The first state-owned Zero Net Energy Building (ZNEB), a health and student services building at North Shore Community College in Danvers, has opened.

The 58,000-square-foot, three-story building provides new classrooms, labs and offices for the campus. A building is classified as a ZNEB if over the course of a year the building will produce as much energy onsite as it consumes, according to a statement.

The building includes geothermal wells for heating and cooling, chilled beams and energy recovery ventilation, roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, high-performing HVAC systems, natural day lighting and controls that adjust lights based on daylight. The building is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification. The architectural firm of DiMella Shaffer designed the building and selected Norwood’s GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. for the geothermal design. Walsh Brothers Inc. served as contractor on the project.

"We are pleased to celebrate this important milestone with the opening of this new green facility" said William R. Beloff, president and CEO of GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc. "It is rewarding to participate in energy efficient projects that will serve as a model for future sustainable facilities."

The efficiency of this building promises to save the commonwealth several million dollars in reduced energy costs over the next 20 years while preventing several thousand metric tons of carbon emissions over the same time period.