There is nothing quite as rewarding for a timber frame company to build a completely off-the-grid green timber frame home. Davis Frame Company, along with our partners, was more than happy to take on this challenge presented by one of our clients.
Off-site solar panels and collectors.
The timber frame home was designed by Sam Sherrill and overseen by our president, Jeff Davis. With a thick portfolio of building our timber frame homes, builder Dave Dutton, from Dutton Construction, Killington, VT, served as the timber frame assembler and builder.
This 3014 square foot modified Salt Box home, located on 80 acres in Central Vermont, incorporated the following into the design and plan:
- Passive Solar in design taking advantage of south facing lot to receive maximum sun exposure for the winter months.
- Reclaimed Douglas Fir timbers.
- Principal Common Rafter timber frame system.
- Insulated with Structural Insulated Panels (R-26 walls; R-40 ceiling)
- Loewen windows for maximum energy efficiency.
- Rogue Valley doors.
- Trim is inland cedar by Potlatch which is FSC certified cedar.
- Use of solar panels.
- Geothermal heat pump.
- Grid-tied photovoltaics.
- Masonry stove (used to store heat) - Tulikivi.
- Use of Energy Star appliances.
- Uses minimum to none VOC paints.
- Uses compact florescent bulbs (CFB) which are proven to be the most energy efficient.
Davis Frame and our partners designed this dream timber frame home and with green building techniques that served to to exceed passive solar design and energy efficiency standards. The home owner was concerned with green elements and designed his home in such a way to be self-sufficient and completely off the grid.
3 comments:
Nice House. I have similar interests for the home I hope to build soon. I'm curious as to what percentage of the annual heat load you expect to get from the passive solar? Also, why did you install both a geothermal heat pump and a masonary fireplace? Is it possible to get higher R-value walls/ceilings with the offerings from Davis?
I'm hoping to build off the grid but I'm concerned with lifestyle compromises and property value issues. Specifically, I had concerns about the refrigerator. I was under the impression that I would have to have a small propane powered refrigerator but it looks like this house has a big side by side. Is this electric? What is the size of the pv system? What is the size and fuel for the generator?
I am in the process of researching how to build a Green Timberframe house by the water in Virginia as well.
Regarding Dan's post, in my experience, I would bet that they put in the GeoTherm for AC in the summer and Heat (very efficient move) in the winter. If the temps drop dramatically below 20 degrees or so, the masonry will add more warmth nicely and the GT ducts will move it around some.
The other option is to get a Charmaster (or similar) unit that is a woodburning stove/furnace combination.
Re: Higher R values. I believe you can, you just have to architect it into the equation (if you thicken your walls, you have to have the proper overhang, mud sill, etc.). I've seen SIPS up to a foot thick in foam!
-Matt
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