Because River Vine’s floor-to-ceiling doors and windows are a dramatic focal point for the home, it was essential the hardware be equally high-end and contemporary to create a cohesive exterior and interior presentation. FSB Premium Series 1076 lever handle set and sliding door hardware 4251 and 4253 were smart choices for River Vine, blending fine European craftsmanship with a sleek, elegant design that is functional, comfortable and architecturally distinctive. The tubular metal construction complements River Vine’s clean lines, the lever design feels good to the hand and the satin stainless steel finish is corrosion-resistant, requiring minimal care and showing little wear, even with continuous use.

“When FSB learned we were installing Fleetwood doors and windows in River Vine, they were interested in partnering with us to provide hardware that would enhance the beauty of the custom Fleetwood products. FSB’s stainless steel hardware offers the quality, finish, style and performance we wanted for River Vine, providing a pleasing visual contrast with the bronze tones of the metal doors and windows.”

Tony Sarich
Co-founder, AMS/Gen7 Schools

For more information, visit the FSB Products page.

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GraniteCrete combines a natural aesthetic with proven performance, delivering the look and feel of a crushed organic surface with the near-strength and erosion control of professionally installed concrete. Certified porous, GraniteCrete will provide a permanent, permeable solution for River Vine’s parking areas and pathways, effectively and organically addressing stormwater and puddling concerns in the transitional areas between home and vineyards. Available in four earth-tone colors, GraniteCrete can be custom-colored to complement the surrounding architecture, while softening the line between hardscaping and nature. GraniteCrete’s recycled content will make it a high contributor toward River Vine’s LEED Platinum goal, adding up to 13 points toward USGBC LEED certi­fication. Distributed through local landscape and building material suppliers, GraniteCrete offers a superior competitive advantage as an attractive, sustainable paving product for both homeowners and professional contractors.

“We’re committed to using responsibly-produced, sustainable materials inside River Vine and in the outdoor living and access areas. GraniteCrete offers both consistent product quality and a good value, less expensive than alternative hard-surface pavements, but proven to last for many years in even the harshest weather. It’s ideal for River Vine—low-maintenance and easy to install, creating a natural, professional grade surface without the need for rebar or special equipment.”

Tony Sarich
Co-founder, AMS/Gen7 Schools.

For more information, visit the GraniteCrete Products page.

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MechoShades extensive product line offers a broad range of shadecloth weaves, color, and density available worldwide and with a variety of certifications to meet many sustainability and environmental considerations to satisfy the different needs of designers and project development teams. Product evolution reflects the company’s commitment to energy conservation initiatives, including software-controlled, automated-shading systems that allow buildings to reduce electrical lighting by controlling a room’s natural light—an energy-saving feature that requires minimal occupant action. Using patented technology, MechoShade’s systems predict and respond to sunlight and direct Sun conditions and BTU loads on windows to optimize daylight and to manage solar radiation for occupant comfort, energy efficiency, and most importantly to maintain a view to the outside by keeping shades up as much as possible. Today, scientific research has validated the importance of maintaining Circadian Rhythm, which requires exposure to daylight. Automating the shades helps us gain that exposure and to feel connected to the outside by insuring shades are only lowered when necessary.
River Vine’s windows will be equipped with a variety of MechoShade’s shadecloths, including new, award-wining, EcoVeil Sheer, a better than PVC free product that meets NFPA 701® fire retardancy standards without adding chemical flame retardants, is fully recyclable and is part of the complete Cradle to Cradle Certified manual roller shade systems. This broken-twill all polyester sunscreen meets the new Healthier Hospital Program, Safer Chemicals Challenge and has a Declare label.

“River Vine is 48% glass, making window coverings a high priority—for interior aesthetics as well as for heat and light control. EcoVeil Sheer is the next generation of solar shadecloths, with an all-polyester weave in a pigmented yarn construction designed for style, durability and performance. By calculating heat flow through a glass-and-shade assembly, MechoShade automated systems control brightness while preventing overheating and glare for year-round comfort and energy savings” noted, Tony Sarich
Co-founder, AMS/Gen7 Schools.

Numerous MechoSystems products are being specified to help reduce River Vine’s environmental footprint. The use of many Cradle to Cradle products and some manual shade systems, such as UrbanShade will allow for a shade system to be recycled. Shadecloths are PVC free, or GREENGUARD Certified and tested to ensure low chemical emissions for cleaner indoor air and a healthier living environment. The EcoVeil Sheer shades by their composition do not off-gas and have other benefits as noted above.

