Project Team

Rachel Stevens's picture

BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Business Member Green Company Manager Member

Rachel Stevens's picture

BE Boston 21 Registrants BE Boston 24 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference Business Member Green Company Manager Member

Architect

Edy Ambroz's picture

BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference

Edy Ambroz's picture

BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference

Architect

Edy Ambroz's picture

BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference

Edy Ambroz's picture

BE Boston 20 Registrants BE Boston 21 Registrants BuildingEnergy 16 Full Conference

Builder
Other Team Member

Other Team Members

Chuck Witham, Lynne Badgett, Libby McLarty on Build Team

Ratings, Awards and Recognition

Ratings:

Energy Star Tier III
Pathways to Zero Grant Program, Mass DOE

HERS Index::
-7

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity: "Not only is this build our first Easthampton home, but it is also our first ever Women Build home and our first zero net energy potential house!  That's a lot of firsts!"  This is a fitting project to be the MJ Adams Legacy Build, in honor of the chapter's first director.

This project aimed to raise the bar in a lot of areas where PV Habitat has been gaining ground in the past decade.  Energy efficiency and waste reduction were getting more and more successful, and we thought a bold goal would be a great way to stretch capabilities.

The cottage-style two-story home is the west side of a zero-lot-line project, where each family independently owns their land and home even though they share a wall, which helps reduce envelope exposure.  A 4-bedroom, 2-bath home, it will be occupied by a single mother with three children.  Due to a generous donation from PV Squared of a huge array--over 7kW--the home has the potential to reach net zero depending on the family's use patterns.

* Orientation and design of the building to have large windows on the south side to capture sun in the winter and large roof overhang to minimize sun in the summer when the sun is higher
* Double 2x4 walls (an outside wall and a separate inside wall) with dense pack cellulose insulation in between
* High efficiency double pane windows
* Sealing all window, door and sheathing joints to minimize outside air infiltration, with multiple air sealing tests made possible by expert volunteers with blower doors
* High efficiency heating, cooling and hot water systems

Quick Facts

General

Location Easthampton, Massachusetts
Building Type single-family residence, attached at lot line
Project Type Zero Energy
Basis of Performance Claim Modeled
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2.0
Conditioned Floor Area 1,575 sq ft
Total Cost of Project $163,183

Energy Summary

Energy Data Type Modeled
Renewable Energy System Type(s) Photovoltaics
Ratings

Energy Star Tier III
Pathways to Zero Grant Program, Mass DOE

HERS Index -7
Annual renewable energy generated 7,417 kWh/year

Envelope and Mechanicals

Subslab assembly

4" XPS (donated by Dow)

Foundation wall assembly

slab on grade

Above grade wall assembly

double-stud dense packed cellulose, 11.5" frame to frame

Door Assembly

Therma-Tru Smooth Star S601LE

Air Changes per hour, ACH50 1.40 ACH50