Page 29 - Green Builder Magazine March-April 2018 Issue

MORE INFO ON THIS PROJECT: www.greenbuildermedia.com/hoty

MAIN FLOOR BEFORE RENOVATION

ENCLOSED
PORCH PARLOR KITCHEN
DINING ROOM

OFFICE SITTING ROOM LIVING ROOM

MAIN FLOOR AFTER RENOVATION

KITCHEN
MUD
ROOM
ENTRY

DINING LIVING ROOM
PARLOR SUNROOM
ROOM

Instead, remodelers relied upon surgical excavation, in which a five- The Minnesota Net Zero Victorian is a certified Zero Energy
inch trench is hydro-vacuumed next to the foundation. The trench is Building with the Living Futures Institute and performs at net
then refilled with about two inches of expanded polystyrene (EPS) positive energy, according to Sloot. In its first year of occupation,
insulation. the house has produced 17,000 kWh while using only 12,000 kWh.
Builders also overcame the effect of a cold, wet Minnesota winter Additional green building certifications are expected, including LEED
upon the usual self-adhesive membrane used with outdoor insulation. Platinum, GreenStar Gold and MN Green Path Master Level. The
The team chose 3M’s Air and Vapor Barrier, which proved pliable, home’s HERS Index score is -9.
thinner and workable in really cold weather. “We went into this Since the project’s completion in 2016, the Hermans have eagerly
expecting to use a more common form,” Sloot says. “But the way the shared their experience through architectural tours. More than 1,600
schedule played out, we were having to do a lot of the work during people have visited the home for ideas on how they could move
the winter. We had to find a product with a different membrane their residences closer to net zero. “People are able to monitor how
that would work.” the house performed,” Sloot says. “It’s one thing if it looks great on
Other upgrades reflected a philosophy of “conservation first.” These paper, but you need to see it work in real life.” GB
included continuous air sealing and thick exterior insulation from
footing to ridge utilizing Cocoon and Pressure Equalized Rain Screen
Insulated Structure Technique (PERSIST) methods, triple-paned Project Stats
windows, a high-efficiency ground source heat pump heating and NAME: Minneapolis Net Zero Victorian
cooling system, a condensing clothes dryer and water heater with ARCHITEC T/DESIGNER: SALA Architects
heat pump technology, and LED lighting throughout the home. For BUILDER: Sean Morrissey, Morrissey Builds
energy production, there is a 54-panel photovoltaic solar array on PHOTOGRAPHER: Troy Thies Photography
the house and garage.

www.greenbuildermedia.com March/April 2018 GREEN BUILDER 27

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