Page 17 - CodeWatcher Summer 2017

Development patterns aim to protect
as many of the land's existing tree
stands and vegetation through
delicate grading and efficient use of
space. To date, 30 of the projected
100 homes of this community have
been built ranging in price from
$1 million to $2.5 million.

Derry Cottage, a spec house built to EarthCraft House Virginia,
offers 3,245 square feet of living space. It is situated on 6.2 acres
of mature forest and offers an in-law suite above the garage. Only a
15 minutes from downtown Charlottesville, the house is is
currently on the market for $1,550,000.
including orienting houses to take advantage of wind
patterns, the path of the sun in winter to achieve passive
solar heating, daylighting, and natural cooling.
Open floor plans encourage natural air flow, which
provides cross ventilation and evenly distributed heating.
Roof overhangs and deciduous trees shade walls in summer
while allowing sunlight to enter and warm homes in winter.
Certain building materials can also contribute to passively
heating homes in the winter. For example, brick, rock, stone,
concrete and other masonry or earthen materials absorb
heat of sunny winter day and then release that heat during
darker, colder times. Keeping the home shaded from the
sun during hot periods of the year results in the internal
Green Program Benefits mass maintaining a lower temperature than the outside air.
Bundoran Farm has adopted EarthCraft House Virginia as its
minimum standard for homebuilding. This program, which Inside Look: Derry Cottage
was developed in 1999 and brought to Virginia in 2006, is One of the homes built on Bundoran Farm, and currently
designed specifically for the mixed-humid conditions of for sale, is Derry Cottage. It’s the third that Rob Johnson,
Virginia. (EarthCraft in Virginia has recently renamed itself head of Green Mountain Construction, has built on the farm
Viridiant). While an EarthCraft House may cost between using many of these techniques. In addition to using building
one and three percent more upfront, using these standards materials that make heating and cooling more efficient, the
ultimately results in savings through lower utility and builder uses all local vendors and materials, such as local
maintenance costs. Virginia soapstone. The house features white oak floors
EarthCraft homes are at least 20 percent more efficient made with local wood, countertops made from Virginia-
than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, based granite, and custom cabinetry made by a local vendor.
and because these homes use significantly less for heating, Johnson says that the house also includes many custom
cooling and water heating, homeowners can save between 20 features, such as customized trim that was created using a
to 40 percent on annual utility bills. This is achieved through blade crafted by a local vendor. “One thing that does stand
building envelope upgrades, high-performance windows, out is that all of the interior trim is a custom run profile,
controlled air infiltration, upgraded heating/AC systems, which is very attractive, and I would absolutely recreate that,
tight duct systems, and upgraded water-heating equipment. and it’s all local poplar.”
One of the main ways the community is able to build Derry Cottage uses smart thermostatic controls to achieve
energy smart homes is by use of passive design techniques, efficient heating and air conditioning, which can sense which

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