For more information, visit the MechoShade Home Systems Products page.

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Structa Wire’s proprietary products are engineered to perform in one-, two- and three-coat stucco systems, improving energy efficiency and durability while enhancing a building’s aesthetic beauty. The company’s heavy-duty self-furring Mega Lath product was the ideal solution for River Vine, providing extra strength and uniform plaster thickness for a smooth, even stucco scratch coat application. The patented cold-rolled technology produces flat wires that simplify attachment while increasing structural performance—resisting moisture and cracking over an extended lifecycle. Manufactured of recycled steel and applied to River Vine’s recycled steel frame, Mega Lath enables a three-coat stucco wall to meet increased thermal ratings, providing a high performing wall configuration that can achieve LEED accreditation.

“The strength of a stucco wall is only as good as the strength of its substrate. Structa Wire’s welded wire laths offer a more innovative method for applying stucco, creating a higher performing, longer lasting wall cladding. A rolled product like Mega Lath is easier to apply than sheet, saving us time and labor during construction while ensuring the integrity of our stucco wall system over time. Responsibly produced and energy-efficient, Mega Lath is a smart choice for green homes like River Vine.”

Tony Sarich
Co-founder, AMS/Gen7 Schools

For more information, visit the Structa Wire Products page.

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Quality In, Quality Out. In technology—and green building—it’s the ideal outcome. No matter how well-designed or efficiently constructed, a building is only as sustainable as the materials used to build it. The quality of the components determines the quality of the building.

AMS has always been quality-focused, committed to using good materials that are good for people and good for the environment—in our Gen7 prefab classrooms and now in River Vine. We use recyclable and natural materials made from renewable resources, locally and regionally sourced whenever possible. We carefully select components that resist mold and mildew and avoid those that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). But we want to do more. Instead of just building schools and homes that are greener, we want to build buildings that make people healthier—buildings that have cleaner indoor air and a greater resistance to contamination. That starts with the products we choose. Because other companies’ products become part of ours, we want to work with companies whose values and high standards mirror ours, too.

The Declare Label

Choosing the right product depends on having the right information—information that hasn’t always been readily available. To simplify product selection, the International Living Future Institute, founder of the well-known green building certification program, the Living Building Challenge, developed an ingredient disclosure label for buildings. Modeled after food nutrition labels, the Declare label promotes transparency, clearly listing a product’s components, as well as its assembly site, life expectancy and end-of-life options. Full disclosure helps builders make informed decisions, allowing us to pinpoint and compare products that meet our specifications to optimize the health and safety of our supply chain. It takes a strong commitment to make a safe, sustainably-sourced product. The government regulates only a few of the toxic substances that can cause adverse health effects. While many companies avoid the use of known toxins, thousands of “chemicals of concern” are widely used in products that find their way into our homes, schools and public buildings. It’s up to the modular building industry to self-regulate, safeguarding the health of our buildings through the materials we use to build them.

A Pathway for Positive Change

The Declare label is a top-down commitment, signifying companies that are taking a leadership role in safe, environmentally-responsible building design and manufacturing—companies like VaproShield, one of our River Vine Project Partners. VaproShield’s WrapShield SA Self-Adhered is the first water resistive barrier/air barrier self-adhered sheet membrane system to earn a Declare label. With zero VOCs and no Red List chemicals, WrapShield SA Self-Adhered system ensures that River Vine’s building envelope stays toxin-free, improving both indoor air quality and energy efficiency. At the end of its useful life, WrapShield is 100% recyclable, helping lower River Vine’s ecological footprint.

Ultimately, the Declare program provides more than a basis for product evaluation, it provides a pathway for evaluating buildings based on the products that are used to construct them. Materials that are healthy for homes are healthy for schools, allowing AMS to standardize product selection across buildings, using high quality products that we know are safe and sustainable in both River Vine and Gen7 classrooms. As environmental labels and declarations continue to mainstream, we’re encouraging all of our product partners to disclose their ingredients. Transparency benefits us all, making a positive impact on the health and quality of our buildings and the health and quality of life of the people who live and learn in them.

