This house was designed to fit comfortably, and tread lightly, on a beautiful site fronting the mouth of the Presumpscot River. The shell of the building is very tight, allowing our thick, cellulose-insulated walls and ceilings to perform optimally. Triple-glazed windows and minimal roof and wall penetrations, along with a well-insulated slab, allowed us to downsize the heating system significantly, saving money upfront and for the long term.
Recently featured in the Journal of Light Construction, the leading home construction trade publication, the house is on track to receive a LEED Platinum or Gold rating late in 2009.
Architect Phil Kaplan of Kaplan-Thompson Architects (one of Maine's leaders in energy efficient design) used careful siting, roof overhangs and window placement to maximize useful solar gain in the winter while keeping things cool in the summer. Revision Energy designed and installed the very compact solar heat and hot water system, which feeds a radiant slab on the first floor. Horizon Residential Energy Services conducted the blower door tests to document the tightness of the home.
The relatively modest size of the house, combined with its high R-values, low air leakage and beautiful design, show the way for where residential design should be headed.
Efficient Homes
