A dream come true for this community-minded couple.
Style: Contemporary / Size: 2 bed, 1 bath= 1,065 SF
ASHLEY’S NOTES
Priorities
This client wished to build their energy efficient forever home AND make it environmentally friendly. This is an important distinction because a building can save on heating and cooling without considering other environmental impacts. It is often more expensive and sometimes less comfortable to build in an environmentally friendly way and this client was up for the challenge.
It was important that the house be simple and accessible for long term living, well past retirement. It had to be durable and very low maintenance.
Designing this house was exciting. The owners were deeply committed to passive solar design and other aspects of “green design”. The challenge came with the budget where compromises had to be made, but the drive for high performance never waivered.
Not only that but one of the owners had been designing the house for a long while before I came on board. They read books about compact design and built several options in Sketchup. Priorities and program were well established and the work already done just made my job easier.
Work Done
For years, the clients had a yurt on this property. The land is relatively flat and required little grading. The build site was over 200’ away from the nearest electrical pole and, after careful consideration, a trench was dug to tie into the grid rather than rely on batteries.
Other than the new house, there’s a new solar shed on the property that produces as much energy as the house uses. And it provides storage! This build also required a new well and septic system.
Specs
ASSEMBLIES
Foundation is ICF frost walls with 4” of rigid EPS sub-slab insulation (R-20) and 2” of insulation (R-10) wrapped up the sides of the slab for a thermal break.
Walls are 2x6 studs with Rockwool cavity insulation and 2” of continuous polyiso rigid insulation on the exterior (R-33 total). And we always include strapping for a vent cavity/ rainscreen.
Roof is TJI rafters with 3” closed cell spray foam plus 9” of open cell spray foam (R-50) and a smart vapor barrier on the interior side.
EXTERIOR FINISHES
Composite siding in two different patterns with a high performance asphalt-shingle roof.
HVAC- IT’S ELECTRIC!
Electric heat pumps as the main source of heat. But we don’t want to rely entirely on heat pumps in our climate so there are a few supplemental electric baseboard heaters. Oh! And we can’t forget the electric towel heater which goes a long way to heat the compact bathroom.
ERV for fresh, clean air without heat loss as well as balanced indoor humidity.
WATER
Electric heat pump water heater.
Contractor
Interiors
The clients have great style. They picked all their finishes, fixtures, furnishings, the works!
Photography
These photographs were created by Katherine Ripley, a Kingfield-based interiors and architecture photographer and marketing consultant.
My Favorite Detail
Oddly enough, my favorite photo of this house is the last of the bonus shots I’ve included in this section. There’s dirt on the ground and some dark shadows over the windows. But those shadows are my favorite part. You can see how the overhangs are perfectly sized and placed to shade the large, south-facing windows. The photo was taken on the first of June at noon, those overhangs kept the interior cool while the outside was oppressively hot.
I also love the light shelf that doubles as a closet ceiling and home to a few glorious ferns.
This home is also a case study in tall ceilings making a small space feel bigger. I love it.
Want to build a new house?
Let me know! Perhaps we can collaborate to bring your vision to life.