John Hubert Associates’ modern take on the traditional beach cottage achieved a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 46 without photovoltaics or a HERS 9 with a solar electric system on the roof.

Windows are designed to capture views and light in John Hubert Associates’ natural daylight home.

The south-facing orientation maximizes the capture of solar heating in winter while minimizing overheating in summer.

The south-facing roof provides adequate space for both a solar electric system and solar thermal hot water system.

Low- and no-VOC paints and finishes meet EPA Indoor airPLUS standards while providing a healthful indoor environment.

ENERGY STAR-certified appliances including the dishwasher, refrigerator, and clothes washer contribute to the reduced energy use.

These high-efficiency double-pane windows are insulated and have special coatings to reduce the amount of heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.

Solar water heating provides combustion-free hot water, while high-efficiency EPA WaterSense-rated fixtures further reduce water and energy use.

ENERGY STAR-rated ceiling fans and openable windows oriented to prevailing summer breezes help provide low-cost cooling.

Wall controls operate the windows and fans, allowing homeowners to capture prevailing breezes.

The high-efficiency, advanced framed 2-by-6 walls are covered with a continuous thermal blanket using an oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing laminated with R-3.6 of rigid foam. The OSB sheathing also includes a complete water barrier coating taped at the seams.

The roof water barrier system uses a coated insulated OSB product that is caulked and taped at all seams with a water-resistant tape. This layer is covered with a peel-and-stick membrane ice and water shield, and asphalt shingles.

The professionally installed windows are properly flashed to keep out rain and wind.

The enhanced comfort floor insulation system includes spray foam applied to the underside of the subfloor with the remaining space between the floor joists filled with batt insulation.

The ultra-efficient foundation insulation system includes a vapor barrier covering the dirt floor that extends up and over the top of the crawlspace walls under the rim joists along with R-18 rigid foam insulation at the interior crawlspace walls.

The 12-inch ceiling cavity of the cathedral ceiling is filled with a combination of 3 inches of closed-cell spray foam plus R-30 fiberglass batt insulation.

Before filling the ceiling joists with insulation, the soffits are thoroughly air-sealed.

High-efficiency wall intersections use ladder blocking where interior and exterior walls meet to increase the amount of insulation in the exterior walls.

This home uses a balanced fresh air system that transfers heat between the outgoing exhaust air and the incoming fresh air to provide energy savings and improved comfort.

The solar hot water system, equipped with a 120-gallon tank, is designed to meet nearly all of the home’s hot water needs.

A heavy plastic layer is installed over the crawlspace and along the foundation walls as part of the home’s foundation water barrier system.

This on-demand hot water plumbing system uses central manifold plumbing with lines running directly to each fixture, reducing the wait for hot water with significant water and energy savings.