Legacy Homes of Aspen: Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Innovation Center is set to be the most efficient building in the US at the coldest climate zone in Basalt, Colorado. It is not only energy efficient, but considered net-zero, generating as much energy, if not more, than it uses. The building is 15,400 SF total & will be used an office & gathering space.

Going against the grain of typical project delivery, an IDP (Integrated Delivery Process) was used. This brings all of the players into the same room & discussing the project prior to construction. These players include the Owner, Engineers, Architects, General Contractor & some of the major subcontractors. These meetings are called "charettes" & help to foresee issues in the field prior to construction, saving the Owner substantial amounts of money throughout the time of the project. The contract is a Performance Contract with the risk AND reward shared as a team, in turn having everyone collectively solve problems instead of blame one another.

RMI wants to make sure that this building is easily replicable for the construction of more net-zero office buildings in the near future. The building size is similar to 90% of US office buildings. "RMI will teach how the building was contracted, designed, built, commissioned, and operated; how it can be replicated; how it worked with and for the community; and what RMI learned in the process"


The south side of the building will consist of white material, reflecting heat.

The north side of the building will consist of grey material, absorbing heat.

There is no furnace or boiler & passive solar techniques are used to heat & cool the building. The only mechanical systems in the building are for venting & a backup for heating. The exterior of the building is constructed of 12" thick SIPS (structural insulated panels) with R-values of 50 in the wall & 80 in the ceiling. The SIPS used are Premier SIPS as they are currently the only manufacturer who makes curved panels. On the interior walls, a product call BioPCM Thermal Storage Mats are installed behind the drywall to add thermal mass & improve insulation. The windows, instead of being Argon-filled, are Krypton-filled & achieve R-values of 7. Outside of the SIPs, an elastic membrane, called the Fire Resist Barritech NP by Carlisle, was applied. This product, with "the high film thickness and flexible, elastic properties enable Fire Resist Barritech NP to bridge cracks and seal around penetrations, which creates a truly continuous, monolithic air, vapor and water barrier."

Indoor air quality & thermal comfort are priorities for the building. With a blower door test already performing at .174 ACH (air changes per hour), airflow is VERY important! 0.6 ACH was the goal, which is the minimum to achieve the Passivhaus Standard. Operable windows help move fresh air throughout the building.There are CO2 detectors throughout the building that will automatically open the windows if CO2 levels get too high.

Set-point temperatures will range from 64-82 degrees; standard set-points are at 70-76 degrees. With a bigger swing in temperature, controlling one's personal temperature is the goal. By using a new technology called the Hyperchair, individuals can control individual heating & cooling from their chair, further eliminating the mechanical systems. Say goodbye to those energy-sucking space heaters!

Because greywater reuse is currently illegal in Colorado, RMI is assuming that this law will not last forever & are equipping their systems so that in the future, no potable water will be used to flush the toilets. Any irrigation needed for the landscaping will be supplied by rainwater & runoff, which is collected in a nearby pond. Because there is no mechanical room, the space is used for the greywater basin eventually used to flush the toilets.

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS:

The mock-up for the walls cost about $35-40k. The added value cannot be 100% known, but is definitely worth the up-front costs! For example, the Owner not liking the color of the masonry AFTER it is delivered to the site...