Power and thermal management company Delta has opened a new headquarters designed to meet LEED Platinum and net zero standards. The 180,000-sq-ft facility in Fremont, CA, incorporates many of Delta’s own technologies to achieve the level of sustainability.

Through Delta’s Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power system, over 1,000 MWh of electricity is expected to be generated per year. Additionally, the new Delta Americas headquarters boasts a geothermal heating and cooling system that reduces HVAC energy consumption by 60% compared to traditional systems.

“Since 2005, all of Delta’s new buildings around the world have been built to sustainable standards. In the past 10 years, we have commissioned the construction and renovation of 21 green buildings and will share our experiences with international audience in December, at this year’s Conference of Parties, more commonly referenced to as the COP21,” said Bruce Cheng, Delta's founder and honorary chairman. “This aligns with the company’s mission to provide innovative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow.”

The geothermal heating and cooling system significantly reduces the building’s energy requirements, allowing it to rely on renewable energy produced onsite. To meet net zero criteria, the building is powered by a 616kW solar system using Delta’s own solar inverters that have an energy conversion efficiency of up to 98.5% and is expected to generate over 1,000 MWh of electricity per year.

The geothermal system also uses a ground source heat pump connected to a loop field of pipes located up to 30 ft underground. The pipes cover an area greater than five football playing fields. Heat is transferred to or from the ground to boost efficiency and achieve the 60% reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional HVAC systems. The ground source heat pump loops into the building’s bi-directional radiant floor and ceiling tubes embedded in the concrete slabs. In total, there is more than 92 miles of pipe circulating 12,000 gallons of water.

The building was designed by J.J. Pan & Associates and constructed by Vance Brown general contractors.

“Every new Delta building is a green building. We maintain an internal directive to only abide by the latest green standards, and with the new Fremont headquarters, our goal is to be net zero,” said M.S. Huang, president of Delta Americas. “We’ve incorporated our most innovative products to ensure that the Delta Americas headquarters becomes a model of green building and also a showcase for Delta’s solutions.”