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This New England Farmhouse is a healthy home and was
designed as such from the start. Given the significant rise
in rates of allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities,
the client family placed the highest priority on indoor
air quality. Being very active, they were also willing
to trade house size for a prime location that offered a
walking community lifestyle. Additional goals included meeting
Not So Big House principles because of the site's modest
footprint, and minimizing energy used by the home to lighten
its carbon footprint.
Health: ZED's holistic approach to design
was a natural fit for meeting the homeowner's health goals
since allergy and chemical sensitivities are impacted by
materials selected during design and used in construction
as well as the mechanical heating and cooling systems. During
design, ZED worked with
Aedi Construction and the client to specify materials
that would not emit irritating gases. ZED also worked with
Sustainable Construction Services to prescribe Jobsite Etiquette
for the contractor in order to ensure a healthy home.
To avoid a ducted air system and address the homeowner's
indoor air quality sensitivities, ZED designed a radiant
heating system for the living areas, while the bedrooms
received ductless heat pumps that will provide both heating
and cooling. An energy recovery ventilator connected to
a HEPA filter will provide fresh air ventilation without
an energy penalty and without admitting outdoor allergens
into the home.
Not So Big House: A prime location in
town comes with a smaller lot and reduced house size when
compared to typical suburban living. In addition to leaving
the car parked when addressing their community and shopping
needs, the family will spend a substantial amount of time
in the house; they not only work from home but also home
school. Since it was essential that the design meet the
family's current needs and appeal to future homeowners,
each space has multiple uses, which simultaneously minimize
the building footprint and construction budget.
The children's bedroom opens up to a guest bedroom that
will be used as a play area and for home schooling. The
first floor home office faces the northern park view, giving
plenty of ambient light, which is well-suited for work tasks.
It can also serve as an ADA accessible bedroom for an elderly
or disabled guest or future homeowner and is complemented
by an ADA accessible full bathroom. In the upstairs master
bedroom, an alcove off of the bedroom will serve as a secondary
office space, which a future homeowner may decide to use
as a walk-in closet.
High energy efficiency home: As with
many homeowners, this family's first thought was to install
solar panels on the home. However, ZED used its design and
energy modeling to convince them to prioritize more cost-effective
efficiency improvements such as extra insulation, high-performance
windows, and an efficient heating and cooling system. Further,
ZED worked with the client to balance between daylighting
goals, passive solar gains, and heat loss by evaluating
numerous window layouts, window models/manufacturers, and
glazing options. This input enabled the owner to select
a layout package that offered the most attractive total
cost of ownership, daylit space, and a future upgrade path
for renewable energy.
The resulting design satisfies the homeowner's desire
for ample daylighting while ensuring a high-performance
building envelope and respecting the budget. Each room in
the house has windows on at least two walls - ensuring two
different light sources and optimal cross ventilation. Windows
on the north side are modest compared to the south side
and provide a beautiful view of the park across the street.
The overall design is Energy Star Certified to consume 50%
less energy than a typical brand new home.
Panelization and add'tl design services by
Connor Homes.
General contracting by Aedi
Construction.
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