Sustainable, Earth Friendly Design
Vineyard Oaks Luxury Homes were designed for and feature building technologies and materials that conform to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes program. LEED® is the most widely known and highly regarded green building certification program in the world.
We are proud that the Vineyard Oaks community is targeted for the LEED® Gold designation.
High Performance Building and Energy Features
Click on the section titles below to learn more about the features of our homes.
Energy & Systems
Net Zero Energy (Electric)
All models have renewable solar-energy packages. In fact – all homes in Vineyard Oaks are designed to be net-zero producers of energy.
Solar ElectricPhotovoltaic panels convert solar energy to electricity. This technology both reduces the carbon footprint and can spin the utility meter backward which can result in utility company credit.
Solar Hot WaterA Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) system is also integral to every one of our Vineyard Oaks Homes. This provides carbon-free hot water for 70% of the year, reducing the carbon footprint substantially, and also contributes to the space heating load when the hot water is not in use.
Passive CoolingAmple operable windows at high and low points on each wall allow for cross-ventilation and night-time passive cooling. An airtight envelope ensures that when windows are closed in the early morning, the building will keep cooler than ambient air for up to 8 hours.
Passive Heating
The most effective form of solar heating is to capture sunlight through windows and to store that heat in our stained concrete floors.
Double Glazing
Double glazing (dual pane windows) to keep excessive heat out is standard on all Vineyard Oaks Homes
LED Lighting Light Emitting Diode lighting is highly efficient, using a fraction of the energy of traditional lighting, and with a lifetime many times greater.
Energy Star
We add-up the wattage of every appliance and light fixture in the home and multiply this by the time in use for an entire year to obtain what is essentially an ‘energy star’ rating for the whole home. This also helps us accurately size the renewable systems required. (900kWh/yr)
Electric Car Charging
An electric car charging station provides free electricity for a car.
Home Automation
A digital control center device to monitor and manage all essential services.
Carbon Footprint
Reduced carbon footprint. We calculate carbon footprint as a function of combusted fuel only, as our electrical systems can be powered by 100% renewable sources.
Wind Power (optional)
Wind-power is abundant and cost-effective in the Napa Valley. We have a range of micro-wind-power solutions to augment your renewable energy system should you wish to increase your role as a power producer. We offer wind packages as optional upgrades.
Indoor Air Quality
Heat Recovery Ventilation
An airtight envelope ensures that dedicated, controlled fresh air ventilation is optimally efficient. The Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) provides a constant stream of fresh air while recycling heat from exhaust air in the winter.
Low VOCs
We strive to use materials with their own integrated durable finishes to reduce maintenance and finishing cost. This limits the adhesives and solvents used. Where we do use liquid applied finishes, these are all non-toxic and low or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Healthy / Happy Houses
Vineyard Oaks Homes are good for people and the environment.
No Formaldehyde
The interior millwork/cabinets and interior wall-cladding feature sheet-goods are made with no-added formaldehyde, which helps to provide a clean and healthy indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Quality
Materials, adhesives and finishes are non-toxic and do not off-gas noxious chemicals.
Air Changes Per Hour
Your constant fresh air home can provide a more comfortable living environment because it includes properly engineered HVAC system sizing, improved duct and equipment installation, improved filtration, and whole-house and spot ventilation to dilute and remove indoor pollutants.
Water Conservation
Water Savings Vineyard Oaks Homes make use of water-saving technology throughout the home.
Gray WaterAll Vineyard Oaks Homes offer gray water reuse systems to reduce demand on conventional water supplies and pressure on sewage treatment systems.
XeriscapeDrought resistant native landscaping.
Earth Friendly Materials & Practices
SIPFSHealthy Buildings’ proprietary Structural Insulated Panel and Finish system ensures fast and easy assembly, lowered construction costs, optimum structural and thermal performance, high durability and low maintenance.
RecycleWe use recycled and recyclable materials whenever these are superior alternatives. We also detail our homes to be easily repairable and ultimately durable and low-maintenance – which reduces the environmental impact and the cost of repair and upkeep.
No PVCWe have a policy of no PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) in any of our homes (with the exception of electrical wire sheathing as this is not yet readily available in North America).
Forest Stewardship CouncilWherever possible, we specify FSC certified woods and sheet goods. For example, our exterior Western Red Cedar cladding is 100% FSC certified, as is our interior wall cladding and all materials used in our kitchen cabinets.