Carroll Center

Carroll Center. Featuring a Passive House Design. , Energy Efficient from the Ground Up , The Carroll Center Expansion Project was constructed using Passive House Design Principles for exceptional energy efficiency. The project includes super-insulated walls (R41), roof (R53) and foundation to create a tight building envelope. Triple-glazed windows (R41) let in plenty of light but keep out the cold and wind. Unique to Passive House construction is the continuous air barrier that keeps air from entering the building through the walls, floor or roofing. Because these structural improvements are built-in, heating and cooling needs are minimal, and nearly all of the energy needed is supplied on site with the solar panel array. , , Capturing Energy from the Sun , Rays of sunlight (photons) hit the solar panels and cause a reaction that produces a direct current (DC) of electricity. The DC is converted into alternating current (AC) that can be safely used inside the building to power the lights, outlets and heat pump. All excess power generated is returned to the power grid. The roof houses 77, 315-watt solar panels that generate 32,800 kilowatts of clean energy per year. , , Electrical Load Monitoring , The building has four separate meters to collect the electrical load data for park lighting, interior lighting, Heating Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and plug/outlet loads. This data is used to consistently monitor energy usage and quickly pinpoint any load changes to a specific area. Understanding where your electric power is used will help you focus on areas to save energy. , , Heritage Oak Tree Lives On , A Heritage Oak Tree, which existed around the time the first settlers came to Oak Park died of old age. Acorns from this grand tree are being planted and grown to carry on Oak Park's history while the tree was milled and used for some of the interior trim you see inside the building. , , Rain Garden , A rain garden is a man-made shallow basin that captures the rainfall and water runoff from surrounding areas. The porous soil absorbs the water and allows it to slowly percolate through the layers of earth. Deep-rooted native plants absorb water and filter out pollutants allowing clean water to enter the local waterways. , , Geothermal: Using the Earth to Heat and Cool , This system uses the earth's constant temperature of 55 degrees year-round to provide heating and cooling instead of using gas or coal for energy. Six closed-loop geothermal wells, located on the north side of the original building, each reach a depth of 460 feet below the ground. The continuous piping loops are filled with an anti-freeze like liquid that helps transfer the ground temperature to the geothermal heat pump. The heat pump is powered by electricity harnessed from the solar panels on the roof making this a completely net-zero system.