Photovoltaic Canopy

To achieve Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification, The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design must function at net positive energy – meaning it must harvest more energy (in this case via photovoltaic panels) than it consumes. Like all living things, The Kendeda Building will need to “sleep” in order to restore its energy reserves. Currently, the plans are to make the building available for occupancy a total of 16 hours a day with variable access after 5 p.m. 

Based upon this rate of occupancy and a variety of interconnected variables, the building’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is expected to be 34, which is 66 percent more efficient that your average building of the same size and occupancy. While this certainly helps contribute to the net positive energy goals for the building, any variation that impacts the intake or output of energy will alter the building’s performance.       

The solar array capacity on the Living Building at Georgia Tech will need to produce 367,000 kWh (approximately) based on the targeted 34 EUI.