Closed Loops

Energy Saving Building Concept

This project aims to address the high energy demands of data centers and wood-drying kilns. Data centers currently account for 2% of electricity consumption in the U.S., with this figure rising to 20% in certain regions. Meanwhile, kiln drying is responsible for approximately 60% of the energy used in timber production. By integrating a data center with a wood kiln, the waste heat and steam generated can be repurposed, resulting in significant reductions in both energy consumption and material use.

JURY STATEMENT

This project stood out for its intelligent circular use of energy; it links two energy-intensive facilities – data centers and wood-drying kilns – to recover and reuse waste heat. By turning energy losses into productive resources, it demonstrates a systemic approach to reducing waste and improving efficiency.

UNIVERSITY

University of California

Berkeley, US

DESIGN

Nadya Mikhaylovskaya

University of California