This retreat looks 100 years old, but it’s a new green masterpiece.
> Project Name: Zero Energy Casita, Fort Worth, Texas
> Builder: Don Ferrier, Ferrier Custom Homes
> Architect: Bundy, Young, Sims & Potter
> Photographer: Travis Laminack Photography
When the owners of this 1,015-square-foot weekend lake cabin explained their dream to builder Don Ferrier, they told him they wanted the house to look like it had been there for 100 years. What they got was a net-zero gem that is currently the greenest house in Texas per the Green Built Texas certification program.
The home uses reclaimed and sensitively chosen products to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings. The HERS 30 house gets to net zero through wind power. Its siting—which takes advantage of a 50’ oak and five 30’ crepe myrtles—and the deep overhangs keep solar heat gain in check. The house off ers plenty of natural ventilation and daylighting, which also reduces energy loads.
To provide the requested century-old aesthetics, Ferrier integrated 85-year-old deconstructed barn siding, 100-year-old deconstructed tongue-and-groove wood subfloor from a chicken coop for interior wood floors, and 150-year-old timbers from a deconstructed timber frame barn.
While the reclaimed look of the house is attractive, it’s how it was put together that is important to the home’s performance. “We increased the size of the west side porch for better sun shading,” Ferrier notes. “We still have west windows but with a 12’ porch instead of a 6’ or 8’ to delay the sun from coming through the windows.”
“The number one rule in hot summer climates is to keep the sun out of the house,” Ferrier reminds. Equally important is to make the home super tight. “You can have great insulation, but if the house leaks, so what?”
Ferrier credits a good builder/design team and the owner for this successful project: “The owners understood the investment [in sustainable features] and thought the return was worth it in terms of health and financial investment. They see that value is not best price per square foot.”
AMANA 150 ERC
Featuring a washable, electrostatic, panel-type air fi lter and an energy-efficient aluminum heat recovery ventilator core, this product offers a lifetime limited warranty.
www.amana-hac.com
SKYSTREAM WIND TURBINE
The Skystream 3.7 works in tandem with your electric utility to power your house. When the wind isn’t blowing, the utility supplies your electricity. But when it’s windy out, the Skystream pivots to catch the best wind and provides clean, quiet electricity.
www.skystreamenergy.com
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GreenBuilder 12.2010
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