New Zero Energy Office Building

A Schnecksville, Pennsylvania apple orchard is now home to the first energy positive building in the Lehigh Valley. This unique, sustainable office building is located in an industrial region generally known for steel production.  Designed for the Sustainable Energy Fund, the building is expected to refocus the spotlight on the central and eastern Pennsylvania community seeking to complete new projects with innovative, energy-conscious construction. With its cold winters and hot summers, the Lehigh Valley is a great proving ground to demonstrate the potential of energy-efficient building.

“This project provides a blueprint for achieving net-positive energy within the financial structure of a speculative building,” said Andrew Schuster, Principal of Ashley McGraw. “We were excited to collaborate with a client like SEF who set this bold goal and shares our commitment to regenerative design and the proven value it offers to all stakeholders.” 

The new Net Zero Energy office building was designed and built to demonstrate that a Net Zero Energy approach can be used for a leasable office building for a similar development cost to comparable office buildings.

The building envelope is designed for high performance, with continuous insulation and airtight construction to minimize energy use and maximize the comfort of those using the space, including the Schnecksville branch of the Sustainable Energy Fund will operate out of the office space.