The Business

Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) is one of the fastest growing credit unions in the nation. Based in Chubbuck, Idaho, ICCU is also the largest credit union in the state, focusing services in the southern area of the state.

The Challenge

ICCU quickly outgrew its corporate office. After experiencing explosive membership growth of 10 to 20 percent per year for a decade, ICCU decided to construct a 69,000 square foot energy efficient building.

The Solution

ICCU architects, engineers and builders worked closely with Idaho Power’s Building Efficiency program and the Integrated Design Lab (IDL) based in Boise. Representatives from the three organizations explored options for maximizing energy savings and cost effectiveness.

The Outcome

“I think the greatest benefit of this new building project will be seen in the productivity of our employees. They are happy, better served and have a greater sense of control over their environment,” said Woolstenhulme.

The new ICCU building incorporates numerous energy efficient features recommended by the Building Efficiency program. High-performance windows decrease heat gain in the summer. Occupancy sensors control lighting in low-use areas, such as janitorial closets, storage rooms and restrooms. Two-thirds of the roof is composed of a white, reflective material that reduces the building’s heat gain in the summer. High efficiency air conditioning units use less energy than standard units. Variable speed drives on heating and cooling system fans allow motors to vary their load, rather than running at full-speed when activated.

Automatic digital control systems manage the building’s lighting and HVAC, resulting in energy savings. Sensors around the building’s perimeter determine how much natural light is present in each space, adjusting artificial lighting as needed. Heating and cooling are monitored and controlled at each grouping of desks based on occupancy schedules and local environmental conditions. Carbon dioxide sensors control the amount of outside air brought in through the ventilation system based on occupancy, rather than on building code minimums, thereby decreasing the amount of air to be conditioned.

Specific recommendations from the IDL contributed to the new building’s efficiency and decreased capital costs by reducing the size of air conditioning units installed. ICCU also implemented additional IDL considerations, such as positioning the building for maximizing harvest of natural light, thereby minimizing heat gain in the summer and lessening heat loss in the winter. Installation of exterior light shades decrease the amount of summer sunlight entering the building, thus keeping the building cooler. The use of interior light shelves reflects incoming sunlight upward, off the ceiling.