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Your home was built by students of the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center under the direction of a team of instructors, manufacturers, and professional subcontractors and with the guidance of building scientists from the NAHB Research Center. Every aspect of your homes design and construction was carefully implemented to minimize environmental impactfrom energy efficiency and moisture control, to reducing construction materials and waste and ensuring the quality of the indoor environment.
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What we did... |
What this means to you... |
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Geothermal ground-loop heat pump |
High-efficiency heating & cooling |
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Solar photovoltaic (PV) 4 KW Array |
Off-grid power, significantly reduced energy costs |
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Rainwater harvesting and reuse system |
Less public water usage, reduced stormwater runoff |
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Tight building design - advancing framing, energy efficient windows, cellulose insulation |
Year round indoor comfort, reduced noise |
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Low VOC finish materials, recycled products |
Reduced environmental impact, indoor air quality |
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Solar hot water array with tankless backup |
Reduced energy use heating potable water |
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Low flow faucets, dual flush toilets |
Less wasted water from daily activities |
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Energy Star appliances throughout |
Lower energy consumption |
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Extended roof overhangs, southern exposure |
Maximize the suns power for the home |
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Native plant & low water use landscaping |
Lower water consumption |
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Metal roofing system |
Long-lasting, durable material that looks great |
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And much more, giving this home a Gold rating |
See www.apprenticegreenhomes.com for details |
So what exactly does "cutting edge" look like? Here's a more complete list of techniques, processes and materials that went into our latest green home at Apprentice Green:
Site Design and
Development
Infill lot selected
Home is close to mass transit and community resources
Development on steep slopes avoided
Retaining wall reduces erosion
Limits of clearing and grading marked on plan
Stormwater management plan to mimic natural drainage
Permeable driveway
Landscape plan to minimize soil loss
Landscape plan uses native plants
Turf limited to 25% to 50% of lot area
Soil disturbance avoided in tree save areas
Topsoil stockpiled and stabilized for later use
Resource Efficiency
Structural framing techniques to minimize lumber
24 on-center stud spacing
In-line framing with single top plate
2-stud corners
Open-webbed floor trusses
Lumber waste minimized by detailed framing/cut lists
Building materials do not require on-site finishing:
Exterior trim
Vinyl-clad windows
Vinyl siding
Decking material
Enhanced durability/reduced maintenance features:
Covered entryways
Foundation perimeter drains on interior and exterior of that drain to sump
Drip edge at all eaves
Gutters and drains carry water at least 5 from foundation
Finish grade sloped 6 in 10-feet away from foundation
Physical termite barrier installed
Drainage plane (housewrap) installed behind siding
Ice barrier at roof eaves
Flashing details on plans and installed per plans
ENERGY STAR cool roof material
Recycling center in kitchen area
Recycled content materials used (cellulose insulation, fly ash concrete)
Jobsite waste sorted and recycled (wood, cardboard, metal, drywall)
Biobased materials used (certified sheathing, engineered lumber)
Wood from certified sustainable forests
Resource efficient materials used (precast bsmt walls, engineered rim joists,
open-webbed floor trusses)
Product selected based on Life Cycled Analysis (linoleum flooring compared to
ceramic tile)
Energy Efficiency
Insulation and air sealing installation verified by third party
Climate-appropriate windows
High-efficiency ground source heat pump
ENERGY STAR ceiling fan
ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat for each zone
LED lighting in at least half of hard-wired fixtures
Less than 1 recessed fixture penetrating 2nd floor ceiling per 400 s.f. floor
area
Occupancy sensors on Ό interior lights, photo or motion sensors on all outdoor
lights
ENERGY STAR dishwasher installed
Solar water heater
4.0-kW photovoltaic array
Duct system designed per industry standards
All ducts in conditioned space, no ducts in exterior walls, no panned joist
cavities
Heating/cooling equipment sized per industry standard procedures
All rooms with doors have return air pathway
HVAC system performance verified at start-up
Ducts tested by third party; leakage less than 6% total airflow
Very low whole-house air leakage levels
HVAC airflow balanced and within 25% of design flows
Water Efficiency
All hot water piping less than 40 feet
ENERGY STAR water-conserving appliances: dishwasher and clothes washer
All low-flow showerheads rated between 1.6 and 2.0 gpm
All lavatory faucets rated less than 1.5 gpm
Dual-flush toilets have 1.28 gpm average flush volume
Rainwater harvesting system
Indoor Environmental Quality
No natural draft heating equipment is installed
Fireplace vents directly to outdoors
Detached garage
Kitchen cabinets made from plywood with no added urea formaldehyde
Carpet, pad, and adhesives meet CRI Green Label
Hardwood flooring and linoleum meet Green Guard Children and Schools
certification program
Paints, caulk, and construction adhesives meet VOC limits of NGBS
Carbon monoxide alarms near each bedroom
All exhaust fans vented to the outdoors
Humidity controls on bathroom fans
Low-noise ENERGY STAR exhaust fans installed
Whole-house energy recovery fresh-air ventilation system
Passive radon mitigation system
HVAC registers covered during construction
Central vacuum system
All penetrations between conditioned and non-conditioned space sealed
Moisture Management
Vapor retarder under slab
Capillary break on footing and between foundation and framing
No building materials with visible mold
Walls allowed to dry before enclosure with drywall
No plumbing lines in exterior walls or unconditioned space
Operation, Maintenance, and Building Owner Education
A comprehensive homeowners manual is provided
A walk-through is conducted to familiarize the homeowner with the operation of
the home
