The Wisconsin Energy Institute's (WEI) research, education, and outreach aren’t the only things that demonstrate WEI's commitment to clean energy. From basement to rooftop, WEI's LEED Gold Certified building incorporates some of the most innovative and forward-thinking technologies of our time.
Opened in 2012, WEI’s 107,000 square foot building is designed to use 52% less energy than code minimum. Some of its features include:
- Five photovoltaic solar arrays on two different roof levels with the capability of producing 26 kilowatts of electricity feeding directly into WEI's grid;
- A Heat Recovery System including a glycol heat reclaim module and a 20-ton heat pump chiller system for recovering wasted building heat;
- Chilled beam technology for cooling office areas;
- High-density server cooling racks providing redundant power and cooling at every enclosure to maximize space and minimize energy use;
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures providing water savings of 33% compared to typical fixtures;
- Building design and orientation optimized for daylight, reducing electricity demand;
- Reclaimed and recycled wood, glass, steel, and carpet used throughout the building; and
- More than 35% of electricity provided by green power.
The building’s wet and dry laboratories also have a flexible, "plug and play" design allowing research teams to easily adapt or reconfigure their workspace for new projects or collaborations.
The recipient of a number of design awards – including the Wisconsin Green Building Association's Certificate of Merit for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency, and ENRMidwest's Award of Merit Safety/Higher Education – the WEI building is a testament to the power of reimagining energy use.
Interested in taking a tour? We’d love to welcome you.
Getting to WEI
By Car: The WEI building is close to the Engineering Drive Ramp (Lot 17), which often has open spaces. Lot 41, which is immediately adjacent to the WEI building is permit parking only, but free and open to the public after 4:30 PM on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Please refer to this campus parking map for more information.
By Bike: The WEI building is accessible by bike paths and city bike lanes and features ample bike racks. For more information on biking to campus, see here.
By Bus: The University and Breese Bus stop is located next to the WEI building and is serviced by route C. The Energy Institute is close to several other stops that service many other bus lines. For more information, see here.
If you're planning ahead or have additional questions, you can also contact Transportation Services. This office issues visitor permits for a variety of lots across campus.