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EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College

Energy efficiency, local materials, water conservation, and IAQ were all incorportated in the building

Address:
208 North West Lane Extension
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC 28815
Buncombe County

http://www.samselarchitects.com
http://http://www.warren-wilson.edu

Click here for detailed contact information

36 bed dormitory

Owner: Warren Wilson College
Occupant: WWC students
Use/Occupancy: Residential
Construction: New
Completed: 2003
Size: 5K to 10K sq. ft.
Under 1 acre

Site Conditions: Rural agricultural, Previously undeveloped land, Limited site disturbance, Limited building size, Supports use of bicycles, Supports pedestrian use

twilight constuction photo

(Photo: Warner Photography)

Project Image Gallery
(Click on the thumbnail photo to enlarge and see caption.)

Green building techniques, strategies, and technologies
(Click on the paperclip to view attached Power Point presentations, documents, and images.)

Quality management

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Lifecycle cost analysis	Specific interior finish materials were reviewed using life cycle cost analysis (BEES)
2	Commissioning
3	Post commissioning monitoring	Monitoring of water, gas, and electricity consumption as well as electricity production and temperature and humidity allows the building’s performance to be tracked over time. Displaying this information also allows the building to become a learning tool for students and the community.
4	Design team integration	All members of the design team, including the Architect, General Contractor, Mechanical Engineer, product consultant, and a student and faculty committee were involved in the design phases of the project.
5	Residential blower door/ductblaster testing	Blower door test was performed to determine air tightness of the building envelope: 1.2 ACH @ 50 pascals

Site

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Permaculture	Native and draught resistant plants were used surrounding the building. Edible plants are also incorporated into the surrounding site as well as minimizes grass requiring maintenance and mowing.
2	Rainwater collection & distribution	A 10,000 gallon recycled train tanker car is used for roof rainwater collection. The water is then pumped back into the building, filtered and pressurized for use in toilets, urinals, and hose bibs for landscaping.
3	East & west shading	Roof overhangs and existing vegetation provide shading for low angle sun on the east and west sides of the building.
4	Reflective roofing	Recycled content steel roof with a light green color was used.
5	South facing orientation	The EcoDorm is oriented 10 degrees from due south. Appropriate overhangs and trellises are used to prevent over heating in the summer and sun tempering in the winter.
6	Light pollution reduction	Very minimal exterior lighting is used on the building and no site lighting is used.

Water

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Rainwater collection & distribution	A 10,000 gallon recycled train tanker car is used for roof rainwater collection. The water is then pumped back into the building, filtered and pressurized for use in toilets, urinals, and hose bibs for landscaping.
2	Native plants
3	Drought tolerant plants
4	Waterless urinals
5	Composting toilets	2 Clivus M3 units were used and are sized to accomodate all of the students living in the building. Some code issues cause complications in use.
6	Low-flow fixtures	All showers and faucets are low flow fixtures.
7	Water efficient appliances	High efficiency Maytag clothes washers were used

Energy

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Energy modeling software used
2	Superinsulation	SIPs panels were used for all walls and ceiling. Walls: R-24 Ceiling R-38
3	High performance glazing	Low-e argon filled casement windows
4	Motion/heat/light sensors	occupancy and photo sensors are used to control lights in the bathrooms, stairwells, and exterior lighting.
5	Energy efficient appliances	All appliances used are energy star rated.
6	Highly efficient mechanical system	Munchkin 92% efficient gas boilers w/ solar hot water preheat for domestic hot water and space heating.
7	Passive solar heating strategies	10 degrees of south orientation, concrete slab with ceramic tile as thermal mass, overhangs to prevent overheating.
8	Passive cooling strategies	Clerestory windows are operable and allow warm air to rise and escape, overhangs and all operable windows allow for passive cooling.
9	Thermal mass heat storage
10	Daylighting
11	Solar domestic hot water
12	Photovoltaic energy	Additional electricity not used in the buiding is pushed up stream to the next dormitory, so all energy produced is always used. A battery storage system was therefore not needed.
13	Building integrated photovoltaics	PVs are used as shading devices over south facing windows
14	Solar thermal for space heating
15	Pre-design for future renewables	A fuel cell can be added to the mechanical system in the future so waste hot water can be recaputered in the existing hotwater system.
16	Continuous metering
17	Distributed energy generation
18	Highly efficient lighting system	All lighting is fluorescent.
19	Energy recovery system	Heat Recovery Ventilators are used in the fresh air system.

