ENGLISH RESIDENCE

LOCATED ON PILGRIM LAKE, ORLEANS, MA

Located on Pilgrim Lake, Orleans, MA, the English Residence is certified LEED-Gold under the USGBC’s LEED for Homes program and has achieved Energy Star Certification. This project has attained a HERS Index rating of 39.

Read about the energy-efficient and green aspects of this project as featured in USA Today.

LIVE ROOF – Green Roofing System

Live Roof® roof garden, grown by Prides Corner Farms, Inc, was installed on a portion of the flat roof to; mitigate roof runoff, provide a ‘cooler’ roof in the summer, add aesthetic quality.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Preparation has been made for two future Thermo Dynamics Solar thermal collectors, which is designed to handle 50-70% of the domestic hot water needs.
13 solar electric (photovoltaic) panels, installed by our partner, Clean Energy Design, produce 2.54KW of power, which will produce 1/3 of the annual demand through a net-metering setup with the utility provider. A significant portion of this system’s cost will be offset by State and Federal tax credits and rebates. Visit www.dsireusa.org for more information.

INTERIOR FINISHES

Custom kitchen cabinetry and built-ins were built and installed by Ted Franklin, Wellfleet. Counter tops are Ceasarstone® quartz.

Flooring consists of bamboo flooring throughout, with tile in the main entry/ hallway and bathrooms.

Wood doors are solid, flush birch.

Trim details consist of drywall returns for windows and doors, wood window sill, and wood baseboard.

Paints, urethanes, glues and adhesives contain ‘no’ or ‘low’ VOC.

HVAC

Designed the architect/mechanical engineer ZeroEnergy Design and installed by our partner South Shore Heating and Cooling

Buderus, high efficiency with an AFUE rating of 94%

Lennox air conditioning with a SEER rating of 14.5

Buderus indirect hot water tank includes two coils with the future, primary means of domestic water heated by the coil linked to the solar panels.

Wirsbo radiant floor heating throughout the 1st floor, with secondary heat via hydro-air system.

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) for adequate air circulation throughout the house.

EXTERIOR TRIM, WINDOWS, AND SIDEWALL

Impact resistant, Low E windows, sliders and doors, supplied by Shepley Wood Products.

Horizontal CVG red cedar siding and trim, Hardie® panels and Homeslicker® rainscreen/breather was supplied by Specialty Builders Supply.

Rubber membrane roofing system, metal wall caps, scuppers and downspouts and various metal flashings were supplied and/or installed by our partner, Cazeault Roofing.

Decking material, supplied by F.D. Sterritt Lumber Co., was FSC ‘Garapa Mahogany’.

INSULATION

Installed by Green Stamp Insulation using Lapolla™ spray foam insulation throughout provided a high R-value envelope that greatly reduces air leakage through framing cavities. In addition, 1” of rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation board was installed on the interior of the exterior walls to provide additional R-value and to act as a ‘thermal break’ between the framing members and interior wall finish.

FRAMING

Since this project fell under the new, 7th Edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code, and due to it’s proximity to the water, it was subject to engineered analysis and design for construction located with a 110mph wind zone and a Wind Borne Debris Zone. As a result, non-typical framing methods trumped efficiency and several possible LEED points were not attainable. Nonetheless, detailed framing plans combining pre-cut engineered wood framing, FSC framing lumber, and pre-manufactured open-web floor trusses, minimized construction waste while incorporating recycled wood material into the project. All framing materials were purchased through our partner, Shepley Wood Products.

FOUNDATION

Reinforced 10” thick foundation walls were installed with a rubberized foundation waterproofing on the exterior. On the interior, 3” closed cell insulation was applied to the entire surface providing the required R-value for the conditioned basement and crawl space areas. Long embedded anchors extend through the floor and anchor the ends of designed shear walls, which prevent lateral displacement in the absence of adequate plywood sheathing.

SITE

This site was previously developed and fell within the jurisdiction of local Conservation Commission. The project included tearing down a portion of the existing structure and replacing with a new, 3 bedroom home, which was reattached to the remaining portion. A new Title V septic system was also installed. Adhering to a tight limit of work, the LEED requirement for 40% undisturbed area of existing buildable land was achieved.

CERTIFICATION PROVIDERS

LEED for Homes Certification provided by ZeroEnergy Design
Energy Star for Homes and additional energy and building performance consulting by Bruce Torrey at Building Diagnostics