The Westwood Hills Nature Center is part of a 160-acre nature park featuring prairie, forest, and marsh areas in the heart of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Working closely with the City and other partners, this Zero Energy building was designed to serve as a teaching tool, demonstrating passive and active strategies for energy efficiency and stormwater management, in addition to showcasing interpretive exhibits highlighting Minnesota’s landscape and wildlife habitat. One hundred percent of the Center’s annual energy needs are supplied by on-site renewable energy.  

Aggressive energy-efficient building design still poses challenges in colder climates like Minnesota. The design team and the owner felt it was important to deliver a proven and cost-effective way to achieve Net Zero Energy building design. Through the integrated development of the building form and passive energy reduction strategies, a high-performance envelope, advanced lighting, and effective use of proven heat pump technologies, the Westwood Hills Nature Center was able to achieve cost-effective Zero Energy Certification, eliminating the use of fossil fuels in its operation. Since its opening, the building design and energy-efficient systems have already served as an important educational piece to the region and the public. 

Notable facts about Westwood Hills Nature Center: 

• The Nature Center is an all-electric and fossil-fuel free building.
• The Center is Zero Energy Certified.
• Operational data shows the building as energy net positive. This means that on an annual basis, it produces more energy than it consumes.