Radiant Floor Heating
Warm air rises. A traditional
forced-air heating system for the 35-foot-high public spaces in the
museum would be wasteful in the extreme. Instead, the Academy is
installing a radiant heating system in the museum’s floors. Tubes
embedded in the concrete floor will carry hot water that warms the
floor. The proximity of the heat to the people who need it will reduce
the building’s energy need by an estimated 10% annually.
Denim Insulation
Insulation
also keeps buildings warm. The Academy, rather than using typical
fiberglass or foam-based insulation, chose to use a type of thick
cotton batting made from recycled blue jeans. This material provides an
organic alternative to formaldehyde-laden insulation materials.
Recycled denim insulation holds more heat and absorbs sound better than
spun fiberglass insulation. It is also safer to handle. Even when denim
insulation is treated with fire retardants and fungicides to prevent
mildew, it is still easier to work with and doesn't require installers
to wear protective clothing or respirators.
Natural Lighting
The
expansive, floor-to-ceiling walls of glass will enable 90% of the
building's interior offices to use lighting from natural sources.
The
glass used in these perimeter walls surrounding the public floor were
specially constructed with low-iron content. This feature removes a
common green tint, providing exceptional clarity. From almost any point
inside the museum, visitors will be able to see the park outside in all
its seasonal colors.
The building will also feature
operable office windows that employees can open and close as needed. On
the main guest floor, an automated ventilation system takes advantage
of the natural air currents of Golden Gate Park to regulate the
temperature of the building. Throughout the day and night, louvers will
open and close, providing fresh air and cooling the building thereby
reducing the dependence on traditional HVAC systems and chemical
coolants.
Skylights, providing natural light to the
rainforest and aquarium, are designed to open and close automatically.
As hot air rises throughout the day, the skylights will open to allow
hot air out from the top of the Academy while louvers below draw in
cool air to the lower floors without the need for huge fans or chemical
coolants.
