This home was constructed with an envelope whose insulation is more than 2x the code requirements. It is quieter, safer, and more comfortable than the standard house, making it ideal for family life. The fact that exterior noise is all but eliminated also makes it ideal for those working virtually from home. See below for assembly specifics.

This home's airtight construction reduces drafts, noise, and moisture. It improves air quality by keeping out smoke, dust, pollen, car exhaust, and insects. During power outages, the home maintains comfortable temperatures for much longer than a standard home. The home was tested at 0.41 air changes per hour as compared to the Energy Star requirement of 2.5 air changes per hour. See below for assembly specifics.

A HRV (heat recovery ventilator) provides fresh, filtered air 24/7 with minimal heat loss in the winter or heat gain in the summer. Fresh air is constantly supplied by the efficient Zehnder CA350 to bedrooms and living areas and is exhausted from the kitchen, bathrooms, and the basement for superior air quality.

This home utilizes an air-to-air heat pump, an efficient way of providing conditioned air. Instead of creating heat as does a furnace, the pump uses refrigerant to transfer heat from the outside compressor to the inside fan coil unit. Maximum heat load for the entire house is approximately 5,000 BTU/hr, which is equivalent to a 1,500 watt hair dryer. Specific heating demand: 3.6 kBTU/ft^2yr

The high-efficiency Sanco2™ heat-pump water heater is 5x more efficient than traditional water heater. It allows off-peak power usage, has a better first-hour rating than all heat-pump water heaters, and is faster to recover after hot water draw of up to 175 °F. Heater is a two-part system consisting of a tank indoors and a heat pump unit outdoors that works like a reverse air-conditioner, drawing heat energy from the atmosphere and applying it to water from the tank. Technology already utilized globally for industry and for households in Japan, Australia and other countries.

South-facing windows utilize fixed shading devices to provide summertime shading. Exterior blinds are provided on the large east-facing windows of the primary bedroom to reduce unwanted solar gain. See below for assembly specifics.

Developed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and its national laboratories, the Home Energy Score provides homeowners, buyers, and renters directly comparable and credible information about a home’s energy use. Each Home Energy Score is shown on a simple one-to-ten scale, where a ten represents the most efficient homes (U.S. Dept. of Energy, energy.gov). This home is rated 10. HES Report