DOE Tour of Zero: The Village Park Eco Home by Sterling Brook Custom Homes, LLC
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You can do a lot with $1,700 a year -- that is how much the owners of this certified U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home by Sterling Brook Homes are expected to save each year.
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Even without solar energy panels, this high-efficiency custom home achieved a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 44, far below the HERS 100 score of typical new homes.
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High-efficiency windows with double or triple panes, insulated frames, and special reflective coatings allow plenty of daylight inside while keeping out unwanted heat and damaging ultraviolet rays.
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The high-efficiency Sterling Brook custom home uses an energy management/home automation system operated by mobile devices to control heating and cooling, lighting, and audio/video equipment.
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High-efficiency appliances include an ENERGY STAR refrigerator and dishwasher.
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Water-saving fixtures and recycled glass countertops are among the resource-efficient features in this home.
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High-efficiency lighting helps reduce energy costs.
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High-efficiency ceiling fans help reduce cooling costs.
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A professional lighting designer was used for lighting that enhanced the home’s looks without increasing energy usage, thanks to 100% LED advanced solid-state lighting technology.
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An on-demand hot water pump speeds hot water to the low-flow fixtures for warm water without the wait or waste.
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High-efficiency endless hot water technology includes two gas tankless water heaters.
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Wood flooring milled from standing dead oak helps reduce the environmental impact of this home.
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Bolted metal hurricane strapping that ties the roofing to the framing and the framing to the foundation walls is one of the severe-weather-resistant features. Other tornado-resistant features include a wind-resistant hip-roof design, unvented roof soffits, and a six-person storm shelter in the garage floor.
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Engineered studs of wood mixed with resin provide very straight, strong studs for the 2-by-6 walls. High-efficiency advanced framing techniques include 24-inch on-center stud spacing, single top plates, 2-stud corners, and open headers over windows, reducing the amount of lumber used while allowing more room for insulation in the walls.
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The home is wrapped in a continuous exterior thermal blanket of rigid foam insulation.
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A water-resistant membrane that takes the place of house wrap is sprayed over the rigid foam to provide a weather-resistant air barrier. Inside, the wall cavities are filled with open-cell spray foam for comprehensive draft protection and a high-efficiency wall insulation value of R-21 to R-23.
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"We have not made a conscious effort to conserve on energy. The house does it for us."
"We came from a house that was 1,900 square feet. Wayne built us a house that is 7,000 square feet and the electricity bill is the same. It’s crazy, the difference. And we have not altered our standard of comfort. We have not made a conscious effort to conserve on energy. The house does it for us by the mere fact that it was built using the most energy-efficient products and methods in the industry."
– Homeowner Mike
