Challenge: Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
Residents of this stunning modern tower, The Montage, enjoy expansive views of downtown Reno and the mountains beyond. In 2009, the building was converted from a hotel/casino into a condominium complex with modern and sustainable systems for water and energy efficiency, resource conservation, and indoor environmental quality. It is considered the largest adaptive reuse project in the United States. During the remodel, banks of floor-to-ceiling windows with double-pane glass were added to create an open and inviting floor plan.
Residents concerned with their energy use, however, found it impossible to calculate their energy consumption and efficiency because utilities were bundled into a set monthly cost. To measure this, we used AERC (Attachment Energy Rating Council) simulation data which allowed us to calculate how much solar heat gain (SCGC) could be reduced, winter insulation value (U-factor) increased, and the amount of light transmitted (VT).
One obvious challenge for us was to modify the wide temperature fluctuations magnified by the large use of glass, especially when Reno’s elevation intensifies solar radiation.