Siegel & Strain Architects
| Camp Arroyo; Environmental Education Camp Livermore, CA

Cabins

The six duplex cabins demonstrate techniques for optimizing wood frame construction. Each 1440 square foot building sleeps 24 campers and makes use of efficient framing techniques, certified wood, durable materials, and recycled products. These include: wheat straw wall paneling, recycled glass countertops and tile, fiber cement siding and cellulose insulation.

The cabins exceed Title 24 by a 42% compliance margin. In addition, they include several energy saving strategies that were not calculated in the T24: solar thermal water heating, thermal mass, and Low-E2 glazing extend energy performance over and above this margin. Overall, efficiency was achieved using both passive and active means:

> South-facing sunrooms provide winter gain
> A cupola with high windows provides natural ventilation and daylight
> Shading devices: generous roof overhangs, horizontal sunshades, and rolling shutters (E and W sides)
> Wood windows with Low-E2 glazing; minimal glazing on east and west facades.
> Densely packed cellulose insulation made from recycled newspaper.
> Radiant barrier at roof and light colored roofing
> Active solar water heating supplies domestic hot water and radiant floor heating
> Non-compressor cooling (two-stage evaporative system)
> Compact fluorescent lighting

Although the Cabins and Dining Hall were constructed with evaporative cooling, a year of anecdotal evidence indicates that it is rarely needed. The shading, the thermal envelopes and thermal mass, and the natural ventilation all seem to be providing adequate cooling on most days. This kind of performance will work for many decades, providing comfortable, attractive buildings; reducing noise from mechanical equipment; and saving lots of energy.