This document discusses strategies for designing an environmentally sustainable tasting room building with a focus on passive house principles and the Living Building Challenge. It outlines an approach that minimizes energy loads through high insulation and air tightness, uses efficient mechanical systems, and aims to meet remaining energy needs through renewable sources. Key aspects include designing deep wall and roof assemblies, addressing thermal bridging and air leakage during construction, and selecting materials without red list chemicals and with low embodied carbon and responsible sourcing. The goals are to achieve major energy savings, health, comfort, durability and resiliency through this design approach and material selection process.

1. Integrating Beauty, High Performance and Red List Free Materials
Cowhorn Vineyard + Garden Tasting Room

2. COWHORN VINEYARD + GARDEN

3. DESIGN

4. DESIGN

5. DESIGN

6. DESIGN

7. SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
Path to
Net Zero

8. PASSIVHAUS APPROACH
Passivhaus as a Path to Net Zero

9. 1. Minimize Loads
• Insulation & Airtightness
• Heat-Recovery Ventilation
• Exterior Shading
2. Simple, Efficient Systems
• Minimized Loads allow Simple, Affordable Systems
3. Renewable Supply
• Loads can be met with Sustainable Energy Grid
• Net Zero within Reach (now or later)
• “Winter Gap” is minimized
PASSIVHAUS APPROACH
Passivhaus as a Path to Net Zero

10. Invest in this… …so we can heat like this
(especially when solar power isn’t there)
PASSIVHAUS APPROACH

11. Envelope Investment Opportunity
Residential Building Energy Use
We typically have one opportunity to address
40-50% of a building’s lifetime energy use
Building Component Lifespans
PASSIVHAUS APPROACH

12. Benefits
• Health
• Comfort
• Durability
• Resiliency
• Energy Savings
PASSIVHAUS APPROACH

13. PASSIVHAUS APPROACH
Impact on Design
Deep walls and roof assemblies
Walls = 19” R-value = 60
Roof = 28” R-value = 96

14. PASSIVHAUS APPROACH
Impact on Design
Breathable Envelopes in High Performance Buildings

15. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
Details: Thermal Bridge-Free + Airtightness

16. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
Details: Thermal Bridge-Free + Airtightness

17. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
Details: Thermal Bridge-Free + Airtightness

18. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
HVAC Systems for low-load buildings

19. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
PH Challenges during Construction
New Assemblies
• Mock-ups
• Pre-Construction Meetings

20. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
PH Challenges during Construction
Air-tightness
• Signage
• QC

21. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
PH Challenges during Construction
Avoiding thermal bridges
• Sequencing
• QC and Thermal Imaging

22. PASSIVHAUS IN DETAIL
Energy Model Results and Incentives
• 51% Energy Savings over baseline using code-minimal heat pump
• 68% Energy Savings over baseline using code allowed electric resistance

23. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE

24. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE

25. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Living Building Challenge
7 Petals | 20 Imperatives
PLACE
WATER
ENERGY
HEALTH & HAPPINESS
MATERIALS
EQUITY
BEAUTY

26. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Materials Petal
Endorsing products + processes that are
healthy for all species through time
• Red List
• Embodied carbon footprint
• Responsible industry
• Appropriate sourcing
• Conservation + reuse
Results in cleaner air, cleaner water and
healthier workers, inhabitants and wildlife

27. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Material Selection Strategy - Exterior

28. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Material Selection Strategy - Exterior

29. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Material Selection Strategy - Interior

30. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Material Selection Strategy - Interior

31. LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Material Selection Strategy – Everything Else

32. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
Process for Materials Selection

33. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
ALTERNATIVES
Process for Materials Selection

34. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
Process for Materials Vetting

35. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
Process for Materials Vetting
• Dedicated staff member
• Initial reach out to manufacturers

36. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
Process for Materials Vetting
• Provide follow-up documents for
ingredients list
• Documentation is key!

37. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
LBC Challenges during Construction
• No Substitutions – Can’t use what’s on the truck
• Submittals from residential sub-contractors
• Having large enough recycling facilities

38. MATERIALS PETAL IN DETAIL
LBC Challenges during Construction
• PVC is in everything!

39. TOUR + QUESTIONS