New take on Mid-century Modern Style
This home is designed in the mid-century modern design style in keeping with the TAC built homes of the neighborhood. The exterior is clad with stained vertical cedar siding commonly used on the mid-century modern homes in the area. The siding is installed with a continuous rain screen to promote ventilation and drainage for long lasting siding.
This home received a HERS rating of 20 (approaching zero net energy house), which means that it is expected to use 20% of the energy of the standard code compliant home. This home was also awarded Energy Star Tier III certification. To achieve this, the exterior walls are built with double wall construction. The 2×4 inner wall studs are offset from a 2×6 outer wall which allows 10” of foam insulation to prevent conduction between inner and outer walls. The roof has 8” structural insulated panels, which also eliminates thermal conduction between the interior and exterior surfaces.
Thermotech Fiberglass Fenestration triple pane fiberglass insulated-framed windows and glass doors were used which have a Thermal resistance rating of about R-9, vs standard construction double-pane windows that have thermal resistance rating of about R-3. This allowed the use of a lot of glazing for excellent views out to the wooded conservation land behind the property while creating a highly energy efficient home.
The house is heated by a Hybrid solar hot water heating system. The system utilizes solar water collectors, which heat a water-heater tank that has a built in sealed propane boiler booster. The solar water heat system provides heat for the concrete radiant floors, which heat the entire lower level. The Hybrid solar system also provides the domestic hot water.
The house is also heated and cooled by two Carrier infinity air systems powered with Greenspeed heat pumps. These air systems also have a hydro-air coil fed by the solar hybrid heating systems. When the exterior air temperature drops below the optimum efficiency range of the heat pumps, the hybrid solar hot water hydro air system will automatically take over.
This house tested at 1.0 ACH 50. Since the house is so tight and well-insulated, an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) unit provides air exchange while recovering much of the heat energy.
The home utilizes LED and Compact Fluorescent lighting as much as possible. The 6kw photovoltaic solar array on the roof helps provide the electricity for the heat-pumps and the homes electrical requirements.
Many renewable materials were used on the interior including the cork and bamboo flooring, and the solid bamboo kitchen cabinets. The patterned bluestone walk was made using bluestone recycled from the owner’s previous residence.
The kitchen faucets have touch sensors that allow them to be turned on/off by touching them, and the half-bath upstairs has a sensor activated sink, conserving water. All toilets are Toto low-volume (1.28/flush) systems, and showers are Hans Grohe watersens energy star systems. The living room has a fireplace, which is a sealed propane-fueled unit, which draws air from outside for combustion, and exhausts back outside, radiating heat into the house without drawing warm air from the house. Storm water is collected from the roof and driveway areas and conveyed to a drywell to reduce runoff.
The guest bath is custom-tiled and open handicapped accessible as part of a main-floor accessible guest suite. This is to accommodate guests with accessibility needs and to allow for aging in place.