Materials

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Designed for occupant recycling	Recycling centers are incorporated on each floor.
2	Construction waste management plan	Included in specifications.
3	Recycling of site debris
4	Recycling of construction/demolition waste	Approximately 2,000 pounds of construction waste was diverted from the landfill and recycled.
5	Salvaged building materials used	All interior trim, wainscoting, and kitchen cabinets were built from reclaimed oak fencing, campus beetle-kill white pine, and a fir deconstructed from a building on campus.
6	Recycled materials used in wall	Cellulose insulation was used for sound insulation.
7	Recycled materials used in roofing
8	Recycled materials used in flooring	50% and 100% recycled ceramic tile was used as flooring.
9	Recycled materials used in structural	Salvaged glue lam beams were used at door headers.
10	Local material use
11	Rapidly renewable material use
12	Non-toxic outdoor wood treatment	Arsenic free pressure treated wood was used throughout.
13	Panelized construction system	SIPs panels were used for walls and roof.
14	Recycled materials used in ceiling	Recycled content drywall (95%) was used throughout the building.

Indoor environment

	Technology	Description	Docs
1	Carbon dioxide monitoring
2	Controlled ventilation for fresh air	Continuous controlled fresh air is distributed throughout the building and ducted through a heat recovery ventilator.
3	Construction IAQ strategies
4	Low-emitting adhesives	Low-VOC paints, stains, and sealers were used throughout.
5	Low-emitting paints & coatings	Low-VOC paints, stains, and sealers were used throughout.
6	Low-emitting flooring system	Low toxic concrete sealer.
7	Natural ventilation strategies	Operable clerestory windows are used to provide ventilation, high efficiency ceiling fans are used in every bedroom and living space.
8	Temperature/humidity monitoring
9	Daylighting	Operable clerestory windows and glass transoms are used to distribute daylight throughout the building
10	Achieved view in 90% of occupied space
11	Low maintenance materials

Other Innovations

	Description	Docs
1	- radiant slab heating - locally harvested wood siding - salvaged train tanker car for rain catchment system - grey water plumbed for future local treatment - expansion of PV system planned for future - PV electricity not used in the building is pushed up stream to the next dormitory

Contact Information

Specialty Contact Information

Click on the specialty technology in the table above to see contact and other information

General Project Contact

Duncan McPherson
Samsel Architects, P.A.
Phone: 828-253-1124
Email: duncan@samselarchitects.com

Relationship to the project: Architect

Project Team

	Involvement	Stage	Name/Address	Phone
1	Owner/developer	Design/Construction	Larry Modlin cpo 6363, Warren Wilson College PO Box 9000 Asheville, NC 28815 lmodlin@warren-wilson.edu	828-298-3325
2	Architect	Design/Construction	Jim Samsel Samsel Architects, P.A. 60 Biltmore Ave Asheville, NC 28801 jim@samselarchitects.com	828-253-1124
3	Engineer - structural	Design	Dan Mady Mady Engineering 1357 Garren Creek Rd Fairview, NC 28730 dmady@bellsouth.net	828-628-2577
4	Engineer - mechanical	Design/Construction	Jeff Tiller Jeff Tiller, PE and Associates 904 West King St. Boone, NC 28607 southface@goboone.net	828-265-4888
5	Engineer - electrical	Design	Gus Sims Sims Group 203 Short Coxe ave. Asheville, NC 28801 gus@simsengineers.com	828-251-2025
6	Contractor - general	Design/Construction	Robin Woodward Blue Ridge Energy Systems 28 Sourwood lane Fletcher, NC 28732	828-684-8665
7	Environmental Consultant	Design	David Tuch Equinox Environmental Consultation 64 Biltmore Ave Asheville, NC 28801 david@equinoxenvironmental.com	828-253-6856
8	Materials Consulatant	Design	Cindy Meehan-Patton Shelter Ecology 43 Pine Ridge Dr. Asheville, NC 28804 sheltereco@charter.net	(828) 225-2829