May 15, 2006

STRATUS VINEYARDS

The Niagara-on-the-Lake area Stratus Vineyards has been turning heads as a leader in its field for sustainable design.

“We’ve worked to develop a winery model that is capable of producing . . . wines in an environmentally responsible manner”

J.L. Groux

Stratus Winemaker

Vineyard makes its mark on sustainable design

First in world to be officially LEED rated

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Hailed in some circles as an eco-wonder, Niagara’s Stratus Vineyards has been generating headlines for sustainable design.

Designed by architect Leslie Andrew of Andrew Inc., the facility is said to be the world’s first winery to earn certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

The environmentally-friendly facility, located on a 62-acre estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has earned a coveted LEED silver rating from the Canada Green Building Council.

“We’ve worked to develop a winery model that is capable of producing world-class, hand-crafted wines in an environmentally-responsible manner,” said Stratus winemaker J.L. Groux.

The 22,000-square-foot main winery building is 35 feet high, 150 feet long and 100 feet wide. The project was undertaken by a team that included construction manager Newman Bros. Ltd and LEED consultants Enermodal and Enviro-Stewards Inc.

Constructed mostly with recycled materials, the building incorporates reclaimed wood and steel, locally-sourced materials and insulation made from recycled materials. Galvanized steel is used extensively to reduce the need for paint and maintenance.

Resource and energy-efficient electrical and plumbing systems are part of the equation as well. The south and west sides of the building have narrow clerestory strip windows to avoid solar heat gain.

Canopies shade the ample glazing in the retail and laboratory areas. Daylight penetrates the building; artificial light is switched off on most days.

Geothermal technology is tapped to heat and cool the building. Stratus said this added 10 to 15 per cent to the cost of the building, but will soon be amortized in the form of dramatically reduced energy costs.

“Eighty per cent of the energy in the winery is free,” Groux said.

Behind the winery, 24 wells were drilled to a depth of 225 to 230 feet, where the earth remains at a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In a giant heat-pump effect, water from the wells circulates through the building, supplying its heating and cooling needs.

Each room, including the wine vats, can be individually temperature-controlled.

The water even supplies cooling to the insulated jackets of the stainless-steel fermenting barrels, should the winemaster wish to slow the fermentation process.

Office areas have low-emission carpets. The office furniture, made by Teknion, is Greenguard-certified to ensure it will not adversely affect indoor air quality.

Environmental consciousness percolates down to smaller gestures, such as washrooms with waterless-flush urinals and motion-detector light switches. Bicycle racks and showers encourage cycling to work.

Stones in the parking lot were chosen to reduce light-reflected warmth.

Other green features include composting of all waste from plant material, a herbicide-free vineyard, and a landscape plan based on indigenous, low-maintenance grasses and plants.

One tree was planted for every tree cut down during construction.

Stratus believes the building is a prototype for sustainable wineries around the world.

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