Page 52 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2022 Issue

Key Components The stylish, 3,120-square-foot

single-family home in Tofte, Minne-
ALTERNATIVE BUILDING SYSTEMS: Structural sota, was constructed on Lake Supe-
insulated panels (SIPs) with Neopor foam core rior’s often-windy northern shore.
by Energy Panel Structures FLOOR
This made it essential that the house LIVING
APPLIANCES: Wolf, Subzero and Fisher & Paykel have an airtight envelope and excep- PLAN
Automotive (electric car charging, etc.): Tesla tional insulation to help make it as as
charging station
energy efficient as possible, accord-
BUILDING ENVELOPE: SIPs with Neopor foam ing to Anton Moody, owner of Taiga
core by Energy Panel Structures (walls R-26, Design+Build in nearby Grand Marais,
roof R-50, floor R-50) KITCHEN
Minnesota.
CABINETS, SHELVES, MILLWORK: Semi- Moody’s choice was clear: He used
handmade front and panels, IKEA boxes
structural insulated panels (SIPs), a
COUNTERTOPS: Richlite by Richlite product that he has worked with many PRIMARY
DECKS: Ipe by Advantage Lumber times. “[Anton] finds the pre-engineer- BEDROOM
ing, ease and speed of installation and
ELECTRICAL: All LED, by Philips-Lightolier and air tightness superior to conventional
others
framing,” notes Lee Bergum, district
EXTERIOR FINISHES: ZALMAG cupped tiles by sales manager for Energy Panel Struc-
Millennium Forms; Cambia Thermally Modified tures, the manufacturer of the SIPs PRIMARY POWDER
Poplar by Northland Forest Products installed BATHROOM WALK-IN ROOM
CLOSET
over rain screen over Henry Blueskin VP100 used during construction. “SIPs save
time and labor costs. The roof panels
FIRE PROTECTION: Nest Protect smoke and CO2 enabled this project to get closed in
detectors. No suppression.
faster, using less energy expense dur-
FIREPLACE: House: Regency City Series corner ing build.” ! Factoid
unit. Cabin: Regency Contura. Roof Deck: The designer/builder used 6-inch
Modfire AStROFIRE
Neopor R-30 walls and 10-inch Neo- In 1999, Minnesota native and future Taiga
FLOORING: Durramen Concrete Coating over por R-50 panels for the roof. The SIPs Design+Build owner Anton Moody was exploring the
Gyp-Crete floor underlayment
helped the Bunker Residence to an high desert mountains of Baker City, Oregon and
GARAGE DOORS: Clopay estimated Home Energy Rating Sys- realized that he would seek out a landscape of
HVAC/DUCTS: Navien boiler and on demand tem (HERS) Index of 28 and a blower similar scale and beauty when he returned to
hot water maker; in floor heat throughout; door test result of 0.89 air changes per Minnesota. Grand Marais is where he found it.
Slant/Fin Monitron electric boiler; Mitsubishi hour (ACH).
mini-split unit. in the winter, while large shade trees
INSULATION: Neopor foam in SIP panels (R-26 GETTING WARMER provide extra cooling during summer.
walls, R-50 floors, R-60 roof) The home also features dual fuel, in- “The clients wanted us to build a
LANDSCAPING: Native planting by Taproot floor, radiant heat. The primary heat piece of art they could live in, while
Landscaping, hardscaping by Taiga Design+Build source for the hydronic fluid is an remaining true to our standard of
interruptible Slant/Fin Monitron elec- energy efficiency and quality materi-
LIGHTING: Peak Electric/Taiga Design+Build
tric boiler with 100 percent efficiency. als,” Moody says. “It was a fun back and
PAINTS AND STAINS: Sherwin-Williams The secondary source is a Navien pro- forth between us as we found oppor-
PAVERS: Techo-Bloc pane boiler with 95 percent efficiency, tunities to create spaces they desired.”
which also serves as a secondary Such opportunities included
PLUMBING/PLUMBING FIXTURES: Kohler
source of domestic hot water. reclaiming old foundation as a place
ROOF: EPDM rubber over tapered foam by An EcoTech air exchanger provides where the owners could house their
Duluth Roofing
outside air. Loewen windows (with wine collection and share their pas-
VENTILATION: Fantech 0.27 U-Factor) and doors throughout, sion of wine. There are also large
WATER HEATING: Navien total LED lighting, and low-volatile exterior glulam beams for aesthetics,
organic compound (VOC) paints com- and a walkout deck over the kitchen
WATER MANAGEMENT (INDOOR/OUTDOOR): plete the overall green construction that allows for entertaining. “The
Native planting green roof on house, Taiga
end of the project. view is breathtaking,” Bergum notes.
DESIGN+BUILD AND TAPROOT LANDSCAPING The house offers expansive views of “The home is very efficient, quiet and
WINDOWS, SKYLIGHTS, PATIO DOORS: Loewen the lake in all directions. Large south- withstands the harsh winds of Lake
windows and doors ern windows allow for natural heating Superior. This was a fun project.” GB

50 GREEN BUILDER January/February 2022 www.greenbuildermedia.com