Pub. 1 2018 Directory

39 Energy efficiency, comfort and low utility bills are important criteria for the owners of the Stella house. It was desired to have large openings to the deck and yard. Large openings and energy efficiency is often contradictory requirements in other projects. To achieve both efficiently, the heat source is both solar gain from the south facing windows and in-floor hydronic heat. The thermal mass of the concrete floors retain heat during the day and release the heat throughout the night. The radiant heat from the wood and concrete floors is more effective when the large doors are open, than a typical forced air unit would be. In the summer time, cooling is achieved by an evaporative cooler on the second level. Its low profile and it is recessed in the exterior wall, keep its visual impact very minimal. The swamp cooler is also very efficient to operate and adds much desired fresh air and humidity to the dry, high-desert air. door opens the home office into the rear garden, trellis and swinging bench area. Hydronic in-floor heat is provided throughout both levels, including in the garage/shop with separate controls. The upper exterior siding is local, rough sawn cedar, char blackened and protected with oil stain. The wood siding is a nod to the many similarly cladded barns and buildings found on the nearby ranches. The roofing, is made of corrugated galv-alum panels. This also is a common material of the local ranch buildings. The simplicity of the roof form made its construction cost effective and very efficient to build. The oversize deck is located on the south side of the house and accessed by the large roll-up glass door or a glass ‘man-door’. The intense summer sun is blocked from the south windows by an array of photovoltaic panels that double as shade canopy. The lower angle of the winter sun bathes the living room in light and heat in the winter months. The deck area being as large as the living area is used year-round for entertaining, relaxing and star gazing. There was no natural gas at the property at the time of construction. Instead of budgeting for a new gas line, the money was set aside for a solar array. So the house is all electric, with a grid-tie solar array, keeping the electric cost at around $45/month average. The renewable electric is clean, quiet and a more sustainable long-term solution. The solar array was designed to act as a shade device for the large south facing glass wall in the summer, yet allowing sun inside in the winter. The sustainability of the construction materials is two-fold. The savvy owners knew the benefits of locally sourced materials. Wherever possible, local materials were used. All of the major materials were from within 500 miles of the project site. The other sustainable effort was to use the materials in the most raw form possible. For example, much of the concrete block is left exposed, sand blasted to enhance the beauty of the aggregates. Other projects might elect to cover block with additional finish materials that would need to be replaced or refinished regularly, nor would be as durable. The concrete floor, instead of being covered, was ground and polished, thereby reducing added materials. The durability of the concrete floor will last a lifetime. The wood floors upstairs are domestic, solid, white oak. These floors are durable, renewable, and last a long time. When they are distressed, their character is only enhanced. However, they can be renewed with a light re-sanding and finish. The life span of the wood floor is also very long. There is a minimal amount of ornamental and structural steel found throughout. Although it is not locally sourced, the steel is left in a raw form or waxed. This eliminates the need for paint or refinishing. The durability of the steel will also have a long lifespan. The house size and location itself are important sustainable features. Because it is so compact, using minimal materials, using limited construction and utility resources, and being an infill project, makes it much more sustainable than a typical project found in location of urban sprawl. The yards are small, requiring minimal irrigation, thereby conserving precious water resources. The convenient location reduces travel distances and number of car trips. A high walkability score and bike-ability contribute to reduced wear and tear on a car and reduced miles driven per year. The owners are pleased with the minimal maintenance, low utility bills and minimal water consumption of their new house. b