Big Ass Fans new test facility is LEED Gold certified.

This month’s Bluegrass ASHRAE Chapter meeting will highlight Big Ass Fans, recipient of the chapter’s technology award for our LEED Gold Research and Development facility. LEED is the USGBC’s premier rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient buildings. At the Research and Development facility, we are able to conduct research in order to offer our customers the newest most cutting edge fan innovations.

The modern, sophisticated facility demonstrates Big Ass Fans’ commitment to sustainable practices. It was successfully designed using 35 percent less energy and 58 percent less water than a building meeting the minimum code requirements. By employing an innovative design practice during construction, nine percent fewer construction materials were used and 51 percent less landfill waste was generated than typical construction projects.

For more information about the January Bluegrass ASHRAE Chapter meeting, visit their website. Also, take our virtual tour of this facility and learn about Big Ass Fans’ efforts to earn LEED Gold certification. Read more about this award and our Test Facility.

LEED® certification, while a nerve-racking feat for some, is an engaging challenge for many. Numerous colleges and universities around the country seem to embrace this challenge and do so with the same fervor they reserve for their beloved sports teams. Take Arizona State University, in Tempe, Ariz., for example: Their Biodesign Institute is the first site in the state to receive LEED platinum certification, a facility manager’s feat akin to winning the BCS championship.

Numerous other buildings around campus are registered with the goal of LEED certification with such innovative features including recycled content and low-VOC finishes on building surfaces, harvesting condensation from conditioning units for irrigation, occupancy sensors to control electric lighting, and building mechanical systems featuring variable speed drives and high-efficiency motors similar to the Big Ass Fans installed in the campus’ Interdisciplinary Science and Technology II Building. All of these attributes certainly keep ASU on course for becoming a role model for solar generated and environmentally friendly construction, satisfying numerous credits in the LEED world.

Utilizing the ever-present sun, the Biodesign Institute has almost as many solar panels as Vegas has lights. Maybe that’s an exaggeration but their plan is to cover over 1,000,000 sq. ft. with solar cells on various rooftops and parking structures around the campus, and they’re well on their way. According to Mike McLeod, the Biodesign Institute’s Facility Manager, within 10 years the state of Arizona could be able to generate 150% of their electric needs allowing them to transport the remaining 50% to other states, like their brightly lit neighbor to the north. With 330 days of sun each year, it makes sense. The 9 megawatts of solar power they currently generate is equivalent to saving 15,000 tons of carbon annually…let it shine let it shine let it shine.

Big Ass Fans tend to be silverish in color, considering our patented airfoils are crafted with a shiny extruded aluminum. However, we feel green and gold suit us just as well. Earlier this year, work was completed on our new R&D building, receiving LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) upon completion. Using our fans, coupled with our commitment to sustainable practices, we have designed a modern, sophisticated facility that uses 35 percent less energy and 58 percent less water. By employing sustainable LEED practices during construction, 9 percent less construction materials were used and 51 percent less landfill waste was generated, not to mention – we’re guessing here – many millions of brain cells to design and construct. This 45,000 sq. ft. space, divided into 3 unique areas, earned 41 LEED points (a minimum of 39 are required for gold status) allowing us to optimize numerous energy saving elements contributing greatly to our ongoing conservation efforts.

Being fan experts – with brain cells left to spare – we conduct everything from fan performance testing, air velocity profiles, fatigue testing of fan assemblies and components, as well as the development of prototypes for future cutting-edge fan innovations. Heavy curtains separate the 41,000 sq. ft., 60-ft. high test facility into four quadrants or the space can simply be opened up allowing for the creation of mock-environments used to determine optimal fan sizing and placement for the most demanding applications.

Big Ass Fans new test facility is LEED Gold certified.

Between the highly reflective roof and low VOC flooring, the office and workshop areas utilize an innovative air distribution system which includes two 12-ft. Big Ass Fans, reducing the need for extensive ductwork from the HVAC unit. This allows for an increase in the thermostat setpoint resulting in a decrease in energy usage and ensures proper air distribution throughout the space.

Despite our new, colorful appearance, it’s our continued dedication to testing and research which has secured our spot as the experts in the design and application of large diameter fans.

ABOUT LEED
The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction, and operations of high-performance green buildings. Visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s Web site at www.usgbc.org to learn more about how you can make LEED work for you.

Preston Koerner started the online magazine Jetson Green while pursuing his MBA at SMU back in 2006 and in three years it has developed into one of the best sources of information about interesting and innovative green builds around the nation.

As a LEED Accredited Professional, Koerner displays his passion for green construction with regular posts on Jetson Green with topics ranging from prefab homes to commercial buildings to eco-friendly products like Big Ass Fans (thanks for the shout out Preston and Co!) . The posts are both interesting and easy-to-read, useful for those within the industry as well as those who are simply curious to learn more about some of the most unique and sustainable builds happening right now.  We’re especially fond of the new cactus-inspired design for a new government building in Qatar.

The site also offers a lengthy and impressive green blogroll with a ton of great links to other blogs and sites.  Jetson Green is an incredible resource for those of us trying to keep tabs on LEED projects and other environmentally friendly construction and design news.

You may be wondering why a company that sells fans needs a blog. How much can there be to say about fans, right?

First and foremost, with Big Ass Fans popping up in the blogosphere more and more often these days, we thought it was about time to join in on the fun. In addition to giving you updates on what is going on with us, we also thought the blog would be a great place to showcase what is going on with our customers.

For example, did you know that we recently installed fans in the first-ever LEED Platinum-rated aviation hanger housed at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA? Or that fans at schools like the University of Texas and Georgia Tech will be cooler this season thanks to their new Big Ass Fans? These are only a couple of the great stories we’ve heard about in the past few months.

So we hopped on the blog bandwagon and are enjoying the ride. We want to get to know more about what you are doing with your Big Ass Fan and we also want to give you a glimpse behind the scenes of our company. There is always a ton of stuff going on here ranging from R & D on our latest product to our weekly Friday afternoon donkey fights.