A Maryland developer hopes her current project in suburban Washington, D.C., will spur builders and contractors to explore better ways of building homes and improve energy efficiency in their developments in many ways.
“The objective of this project is to build within the natural habitat, minimally impact the environment through use of sustainable design [and] green construction techniques, and to raise awareness of ‘getting off the grid,’” says architect and developer Nea Maloo, principal of Silver Spring, Md.-based SHOWCASE Architects & Developers.
Located in Maryland’s Montgomery County, Eco-Estate @ Briggs Chaney—purportedly one of the few eco-subdivisions in the Washington area—is a development of eight small homes designed with energy-efficient principles and the latest green products. Maloo, a LEED-certified professional, is using a mixture of tried-and-true building techniques and unconventional fringe technologies that she hopes soon will become standard practice.
Phase I of Eco-Estate is a model home that is being used as a testing ground for some of the systems and products under consideration for use in the next eight houses. At 10,000 square feet, the size of the home runs counter to the direction green advocates say the country should be headed, but the architect wanted to use the home as a demonstration project to show the possibilities of energy-efficient building. The next eight homes will be much smaller. Besides, Maloo says she’s using strategies that show “you can go green and not feel guilty.”
As part of her effort to assuage any potential "green" guilt, Maloo preserved every tree on the property. She also saved and relocated an existing 1940s Cape Cod to the rear of the 1.1-acre site, where the structure will be used as a guest house. Though it would have been cheaper to raze the home and send it to a landfill, Maloo wanted to set an example. “The house was in great shape, and it would have been a shame to demolish it,” she says. “So we decided to keep it and make minor modifications.”
The five-bedroom, five-bath main house is an architectural hybrid of traditional and modern design. It has a pitched roof, but the large glass openings, indoor/outdoor connections, and clean lines are clear modernist tropes. Interiors are highlighted by high ceilings—25 feet in some areas and 9 feet in the basement—and multi-purpose rooms. Some rooms feature energy-saving occupancy sensors.
Maloo sited the structure for passive solar orientation and to capitalize on cross ventilation. “The house is designed to bring in lots of light, which saves energy, and to be flexible so each room can be used for something else,” she explains. In addition, it has two kitchens, so an owner may set up a home-based business or an in-law suite. Two kitchens also facilitate one-level living in case a homeowner needs to avoid stairs temporarily or permanently.
With America’s growing elderly population, people who want to retire in their own homes will become an important debate, says Maloo, who believes in aging in place. But staying put requires planning, which is why Maloo designed the house using universal design principles and with two ADA-compliant bathrooms.
“Almost all of the doors have low thresholds and measure 36 inches wide for wheelchairs, and the bathrooms have grab bars and comfort-height toilets,” Maloo says. The house also is set up for an elevator in case future homeowners want or need to install one.
On first glance, the house is typical, including products that many builders are already using, such as Energy Star appliances, high-efficiency windows, and multi-zone heating and cooling system. But behind the walls, one finds a number of nonstandard technologies that Maloo hopes will gain traction, such as a green roof.
Here's an overview of the strategies and systems SHOWCASE is relying upon to save energy, resources, and the environment in this home:
Geothermal heating and cooling. The great energy saver in the home will be its highly efficient geothermal system, a.k.a. a ground source heat pump. This cutting-edge system uses the earth’s constant temperature for space heating and cooling and for hot water production. The Eco-Estate model home has five 250-foot horizontal wells that transfer heat stored in the earth into the house during the winter and transfer it out of the building and back into the ground during the summer. Though expensive for a single house, a geothermal system is ideal for a cluster of homes, so Maloo is likely to use the technology on the next eight homes. www.geoexchange.org.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs). Available for decades, these exterior wall systems have struggled to find mainstream acceptance. Some architects and pros wonder why. Made from 6 or 8 inches of foam sandwiched between oriented strand boards or plywood, the panels are up to 66% more energy efficient than stick framing and can be installed a lot faster. The model home’s exterior walls are made from 6-inch-thick SIPs. www.sips.org.
Green roof: Another fringe technology that is rapidly growing in popularity, a green (or sod) roof consists of multiple layers of waterproofing, root repellant, drainage, filter cloth, lightweight growing medium, and drought-tolerant plants. Because the model home is located in a specially protected area, Maloo wants to limit runoff from the site. The green roof helps, providing stormwater retention. It also offers other benefits to a building; the soil adds another layer of insulation, which muffles sound and reduces heating and cooling costs. A green roof will provide the model home with outdoor spaces on the second level. www.greenroofs.org.
Radiant heat. The northern portions of the home will be heated by an in-floor electric radiant system. An underrated luxury, a warm floor offers zone-heating option and because it does use forced air, it helps control dust. It’s “another way where you can manipulate your thermostat to a low degree and still feel comfortable,” Maloo says. Because of the relatively high electricity cost, the Energy Department’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office says electric radiant floors are usually only cost-effective if they include a significant thermal mass. If the floor's thermal mass is large enough, the heat stored in it will keep the house comfortable for up to 10 hours, the agency says. The Eco-Estate model home will have an effective thermal mass of limestone and/or porcelain tile floors. www.nuheat.com.
High-efficiency toilets. Once upon a time, a 1.6-gallon-per-flush toilet was considered low flow and was therefore good enough. Maloo opted for WaterSense-certified high efficiency dual flush models that use 1.6 or 0.8 gallons per flush, as well as 1.1 gallon per flush and 1.24 gallons per flush. These units have the potential to save significant amounts of water for a large family, compared to standard models. www.kohler.com.
Energy-efficient recessed lights. According to the folks at the Energy Star program, lighting in the average U.S. home accounts for about 20 percent of the electric bill. In a house this size, that can add up to a significant amount of green. Maloo is using compact fluorescent down lights that, unlike most similar products, is also dimmable for further energy savings. “These lights have long life span, better light and saves money,” the architect says. “It’s a good value for the money and performs very well.” Moreover, the housing is less than 3.5 inches deep so it’s also easy to install. www.lightolier.com.
Sustainable flooring. Maloo opted for flooring that was sensitive to the environment and a little out of the ordinary. The house will feature wood, but instead of oak or maple (or some other species) the architect chose an eco-friendly, plantation-grown eucalyptus hybrid. The fast-growing hardwood tree can be harvested in roughly 15 years compared to 70 to 80 years required by other premium hardwoods. Genuine linoleum also will be used. Made from natural ingredients such as linseed oil, wood or cork powder, resins, ground limestone, and jute, the product is earth-friendly. www.lyptus.com and www.armstrong.com.
Clean indoor air. By the time the average home is completed, the interior is being bombarded with off-gassing chemicals from cabinets, flooring, paint, adhesives, and other building products. “We are doing humidifiers, [and] low and no VOC [volatile organic compounds] products,” Maloo says. The architect also will be using a new paint line that contains no VOCs even when it’s tinted. Cross-ventilation and fans also will help improve the air quality of the house, Maloo adds. www.benjaminmoore.com.
Recycle and reuse. Despite the very best efforts, home building generates large amounts of waste and debris. Much of this waste—such as cardboard boxes and metal strapping—can be recycled, but consultants say developers also can find uses for leftover brick, drywall, wood, and other material. Maloo’s goal is to send as little to the landfill as possible. The leftover limestone cladding will be used throughout the site for landscaping, and crushed stone will be used as aggregate for roads. Old shingles and debris from the relocated Cape Cod was sent to a roof recycling center, and the sheet metal debris was recycled at the scrap yard.
Nigel Maynard is senior editor, products, at BUILDER magazine.