Hidewood Meats

Comments on labor saving, construction time, construction costs, and energy savings:
Using SIPs saved the builder a great deal of time. SIPs were used for most of the interior walls as well as all of the exterior walls.  Using SIPs with factory-installed Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) also saved a huge amount of on-site labor costs.

Innovative design elements:
SIPs were used for all exterior walls plus interior wall and ceiling panels for the coolers, cutting room, freezer, and smokehouse.  A reinforced trussed system installed over the insulated SIP roof panels supports a rail system to move product from the chute to the hanging cooler and cutting room. The rail system support (trusses) must support 2,000-5,000 pounds per rail. FRP was installed at the factory for all interior surfaces; because it is a food processing facility, stainless steel nails were used to connect the SIP panels.

HVAC:
Propane-fueled, Rheem 95% efficient residential furnace heats the storefront, office, and restroom. The air is cooled in the summer with an electric Rheem central air unit. 
Compressors control the temperatures in the walk-in coolers and freezer.

Additional energy-efficient products or features:
There are three double-pane windows on the south and west-facing sides of the storefront that utilize solar gain in the winter months.

Additional energy-efficient products or design features:
LED lighting is installed throughout the building.

Sustainable materials or design features, i.e. low VOC finishes, landscaping, or recycled materials:
There was no paint needed for the interior which is covered in FRP.  The floors are unfinished concrete.

Additional comments:
The owners relocated from metro Minnesota to their hometown of Brandt (population 107) to start their own business.  Hidewood Meats services a multi-county agricultural community in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.

The owner, Kevin Nielsen, noted that other than some moisture issues early on (corrected with an air-handling system) he is very pleased with the efficiency and functionality of his building.