Built in the mid-90s, this traditional-looking 2-story home with wrap-around porch offers the charm of an older rural home but with substantial improvements for resource efficiency, comfort and modern convienence. Its plan is mostly open and well designed for natural ventilation, passive solar and daylighting. A passive "sunspace" on the south (left side) was cut for cost reasons, but could be easily added in the future. In the meantime, large south windows admit plenty of winter sun. A solar water-heating system is mounted on the steep south roof where it's unseen from the street. A detached, similarly-styled 1-story garage with carpenter's workshop is to the right, beyond this photo's view. The workshop was sited not only to optimize daylighting and ventilation, but also to allow easy visual supervision of children in the right-side yard. Special attention during construction minimized toxins and allergens in finishes, excessive embodied energy in building and finish materials, and environmental degradation from careless selection or use of materials and finishes.
Energy Efficiency Features:
R-60 attic insulation (blown-in cellulose)
R-24 wall insulation (fiberglass batts in 2x6 cavities + exterior foam wrap)
R-24 wood foundation walls, (finished from day-one)
Foam-insulation below and at edges of basement slab
Casement & awning windows placed for passive solar and natural ventilation
Tri-pane HeatMirror glazings with varied solar heat gain coefficients based on orientation
Active solar water heating
12 SEER air-to-air heatpump
Sealed ductwork
Efficient low-emissions wood-burning fireplace
Compact fluorescent bulbs
In 2001 before the solar water heating system was added, energy used by this home's 4-person household was only $1016 in electricity plus 1 cord of free firewood. In 2004 after solar water heating was added, the same household used $815 in electricity plus 2.5 cords of free firewood.
Copyright 2007 by:
John F. Robbins, CEM CSDP
3519 Moffett Road
Morningview, KY 41063-8748
Phone: (859) 363-0376
|
| E-mail: johnfrobbins@insightbb.com |