DOE Tour of Zero: McCormick Avenue by BrightLeaf Homes
Photos
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BrightLeaf Homes built this 2,880-square-foot home in a Chicago suburb, Brookfield, Illinois, to the performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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Downspouts and proper grading help ensure water drains away from the two-story home.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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Deep overhangs shield second-story windows from sun, rain, and snow while ultra-efficient windows feature triple panes, insulated frames, argon gas fill between the panes, and an advanced low-emissivity coating to block heat loss.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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High-efficiency appliances, including an ENERGY STAR-rated dishwasher and refrigerator, help to save energy.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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Low-/no-VOC paints and finishes are part of a comprehensive indoor air quality package.
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Home performance testing includes a draft control test to help verify airtightness in the home.
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A plastic drainage mat helps ensure water drains down the outside of the concrete foundation wall to the footing drains. The mat is installed over a continuous exterior thermal blanket composed of two 1.5-inch layers of rigid foam insulation that maximize comfort and minimize the risk of moisture problems.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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A continuous thermal blanket below the basement slab utilizes 2 inches of rigid foam insulation. This, in turn, is installed over a foundation floor water barrier system composed of a 10-mil polyethylene sheet over a gravel base; additional poly vapor barrier separates the footings from the foundation walls to keep ground moisture from migrating into walls.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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Energy-saving attic perimeter insulation uses raised-heel trusses that provide space for a full 16 inches (R-60) of loose blown cellulose insulation all the way to the edges of the attic. Traditional truss framing can result in attic insulation being compressed 75% or more at the eaves.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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The comprehensive draft protection system includes caulking of the subfloor-sill plate seams and corner seams and spray foaming around pipe penetrations to help minimize heat loss.
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High-efficiency wall insulation is achieved with dense-packed cellulose insulation in 6-inch-thick framed walls that provide an effective R-value of R-25. Energy-saving advanced framing techniques ensure additional insulation can be installed where normally it would not be possible with traditional framing. These techniques include two-stud corners on exterior walls, ladder blocking on interior partitions, and right-sized insulated headers over windows.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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The builder engineered a precise roof pitch (6.25/12) to provide an optimum angle for solar electric panels and to minimize construction waste with a roof deck sized to accommodate four sheets of 4-foot-wide roof sheathing plus space at the peak for a continuous ridge vent without any cutting.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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The home’s high-efficiency comfort system includes a 96% AFUE gas furnace and 14 SEER air conditioner with a dual-stage gas valve and variable speed electrically commutated motor (ECM) for added fan efficiency. A fresh air intake ducted to the furnace provides controlled, filtered fresh air.
Photo courtesy of BrightLeaf Homes
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Careful installation and taping of the house wrap contributed to an airtightness level nearly 70% lower than specified in the latest energy code.