Page 40 - Green Builder Sept-Oct 2020 Issue

DOE Annual Building Science Roundup A BETTER WAY

GARAGE

GREAT ROOM PATIO

STUDY

KITCHEN

THRIVE HOME BUILDERS
Panacea,  —

collection were designed to meet a snow roof by a -inch stack pipe with an inline
load of  pounds per square foot (PSF) and exhaust fan.
wind speeds of up to ­ mph.
The homes in the Panacea Collection GETTING THE MOST OUT OF
have basements with ƒ-inch concrete slab AIR AND WATER
floors and ƒ.„­-foot-tall basement walls The home’s heating and cooling is provided
with spray-on damp proo ng. Underneath by a very e“cient central heat pump with a
the slab is a ‡-mil vapor and radon barrier heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF)
that is sealed to the foundation with of .­ and a seasonal energy e“ciency ratio
polyurethane sealant. Beneath the barrier (SEER) of ƒ. A highly e“cient —„. AFUE
is a -inch-thick layer of ‰⁄‹-inch rock over gas furnace provides backup heat. All of
compacted soil. The basement walls have the mechanical equipment is located in the
a minimum -inch gap from the slab, and conditioned basement.
are anchored to pressure-treated lumber A MERV ‡ whole-house air puri er is
The roof was protected with ice-and-water with ‡-inch nails to allow for expansion included in every home for enhanced air
shield at all valleys, and from the eaves, up of the soil without aŽecting the structure. ltration. A continually operating energy
inches past the wall line. The deck was The walls are insulated with R- ­ unfaced recovery ventilator (ERV) with a MERV ƒ
covered with a synthetic water-resistant berglass batts. lter on the outside air intake provides clean
underlayment, and metal drip edge was Because Denver is in an area with a air, and draws stale air from the home. Smart
installed under the asphalt shingles. high radon potential, the builder installed indoor air quality monitors sense indoor air
an active radon venting system that quality issues.
A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER consists of a -inch perforated plastic pipe, The HVAC system’s mastic-sealed
To protect the home from the high winds installed along the inside perimeter of the metal supply and return ducts are located
and heavy snow loads the Denver area foundation walls to collect soil gases under completely within the conditioned space of
is known for, the homes in the Panacea the slab. These are vented through the the home. The tightly air-sealed home was

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