaper, paint, and decorations now grace the building interior. |
Understanding the importance of energy-efficiency, conservation, and natural lighting were key factors in building the AOB. The building is constructed of pre-cast panels and a well-insulated roof and concrete walls assure little escape of heat during the cold winters in Massachusetts. Five-foot earth berms were used around the base of the building for additional insulation. |
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| The AOB heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system uses waste heat from the Stony Brook Intermediate Unit to warm the building during the winter. Water from the unit passes through the steam turbine condenser at the Stony Brook Power Plant where some of the water is circulated to the AOB. At the AOB, a water-source chiller/heat pump and high temperature heat pump extract heat from the water and boost the temperature needed to heat the building. Water from the top of the plant’s 11 million gallon storage tank is used when the unit is not running. During the summer months, cold water from the bottom of the storage tank passes through the chiller/heat pump to air condition the building. In addition, solar collectors on the AOB roof are used to pre-heat the water in the building. | |
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At the MMWEC AOB, energy conservation is a priority. New computer controls were installed in the building in the mid-1990s with auto controls that regulate the heating and cooling system to shut-off at 5 p.m. The system monitors the inside and outside temperatures to regulate the air in the building. Due to the high energy-efficiency of the lighting and system changes to the heating and cooling system, the company saves approximately $10,000 per year. |