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In Depth Case Studies
Sokol Blosser Winery Barrel Aging Cellar
Energy
The facility was designed not to exceed the site’s energy budget. The incident solar energy on the roof of the building is 695,826 kWh per year. The amount of convertible solar energy (using current PV technology) is 72,394 kWh.
The building was designed to use 7,685 kilowatt hours of energy each year, 57% less than the 17,676 kWh used by a baseline building designed in minimal compliance with ASHRAE 90.1-1999.
The owner’s program required a year-round temperature range between 55 and 64º F. In order to avoid refrigeration equipment and the costs of an above-grade, super-insulated structure, the building was placed underground with a minimum soil depth of two feet. A four-inch layer of rigid polystyrene provides additional thermal roof insulation. A simple evaporative-cooling misting system provides consistent 75-90% humidity. Heat generated through wine fermentation in the oak barrels is dissipated through natural ventilation. Along the north-slope, three earth tubes, each with a three-foot diameter, provide fresh air at low velocity. Mechanically controlled vents in each chamber control airflow, provide night flushing during the hottest summer months, and monitor carbon dioxide levels, providing fresh-air flushing during the fermentation process. Carbon dioxide overload is a common hazard in wine-aging facilities.
Energy security
The building minimizes peak electrical demand through its underground placement and avoidance of refrigeration equipment. The facility harvests the natural cooling properties of the soil and will remain near optimum performance even without electricity.
All of the building’s electrical energy is currently bought through the local utility’s renewable energy program. The owner is considering installing a 2.9 kW photovoltaic system that would generate 20% of the building’s required energy on site.
Bioclimatic design
The building is a simple rectangle in plan, oriented with the long axis in an east-west direction. This orientation reduces solar gain along the east and west sides and maximizes the amount of surface area exposed to the sun-protected, north-facing slope. The end walls were left exposed to allow service access. Wood trellises on these walls provide a place for shade vines to take hold. The uninsulated concrete walls tap the thermal properties of the soil, and the natural-ventilation system allows the building to breathe with its surroundings. During hot summer months, the concrete provides a thermal mass with a significant lag time. Night flushing dissipates excess heat, and the structure remains cool throughout the day.
| Annual Purchased Energy Use | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Quantity | Cost($) | MMBtu | kBtu/ft2 | $/ft2 |
| Electricity | 7,690 kWh | 26.2 | 4.52 | ||
Total Annual Building Energy Consumption |
|||||
| Fuel | Cost | MMBtu | kBtu/ft2 | $/ft2 | |
| Total Purchased | 26.2 | 4.52 | |||
| Grand Total | 26.2 | 4.52 | |||
| Annual End-Use Breakdown | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End Use | Quantity | MMBtu | kBtu/ft2 | ||
| Heating | 4,290 kWh | 14.6 | 2.52 | ||
| Cooling | |||||
| Lighting | 2,860 kWh | 9.76 | 1.68 | ||
| Fans/Pumps | 538 kWh | 1.84 | 0.316 | ||
| Plug Loads and Equipment | |||||
| Vertical Transport | |||||
| Domestic Hot Water | |||||
| Other | |||||
| Building Energy Load | ||
|---|---|---|
| Load | ||
| Connected Lighting | 6.97 kW | 1.2 W/ft² |
Data Sources & Reliability
Simulation software
PowerDOE
Green Strategies
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Non-Solar Cooling Loads
- Make a high internal thermal mass building
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Heating Systems
- Use mass-wall passive solar heating
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Roof Insulation
- Design roof system with consistent thermal integrity
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