Most buildings are in the shape of a rectangle or square. But can you think of one that’s in the shape of the letter “L”? This is the exact shape of the EPA building. In fact, we have two “L”s, which makes it easier to “harvest” (or use) daylight and conserve energy.
5th Floor Terrace
EPA Region 8 Headquarters
Here’s how:
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One “L” of the building gets a lot of daylight and warmth.
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The other “L” bears the cold winds.
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If it’s feeling too warm in one “L” but okay in the other “L”, we can adjust the temperature correctly in each “L”.
This way, we don’t waste energy cooling the whole building when only a small section of it feels uncomfortable.
Other energy-efficient building designs include:
- A center atrium, nine stories high, which brings natural light deep into the building
- Vertical “fins”, like the fins of a fish, reduce glare from the sun
- Horizontal light shelves help push daylight into office spaces