Contemporary Green-Tech House
This home incorporates many “green” technologies in a custom home. The home has been designed and constructed to utilize many energy-saving features and techniques, while focusing on indoor air quality for the health and safety of the occupants.
The heat, hot water, and air conditioning for the house is provided by a geothermal closed-loop system that utilizes four 450’ deep wells. The photovoltaic solar array on the upper roof supplies the home’s electrical requirements. The home also utilizes a combination of LED and fluorescent lighting to reduce energy use.
The house is insulated with open- and closed-cell foam that provides excellent insulation and air sealing. The EIFS stucco system also provides an additional 2 inches of rigid foam insulation on the entire building exterior. This continuous insulation air seals the building envelope, adds thermal resistance, and prevents thermal bridging, there are three energy recovery ventilators to provide air exchange to improve indoor air quality, while recovering much of the heat energy.
To reduce water run-off from the roof, the lower roofs have an extensive green roof, consisting of seven different varieties of sedum. There is also a small intensive deep green roof area on the master balcony. All remaining roof runoff is collected and conveyed to three storm water collection systems that infiltrate the remaining storm water into the ground on site. To further reduce water runoff, the driveway has been constructed of pervious pavers. The site irrigation system is provided by an irrigation well.
On the interior, whenever possible, non-VOC containing materials were used, with as much recycled content as feasible. During construction, efforts were also made to reuse and recycle as much as possible.
The house incorporates a four-stop elevator, and all areas of the house are wheelchair accessible. The house is also set up to provide a potential auxiliary apartment. The home includes a “therapy room” with a 14′ exercise pool and an exercise area connected to a greenhouse.