The Goal:
To reduce one family's carbon footprint, while creating a beautiful habitat using local
building products and a local team.
The Challenge:
To design and build an Energy Star certified 2000 sq ft home for under
$400,000.
The Property:
A small sloping lot above flood plain,
is located in a moderate to high growth area east of Burlington,
Vermont. Basics included: digging a well (520 ft), bringing in
phone and cable, wiring a post and beam home, installing a pump station to
pump septic up to the field, burying a propane tank, and connecting the
next door wood shop to all utilities.
The Heating Design:
Multiple heat sources: propane
radiant, assisted by a small Vermont Castings catalytic wood stove, and
passive solar collection. The owner has future plans to add solar panels for
pre-heated water. Also installed were an air exchange
system for a "tight" house, an energy-efficient well pump in a
pilot project, interior energy star lighting, and energy star appliances.
