Innovative applications conserve resources, maximize appeal With innovative application of existing technologies, the design exceeded the owner’s energy conservation goals; achieved interior comfort by providing effective HVAC, plumbing and lighting systems; and enhanced visual appeal by hiding the systems on the building’s interior and exterior.

• An underground geothermal heating and cooling system eliminates the need for loud, unsightly air-cooled condensers and minimizes the use of fossil fuel for heating. Since the site had a limited number of geothermal wells that could be installed, flexible units were created and configured to serve multiple spaces at different times, eliminating the need for more units and resulting in less site disturbance.
• Waterless composting toilets, consistent with the owner’s desire to conserve water and minimize the septic field, needed modifications to ensure that residents were comfortable with them. The design incorporated enhanced ventilation systems and located the toilets in inconspicuous areas of the building.
• A special lighting system was selected for the lodge’s fish breeding tanks so as not to interfere with breeding cycles.
• A specialized piping system interconnects tank water cooling and filtration systems running throughout the building.

A photovoltaic solar system provides supplemental power and reduces reliance on fossil fuels; a sophisticated monitoring and recording system allows users to properly operate the system and measure its benefits.

With careful, detailed planning and innovative uses of existing technology, the Black Forest Lodge project demonstrates that MEP designs can have a long-term positive impact on the environment, while helping to create multiuse buildings that are comfortable, attractive and long-lasting.