Green Construction Takes a Bow at a State Fair

Once they’ve had their fill of corn dogs and quease-inducing amusement park rides, visitors at the upcoming Minnesota State Fair can head over to the fair’s Eco Experience, a 25,000-sq.-ft. exhibit, and calm themselves with a tour of the 2009 Eco House, a green-dwelling prototype designed by SALA Architects of Minneapolis.

Equipped with renewable-energy hardware and constructed with a well-insulated shell and a range of sustainable materials, Eco House is designed to be adaptable to most urban environments and perform at or close to net-zero-energy standards. The home’s PV array and panels for its solar hot water system are mounted on its south-facing façade. When constructed on a residential lot, the house will also feature a ground-source heat pump.

SALA Architects told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the 2,200-sq.-ft. home is constructed with heavily insulated 12-in. walls and a range of sustainable finish materials, including wheatboard interior walls, recycled glass tiles, and a kitchen countertop made of crushed walnut shells in resin. The Eco Experience exhibit version will feature energy efficient appliances and a carport with a green roof.