The team presenting the Netzero Prison session (FA02) will present their research on moving towards netzero facilities. Erica Loynd took some time to answer a few questions leading up to the 2014 AAJ Conference in St. Louis:
Has the net zero prison been achieved?
There are facilities throughout the country that are striving for net zero goals but I am not sure if there is one that is 100% net zero at this time. I haven’t researched enough of the facilities to know. The team in our presentation has not created a 100% [netzero] facility and the case study is a research project on what it would take to make it net zero. All of the examples have features that are making the goal a closer reality.
What is the most challenging aspect of designing a net zero prison in your climate? (e.g. water, building envelope, mechanical system, lighting)
I believe one of the obstacles is creating a facility that can tackle all the objectives at the same time. The clients are willing to add aspects to their project, but can’t reach all of them at the same time throughout the entire campus. It is a lot of area with strict implications (security, up front costs, etc.) to make it all come together. Mechanical systems have the biggest impact in building efficiency, and is the most important to control. However, the system is very large and required to tie all the buildings together. Therefore, it has the biggest cost impact to the project. Additionally, if the system does not meet the expectations for comfort throughout the facility, it does not allow the building to operate which is inexcusable. Therefore, providing the newest innovations and technologies toward net zero faces the most resistance.
What would you describe as the key strategies for approaching a net zero prison in any climate?
No matter what climate you are in, the renewables that you provide must have the confidence that they can operate. The choice of using wind turbines or photovoltaics must be analyzed with the climate to ensure it is feasible. The facility in my case study is in Sherwood/Wilsonville, OR which is along the I-5 corridor close to the coast. Therefore, it is likely wind turbines would be more opportune that PV because the coast brings a lot of hazy/cloudy days, but is also very windy. The system we researched to be the best renewable for a prison is cogeneration. It is a closed system meaning you do not need sun or wind to activate it. It uses composting and waste products very common in prison environments to create anaerobic digestion, releasing methane. Additionally, it is a very clean process where the by-products are electricity and hot water, both continuously required to operate the prison.
What do you see as the biggest benefit to achieving netzero for prisons? Are they of benefit to the users as well as the operating agencies?
I advocate for net zero prisons because it will remove the tax burden of having a prison located in your community. We were provided the gas and electricity bills for the year 2011 of Coffee Creek Facility and it costs the tax payers $824,000 / year. Removing this cost means the facility can have more money for programs, maintenance, or staff. Additionally, many of the features that make a building more efficient also create a more comfortable environment inside the facility, which is good for the staff and prisoners.
Thank you Erica- I look forward to the panel discussion!