Village of McFarland Public Safety Center

The Village leads the way by building what it believed to be the first Public Safety Center in the State of Wisconsin using a net zero energy design. "Net zero" means that renewable energy created on site is greater than energy consumption, annualized.

Project Details

Location: 6001 Broadhead St., McFarland, WI

Building Type: Public Safety Center

Building Size: 57,375 sq. ft.

Architects: Bray Architects

Construction: JP Cullen of Janesville, WI

Sustainability

Subcontractor: HGA

Building Certifications: 2021 Climate Champion (3 Star/Other)

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2023

Commitment Matters!

Although the project bid was $2 million over budget, the Village Board voted in 8/21 to maintain their commitment to this net zero building, anticipating its low energy costs for decades.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act legislation passed in 8/22, the Village anticipates a much shorter return on investment than planned.

Anticipated savings are 40% less than the cost of a traditional building of comparable size and function. This cost is due to grid connection charges.

Key Sustainability Features

Photovoltaic solar system

Geothermal watersourced heating and cooling system

Radiant garage floor heated by geothermal system

Additional Sustainability Features

Improved building envelope insulation

Battery-ready

Geothermal Energy System

The geothermal borefield will be a group of roughly 50 bores buried 400 ft. beneath the parking lot.

What Is Geothermal?

Geothermal energy systems exchange heat between the building and the ground, which is at a constant temperature. This significantly reduces carbon emissions because it is more efficient to transfer heat from the ground than to burn fossil fuels.