Living Buildings + Net Zero | Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center

Image courtesy of Tim Griffith
Image courtesy of Tim Griffith

Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center

Basalt, CO

Project Categories

Living Buildings + Net-Zero
All-Electric
LEED Platinum
Commercial + corporate office

Business Type

Headquarters/Commercial office

Size

15,600 square feet

This Net-Positive Energy building is in the coldest climate in the lower 48 states. An envelope tuned for passive operation allows the building to operate without cooling systems and very little heating to maintain comfort. Personal comfort systems are included to heat the people, not the space.

Architect

ZGF Architects

Owner

Rocky Mountain Institute

Services

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Building analysis and modeling (BAM)

Technology design

Sustainability

Certifications

Living Building
Passive House
Net-Zero Energy
LEED Platinum

Progress Report

Largest commercial office to achieve Passive House
Living Building Petal Certified
Achieves 63% better energy efficiency than code
Achieves 40% better potable water efficiency than code

Special features

Operating EUI of 13.6 in first year
83kW PV array
~70% net positive including EV charging on site
Electric resistance heating. Capacity is equivalent to about one hair dryer per 1, 000 square feet.
90+% effective heat recovery. The heat recovery effectiveness is high enough to eliminate the need for heating in the ventilation system.
Passive cooling (no active cooling system)
Personal comfort systems through heated and cooled office chairs
Quadruple pane window glass
Approximately 70% glazed-on Southern exposure to maximize passive solar heating
Automatic operable exterior shades on South and West facades for solar heat gain control.
Air tightness tested to be 0.34 ACH Air Tightness at 50 PA
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structure

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