Page 40 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2020 Issue

Compound plan. Designers took a
multi-faceted approach to improving
the green efficiency of a clustered
residential dwelling consisting of a
new home, existing cottage and
carport. CREDIT: TIM RIDLEY

Something old, something new. The Megumi House equally blends new
materials, such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), with recycling efforts such
Historic District Infill Home as reusing the existing basement foundation. CREDIT: ROSA VISTA ROMA VISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

For this multi-part project, going green became a real group effort.

HE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT in Decatur, Georgia, was to
construct a new, high-performance main house and parking Multipurpose room.
structure to complement an existing historic cottage set at the The home’s large
screened porch, situated
rear of the property. The result is a compound of buildings atop a recycled fill-based
T that includes the new home, and carport and an existing slab, offers a dining and
cottage, which serves as rental property. entertainment location.
A prominent feature is the large screened porch for dining and CREDIT: TIM RIDLEY
entertaining. The drive and carport also serve as an outdoor entertainment
area. The home’s foundation is a slab installed on recycled ll inside
concrete stem walls, faced with thin brick to recreate the look of a historic
crawlspace. The slab is insulated at its edge and underneath, †‡ inches
inside the perimeter.
Framing combined open corners, T-WALLs, right-sized headers, †‡-inch
on center (OC) studs, and ZIP System R-sheathing. ZIP sheathing was
installed on top of the second Œoor ceiling framing and taped to wall a top-of-slab vapor/termite barrier and borate treatment of all wood three
sheathing, creating an air-tight building envelope. At completion, the house feet above the slab.
tested at Ž.‘‘ air change rate (ACH) and received a Home Energy Rating Ductless mini-splits provide all space conditioning—one on the rst
System (HERS) rating of ‡’. Due to the number of mature trees surrounding Œoor, one in the owner’s suite, and one in the second Œoor hallway. A
the house, there was no opportunity to employ any solar power. transfer fan operates with the hallway mini-split to bring conditioned air
The environmentally friendly elements continue to stack up: The wall into front bedrooms and bath.
and ceiling insulation is blown berglass. Siding is installed over a vented A centrally located water heater and half-inch insulated cross-linked
rainscreen for durability and moisture management. Pest control includes polyethylene (PEX) piping supply hot water to WaterSense xtures within †Ž
seconds. Landscaping is all native, drought tolerant, and no turf. Paints are zero
volatile organic compounds (VOC) and Œoor nishes are low VOC. Energy
recovery ventilation (ERV) provides outside air. ENERGY STAR exhaust fans
were installed with short runs of rigid duct to meet designed Œow rates.
The driveway is pervious concrete and pavers, installed over a ›-inch bed
of gravel on top of geotextile fabric. This eliminates all runoœ from these
surfaces. Downspouts from the carport and rear of the house are piped to
underground Œow-wells to minimize site runoœ.
The result is a house that ts seamlessly into this historic neighborhood
that meets the highest level of green building criteria, having been
Go with the (air) flow. As part of its space conditioning features, ductless certi ed National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Emerald, LEED V‡
mini-splits and a transfer fan bring conditioned air into the home’s Platinum, EarthCraft Platinum, and Department of Energy (DOE) Zero
bedrooms and bath. CREDIT: TIM RIDLEY Energy Ready Home (ZERH).

38 GREEN BUILDER November/December 2020 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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