Specifications for New Dwelling:

Design and materials selection principles:

  1. Building should be as energy efficient as economically feasible;

  2. Materials should be environmentally responsible, employing the “green” sustainable environment principles;

  3. Building should incorporate accessible design to be visitable, allowing disabled persons to visit without barriers.

Every effort in the design and selection info the materials being used in the structure is an attempt to be as environmentally conscious, with both passive solar design incorporated into the front southern facing wall and an active solar electric generating system integrated in the roofing.  The structure is designed to be as low an energy-consuming structure as possible, with high insulation values in the exterior envelope.

All materials are selected to reflect concern for using recycled and/or recyclable materials as possible.  Materials selected are resistant or impervious to destruction by wood destroying insects, especially termites.

All materials’ finishes are designed to be long lasting and extremely low maintenance. 

Building is designed to provide for installation of an integrated roof solar photovoltaic electric generating system measured as 2.5 kilowatts, using a net metering grid tied inverter, putting electricity back into the electric grid when electric production exceeds the home’s demand.

Building is designed to have a large usable third floor attic area which will incorporate a large work/play space or a fourth or fifth bedroom.

The basement is designed to be usable space using water-tight insulated factory-produced panelized walls together with insulation under the concrete floor to keep space temperate and dry.  Two very adequate egress windows will provide both plentiful light to the space during the day as well as provide for safety egress in case of fire.

Windows will be double-hung, vinyl or wood Energy Star rated for energy efficiency.

Electric fixtures and appliances will be Energy Star rated for energy efficiency.

The HVAC system will feature very high efficiency heating and central air conditioning with an exterior venting system for fresh air intake, making the home healthy, though very tight in air penetration or leakage.

Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials will be used for paint, cabinets, flooring, etc., making the home as healthy as possible for the resident.

Specifications for Materials and Systems: 

  1. Basement: Superior walls with two egress windows manufactured by Bowman Kemp.

  2. Framing:  Energy Wise (proprietary) panelized exterior wall and roof system.  R-30 walls and R-50 roof.

  3. Floor joists:  Metal Dietrich Trade Ready Floor system.

  4. Roof:  Englert or Drexel metals 16-inch wide, 1-inch standing seam lifetime metal roof with 50-year finish.

  5. Siding:  Fiber cement siding – Hardiplank or equal.  All trim shall be wrapped with vinyl coated aluminum.

  6. Flooring:  renewable pre-finished bamboo plank flooring in the general living areas.  Ceramic tile in the solar oriented rooms (first floor living room and front bedrooms), kitchen and baths to help collect heat during the day for radiation back into the home at night.

  7. 94% AFUE gas forced hot air furnace with 14 SEER central air-conditioning (RHEEM or equal).

  8. PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) piping hot and cold water systems with a distribution manifold for joint-less and solder-less system (Vanguard or equal).  This will reduce water usage due to smaller diameter piping and less water drawn to obtain hot water upon demand.

  9. Energy Star rated refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer and dishwasher (Kenmore or equal).

  10. Interior walls: 24 gauge steel studs with 1/2 –inch gypsum board (Gold Bond or equal).

  11. Six panel hollow core doors (masonite or equal) with MDF trim.

  12. Raised panel oak finish kitchen cabinets (Merrilat or equal).

  13. Interior walls shall be flat finish latex paint on all walls and ceilings, except kitchen and bath walls which shall be eggshell finish enamel.  All doors and trim shall be eggshell enamel.  (MAB Rich Lux or equal.)

  14. Exterior paint on fiber cement siding shall be eggshell finish latex enamel (MAB Sea Shore or equal).

  15. 2.5 Kilowat photovoltaic system shall incorporate the following products:

    1. Unisolar laminate panels in the flats of the roofing.

    2. SMA “Sunny Boy” inverter (or equal).

 

 

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