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 Mech. Engineering 2268 SF 2004
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The owner’s stated goal was: “…to build a home that is healthy to live in using materials and systems with dramatically reduced impact on the environment.” Pursuit of this goal led them to embrace the “net-zero energy use concept” in which the residence produces as much or more energy than it consumes, with the excess energy being sold to the local power company. Among the many “Green” features and innovations employed in the design and construction of this home are a “living” roof, massive building materials that combine recycled wood fiber and concrete, photovoltaic and solar thermal collector systems, and a solar-integrated ground-coupled heat pump system. House energy systems are coordinated and monitored using direct digital controls. The home is also designed to take maximum benefit from passive heating and cooling through properly oriented walls and windows. In the owner’s words: “We can’t change the world, but we can make a difference. We can’t change the construction industry, but we can take a step.” |
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