Learn more about River Vine’s sustainable products and project partners.

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The premise of Zero Net Energy (ZNE) is simple: to build a home that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of the year. The execution is more complex, requiring a synergistic blend of high performance design, advanced engineering and renewable energy technologies that use the earth’s natural resources to mutual advantage.

ZNE is the future, especially in California, which has set the goal of having all new residential construction meet ZNE standards by 2020—just four years away. The energy optimization strategies tested in River Vine can be replicated in future buildings, paving a path for progress by demonstrating how solar energy and energy-efficient components can work together to deliver ZNE-level performance.

2. Window Type and Placement

Multiple sources of natural light reduce the need for electricity. River Vine is 48% glass, with the largest floor-to-ceiling windows situated on the southside and paired with upper clerestory windows and Solatube skylights to admit sunlight at every level. Dual-glazing and low-E coating work in tandem with roof overhangs to control direct heat gain for interior comfort and energy efficiency.

3. Tight Building Envelope

A supertight structural shell prevents air and water infiltration from roof to footers. Fiberglass sheathing, gypsum-fiber roof boards and vapor permeable building wrap give River Vine a tight exterior seal that minimizes energy losses, while providing passive climate control. A conditioned crawl space prevents air from entering the house from below.

4. High R-Value Insulation

A high density insulation system achieves high R-value, air sealing, moisture control and added structural strength. Insulating River Vine’s ceilings, walls and floors significantly reduces the amount of heating and cooling needed, while keeping the home comfortable for occupants year-round.

6. Integrated Renewable Energy Systems

Networking multiple energy sources provides greater efficiency than that attainable by each individual system working independently. River Vine’s solar photovoltaic (PV) array integrates seamlessly with solar hot water and geothermal systems to harness both energy from the sun and energy stored in the earth.

7. Radiant Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling a home is its biggest energy expense. Transferring heat from one place to another is far less costly than creating heat. River Vine uses a geothermal heat pump to circulate water through a ground loop, drawing stored heat from the earth and transferring it into the home via radiant flooring.

8. Natural Ventilation

Gravity-fed natural convection can passively cool a home, reducing total energy consumption by 10-30%. River Vine’s central core is designed to draw solar heat from the south-facing window wall, directing excess heat upward and out of the home through strategically placed auto-vents in the roof.

9. LED Lighting

Sunlight provides most of a ZNE home’s lighting during the day. When electric lights are needed, LEDs use less energy than CFLs and have a more natural tone, making them a more aesthetic option with a lower lifecycle cost. River Vine uses multi-level LED lighting for greater functionality and efficiency.

10. ENERGY STAR Appliances

ENERGY STAR models use 15% less energy than conventional appliances, but the best high efficiency appliances exceed that, using up to 50% less power and water. Label-shopping for appliances with the lowest kWh—the measure of annual energy use—allows River Vine to maximize savings with appliances on the cutting-edge of energy efficiency.

11. Automated Controls

Smart technology automates systems for optimized performance and energy savings. River Vine’s home automation includes programmable climate control, occupancy and light sensors, motorized window shades, automated ventilation and auto-detecting humidity sensors for occupant comfort and safety.

12. Energy Management System

Continuous energy tracking allows critical adjustments to be made to achieve ZNE goals. River Vine’s Energy Management System is state-of-the-art, monitoring the home’s energy production and usage in real-time and notifying homeowners when any component is not performing to modeled targets.

Learn more about River Vine’s energy-efficient products and integrated energy systems.

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Cancos Tile & Stone is a nationally-recognized importer, distributor and retailer of fine porcelain, ceramic, stone and glass tiles. A family owned and operated business since 1953, Cancos serves the residential and commercial markets, showcasing high design wall and floor coverings in more than 500 decorated room settings located throughout the company’s 270,000-square-feet showroom and warehouse facility. An onsite marble and granite fabrication plant features state-of-the-art machinery, allowing Cancos to offer custom designs to meet the unique needs of designers and clients.

