Project Subtitle:
Project Description:
Builder Mike Trolle is no stranger to high performance homes, so he fully embraced these concepts when designing his own home. The home was constructed on the site of a previous home, retaining the foundation wall for structural support. This Passive House has a thick thermal envelope, allowing it to use a single air source heat pump to provide heating and cooling for the entire home. One of the greatest features of this home is the low $60 heating bill during an extremely cold winter month. The home earned Indoor airPLUS certificaiton by installing low VOC paints, sealants, caulks, adhesives, and primers. The home is solar ready, with the largest roof surface facing south. Low flow plumbing fixtures were installed to conserve water. This thoughtfully constructed home is a testament to the hard work and expertise of the builder-homeowner.
Other Awards:
2013 CT Zero Energy Challenge Winner of Lowest HERS without PV category; Winner of the DOE's 2015 Housing Innovation Awards for Custom Innovation on the Path to Zero Net-Energy Ready Homes
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Materials:
Many parts of the previous home and site clearing were salvaged and reused, such as interior doors, paneling, bluestone, and natural stone. This was a green demolition so asbestos and lead were fully abated and clean debris was sorted off site.
HERS Index:
Subslab assembly:
Rigid insulation installed under addition slab on grade
Slab edge assembly:
Rigid insulation installed 18" below slab on grade
Foundation wall assembly:
Existing foundation wall was made water tight but thermal boundary is at the framed floor above this basement space.
Above grade wall assembly:
2x6 wood stud wall cavities were filled with R-20 dense pack cellulose. On the exterior side, 5.5" of R-38 of polyisocyanurate foam board was installed. Seams at plywood and polyisocyanurate layers were taped for added tightness. A hydrogap drainage plane was installed between the 2 layers of polyiso. Finally, a fiber cement siding provides a nice finish.
Flat attic assembly:
18" of cellulose was installed. The edges of plywood attic sheathing were taped for additional air tightness.
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Special architectural measures:
Although this home does not have solar thermal or PV panels, it is solar ready and passive design strategies were implemented. Overhangs on the south side of the home and a higher SHGC-0.61 to optimize solar gains.
Energy Use and Production Documentation:
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Scope Description:
Existing building on the site was demolished except for the foundation walls.
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Window Description:
Triple-pane, Low-E windows; Southern windows have SHGC-0.61 and skylight has SHGC-0.20
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Team Members:
BPC Green Builders, Wilton, CT; Mike Trolle, 203-563-9909, www.bpcgreenbuilders.com
Rater: Steven Winter Associates, Norwalk, CT; Karla Butterfield, kbutterfield@swinter.com; www.swinter.com