DOE Tour of Zero: Glendale by Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
Photos
1/18
Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity built this 1,120-square-foot home in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
2/18
Even without photovoltaic panels, energy-efficiency measures provide energy cost savings of nearly $750 per year compared to a similarly sized home built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. These savings bring energy costs down to about $70 per month.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
3/18
Beneath the lifetime warrantied laminated shingles, an ice-and-water barrier covers most of the roof decking, extending 6 feet up the eaves, across valleys, around penetrations, and even down over the subfacia to help prevent water intrusion and damage from storms and ice dams in this cold-climate location.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
4/18
Ultra-efficient windows perform at least 50% better than standard windows.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
5/18
The home was equipped with a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR refrigerator and water-saving fixtures.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
6/18
Low- and no-VOC wood products, primer, paint, cabinets, and flooring help promote indoor air quality and helped to qualify the home for the EPA’s Indoor airPLUS certification.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
7/18
Rigid foam insulation will extend under the full slab and over the top of the footing wall to completely isolate the slab from the ground and the footings.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
8/18
After pouring the slab, 2 inches of rigid foam is installed along the exterior of the wall from the bottom of the footing up to the roof eaves. The under-slab insulation, also visible in this picture, isolates the slab from the ground, while the slab-edge insulation provides additional protection against freezing.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
9/18
The 2-by-4 wall studs are offset from one another along the 2-by-6 horizontal sill plate creating space for insulation along the edges of the studs. When wall cavities are filled with insulation, this approach greatly reduces the transfer of heat through the wall.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
10/18
Corner framing is placed in a way that keeps the corner accessible for insulation as part of a continuous thermal blanket for the house.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
11/18
Advanced framing techniques like single top plates, open areas over windows, and staggered studs allow more insulation in the walls.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
12/18
The Habitat construction crew has designed the walls so less wood can be used around windows to allow more space for insulation.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
13/18
Metal straps tie the roof rafters to the top plate for additional resistance to severe storms.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
14/18
Headers over windows and doors are constructed to leave space for insulation.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
15/18
Raised-heel roof trusses allow more room at the eaves for attic insulation.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
16/18
Window flashing is properly integrated with house wrap above this window to create a continuous wall water barrier.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
17/18
This home has a cost-saving shallow frost-protected foundation that uses rigid foam laid vertically at the base of the 16-inch-deep footers to protect the foundation from frost damage.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
18/18
High-efficiency on-demand water heaters provide hot water instantly as it is needed, rather than using energy to keep a whole tank hot.
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity