Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center Field Trip Report
Spring 2023 ARC 310 Construction Design
Bryan Cox
Professor LoPiccolo
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Index
Building Information
Additional Facts
History
Net- Zero Building
Embodied Energy 2
and 9. Building Materials
Biomimicry
Shinnecock
and 13. Geothermal
Reflection
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Indian Nation 12
Systems 14.
Building Information
Name: Jones Beach Energy And Nature Center
Building style: Modern/Contemporary
Architect: nArchitects
Location: Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, NY
Building Completion: 2020
Area sqft: 12,000
Building Cost: $25 Million
Cost per sqft: $2,182
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Facts on Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center
1. Large windows reduce the amount of electricity needed for lighting, and thick glass helps keep the temperature inside stable.
2. The roof of the center’s building is attached with 240 photovoltaic panels
3. At the Center, a 6,000-square-foot landscape of native plants filters stormwater and encourages the resiliency of local pollinator populations.
4. The windows has white dots scattered on it’s panes to ensure that birds won’t fly into them
5. A large battery stores extra electricity produced by the solar panels, providing power at night or during storms.
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History on Jones Beach
Jones Beach National Park was once a barrier island, but in the 1920s, Robert Moses undertook the ambitious task of transforming it into the biggest national park of its time. The initial step in the development of Jones Beach involved dredging sand from the ocean floor off the shore of the island, which served as the foundation for the park. With time, this process resulted in the creation of more and more dry land, extending the size of the beaches.
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Net-Zero Buildings
nArchitects designed The Center with net-zero principles in mind, which implies that it has the capability to generate as much energy as it consumes. The building's energy consumption is significantly reduced by utilizing energy-efficient and recycled materials, while its energy needs are met through the use of on-site renewable energy generation.
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Embodied Energy
The process of constructing buildings requires a substantial amount of energy. The total embodied energy of a building is ordered accordingly, raw material is extracted, it is then transported and processed into building materials. The building materials are then transported back to the building site and the cycle continues.
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Building Materials
Cradle-to-grave refers to the entire life cycle of a product, including the extraction of raw materials, the manufacturing process, transportation, use, and disposal. In this linear model, products are typically designed to be used for a limited time before being discarded, and end-of-life disposal is often landfill or incineration
An example of a cradle-to-grave building material is vinyl siding. It is made from PVC, which is made from fossil fuels and requires a large amount of energy to make. It is also not biodegradable, meaning it will stay for hundreds of years after being discarded.
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Cradle-to-cradle is a circular model of production and consumption that aims to eliminate waste and pollution by designing products with end-of-life scenarios in mind. Products are designed to be either recycled or safely biodegraded at the end of their useful life, and the materials can be used to create new products.
An example of a cradle-to-cradle building material is recycled steel. Steel is a highly durable and recyclable material that can be used in a many designs, from structural framing to roofing. When steel is recycled, it is melted down and used to create new steel products, thus reducing the need for new raw materials and decreasing energy consumption in the manufacturing process.
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Biomimicry
Biomimicry refers to the process of drawing inspiration from nature to create innovative solutions. By examining how nature addresses problems and obstacles, designers can replicate these processes and develop "life-friendly" solutions. One example of this is the pillars found on moth's eyes, which serve as an anti-reflective device, allowing for the absorption of light. Designers have replicated this feature on thin films utilized on solar panels, enabling them to absorb more light and reflect less.
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Shinnecock Indian Nation
The Shinnecock Indian Nation has lived along the coastlines of Long Island for thousands of years, and they have developed unique ways of strengthening their communities and infrastructure against the storms that regularly affect the region.The Shinnecock Indian Nation has lived along the coastlines of Long Island for thousands of years, and they have developed unique ways of strengthening their communities and infrastructure against the storms that regularly affect the region. The tribe's traditional knowledge of the local ecosystem, combined with modern engineering techniques, has enabled them to create more resilient coastal communities.One way the Shinnecock Indian Nation has made their coastlines stronger for storms is by using natural materials to create barriers that protect against storm surges and erosion. For example, the tribe has created sand dunes along their beaches by planting native grasses and shrubs. These dunes can absorb the impact of waves and provide a natural barrier against storm surges. Overall, the Shinnecock Indian Nation's management of their coastal resources is an excellent example of sustainable and responsible stewardship of the environment. Their techniques have been developed over centuries and are based on a deep understanding of the local ecosystem and the tribe's relationship with the ocean.
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Geothermal Systems
Geothermal systems work by harnessing the heat energy stored in the earth's crust to provide heating and cooling for buildings. Geothermal systems utilize a closed-loop of pipes that are buried deep underground, which circulate a fluid that absorbs the heat from the ground. The fluid is then pumped to a heat pump, where the heat is transferred to the building's heating or cooling system. On Long Island, the uniform underground temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year, ranging from 55°F to 65°F.
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There are two types of geothermal systems: closed-loop and open-loop systems. Closed-loop systems circulate a fluid through a series of underground pipes, while open-loop systems extract groundwater from a well and circulate it through the system. The advantages of geothermal systems include their high efficiency, lower energy costs, and reduced carbon footprint. However, their installation costs can be high, and they may require a large amount of space for installation. Additionally, the effectiveness of geothermal systems can be affected by soil conditions, and they require skilled professionals for installation and maintenance.
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Reflection
The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center is an amazing place that displays sustainable design and environmental education. The net-zero design of the center makes it a powerful example of how buildings can function without relying on non-renewable energy sources. The center's focus on education and sustainable practices is crucial in raising awareness and encouraging visitors to adopt sustainable lifestyles. The center's incorporation of biomimicry in its design shows the potential of learning from nature to create solutions that will benefit both humans and the environment. In summary, the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center represent an important achievement in the growth of sustainability, illustrating how we can build and live in harmony with nature while creating a better future for generations to come.
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