Cancos’ extensive selection of indoor-outdoor tile and pavers includes recycled, LEED-qualifying products that are ideal for River Vine’s design and sustainability goals. The 2-cm porcelain paver tile is a stylish, eco-friendly choice for River Vine’s courtyard, patio and pool areas, with a low-maintenance, anti-slip finish that assures safe footing, wet or dry. Mortar- or gravel-set, the stone-look pavers provide an organic connection with River Vine’s native landscaping, transitioning seamlessly between the home’s outdoor living spaces, as well as between indoors and out. Designed to hold up to both weather and wear, the lightweight pavers are stain- and scratch-resistant, frostproof and specially engineered for load bearing applications. The pavers are also fade-resistant and heat-insulated—important features since they will be installed on the home’s southside, the area receiving the strongest sunlight.

For more information, visit the Cancos Tile & Stone Products page.

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Here are some other cool things to know about solar.

1.  Our ancestors have been harnessing solar energy for 2,700 years. In 700 BC, they used magnifying glasses and the sun’s rays to make fire—a skill that still comes in handy on Survivor.

2. The sun produces enough energy in one second to meet the world’s current needs for the next 500,000 years.

3. Solar energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh): 1 kilowatt = 1,000 watts x 1 hour. About 2,000 watts or 2kWh can power your smartphone for a year—an amount River Vine’s solar photovoltaic (PV) array can produce in about 15 minutes.

4.  A 1kW solar system can produce 1,500-1,750 kWh a year in a sunny climate like California. River Vine’s 9kW system is expected to produce more than 15,000 kWh a year—enough to fully power home and vineyard the entire year.

5.  Solar PV panels produce electricity even when it’s cloudy—as much as 25-50% of the amount produced on sunny days.

6.  No sun—no problem. A solar energy system can produce electricity 24/7 when combined with home batteries in an integrated energy system.

7.  Solar hot water systems use the sun’s rays to heat water. In a sunny climate, 60-70% of domestic water can be heated up to 140°F using a solar heating system. By adding an extra thermal collector, River Vine can meet 100% of its domestic hot water needs.

8.  It takes 24 trees to offset the carbon emissions of the average American household. The average solar system offsets more than twice that.

9.  Over 20 years, a typical solar system will save the average American homeowner $20,080. In high-cost electricity states like California, the amount saved averages $34,260. An integrated solar system like River Vine’s can save even more.

10. Not only is the sun’s energy free energy, it can turn a profit. Solar PV panels can send excess electricity production to the utility grid, increasing the payback for homeowners.

Learn more about River Vine’s integrated renewable energy systems.

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For Blu Bathworks, the opportunity to participate in the one-of-a-kind River Vine concept home was appealing for a multitude of reasons. A partnership between innovative, forward thinking individuals and brands is always exciting; and in this case, Blu Bathworks was particularly enthralled by American Modular Systems’ laser-focus on raising the bar for sustainable, prefabricated design and construction.

Blu Bathworks® brand of sustainable bathware is perfectly aligned to meet AMS’ Zero Net Energy home target, with all bathrooms incorporating BLU’s signature eco-friendly blu•stone fixtures, including freestanding bathtubs, shower bases and sinks. blu•stone is an exceptionally durable material, crafted primarily from quartzite, with a low-energy production process requiring less time in the kiln at lower temperatures than its ceramic counterpart. Given its recyclable nature, there is limited production wastage, which is great news for the landfill. blu•stone material composition provides superior water temperature retention, allowing the bather enjoy a long soak in the tub while reducing water usage. As a highly durable, repairable material, blu•stone keeps replacement costs and related energy expenditures to a minimum.

Another sustainable bathroom design integrated into the River Vine home is Blu Bathworks’ award-winning electronica digital tapware collection. electronica smart system promotes water efficiency by, for example, allowing users to preset up to three preferred combinations of temperature and flow rate, thereby reducing water wastage trying to reach the required settings. An additional benefit to this technology is the personalized experience afforded to the user.

Blu Bathworks’ commitment to developing sustainable bathware products for an ecological future is further showcased in the brand’s innovative EcoAir system, incorporated in the thin profile rain shower that was selected for River Vine’s master bathroom. EcoAir system provides an incredible 50% water savings by mixing water with external air particles, simultaneously resulting in a comfortable water jet that promotes deep feelings of well being while decreasing consumption and performing better at any pressure!

While the synergy between Blu Bathworks’ inherent passion for water and River Vine concept home sustainability goal was undeniable; the mutual vision for beautifully crafted modern design ultimately achieves the exact blend of luxury, practicality and sustainability envisioned for this unique project.

For more information, visit the Blu Bathworks Products page.

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