Ferreira Construction's Net Zero Headquarters, Branchburg, New Jersey

2007

Nov

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The 42,000 square foot corporate headquarters of Ferreira Construction in Branchburg, New Jersey is the first net zero commercial building in the United States, receiving the 2007 New Jersey Clean Energy Leadership Award for Market Innovator during a visit from Governor Corzine last week. A roof-mounted, 223 kW photovoltaic system allows the building to completely generate its own electricity, as well as feed power back into the grid. The system is monitored continuously by software from Live Data Systems, which provides real-time feedback regarding electrical use in order to optimize the building’s energy performance. Other green features include a solar domestic hot water system, radiant floor heating, efficient boilers, and a variety of building control and monitoring systems that assist personnel in optimizing performance. The building, which is a retrofitted existing office building, opened back in May of 2006.

Corzine toured the facility last week after returning from a trip to Portugal where he met with a number of world leaders regarding climate change policy and signed a cooperative agreement regarding greenhouse gas reduction. Incentives for the project were provided by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“BPU”) and New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, which provides $180 million in annual incentives to residential, commercial, and municipal applicants throughout the Garden State. During his visit, the Governor, along with BPU President Jeanne M. Fox, presented Ferriera with the Market Innovator honor. The clean energy technologies cost the company approximately $2.5 million to implement, but the price tag was partially offset by grants from BPU and the Clean Energy Program. Ferriera expects the pay-off period for the building’s green features to be between five and seven years, lower than initially expected because of both rising energy costs and constant refinements to the performance monitoring system.