Green Building Harmonizing with Nature

Back in 2010 the Washington DC area was introduced to the NetZero House by the architectural team Meditch Murphey. The NetZero house gave us a new understanding that there were indeed fewer limits to designing with nature and the user in mind. With their practice focusing entirely on sustainable contemporary design their next project is just a logical step forward and breaking new ground with what they are calling a “Garden House”. A home that almost entirely incorporates the great aesthetics of the natural world into ones living space.

The Garden House design is currently being built in Bethesda and when I caught up with Marcie Meditch this past week she started sharing with me the details on their newest efforts a home that can indeed harmonize with nature.

The approach is simple upon first glance with an eye towards the following principles:

Like a garden, we use:

• Rainfall

• Natural ventilation

• Natural shade

• Natural drainage

And we harvest:

• Sunlight

• Geothermal energy

• Tomatoes

With those ideas set in motion they are creating a home that doesn’t mimic nature it works with it rather than against it! The list of features below are seen in many other traditional types of higher performing built homes in the region however with the “Garden House” it is more along the principles of how the design and features work with the elements of nature to build a truly superior home.

SUPER INSULATION
A typical house has an insulation value (R-value) of R-19 for walls, R-38 for roofs, and minimal perimeter under-slab insulation. This house will have continuous under-slab insulation plus R-36 in the walls and R-50 in the roof.

HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS
The exterior doors and windows are custom made with Solarban® 80 Low-E glazing, which has superior solar control, high visible light transmittance and an aesthetic appeal. This glass has a Light to Solar Gain (LSG) Ratio of 1.96, placing it at the top of its class.

NATURAL VENTILATION/CEILING FANS
Rooms are long and thin with opposing windows and doors for natural air flow across the spaces. Along with ceiling fans, this natural ventilation will promote more efficient heating and cooling throughout the year and will decrease dependence on mechanical cooling during the swing seasons of spring and fall.

AGE-IN-PLACE DESIGN
The first floor has been designed with aging residents in mind. Everyday living needs including eating, living, and sleeping are all wheelchair accessible, and ADA approved fixtures will be installed. A ramp at the entry will allow easy access from grade to the first floor.

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP
These pumps provide domestic heating and cooling by transferring the earth’s constant 55° temperature to the heating system from buried pipes in the front lawn.

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATION
An electric car charging station will be installed for easy access to parked cars. Charging will typically occur overnight when energy rates are lowest.

SEMI-PERMEABLE DRIVEWAY
The driveway will be lined with existing and new stone cobbles just under the path of the car wheels with a planted strip in the center to allow water to percolate through the surface to the ground below, reducing the amount of storm water and associated pollutants that ultimately run into the Chesapeake Bay.

SOLAR SHADING
Our strategy is to use programmable exterior blinds to shade windows before UV rays hit the glass, thereby blocking the heat before it can get inside the house during hot summer days. The blinds will retract when solar heat gain is desired during colder winter months.

CISTERN
Rainwater from the sloped roof and water not used by the roof garden will be collected in an underground cistern, reducing the amount of storm water runoff. The water from the cistern will supply water for plantings during off-rain seasons.

PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ARRAY
Over 50% of the energy consumed will be powered by a roof-mounted 5.1K solar panel array.

LANDSCAPING FOR SOLAR CONTROL
Shrubs and trees planted strategically around the house will shade the house in the summer. During cold winter months when warmth is desired, they shed their leaves to allow for passive solar heat gain. Ivy grown on the eastern and southern walls will shade some of the most exposed facades.

DROUGHT RESISTANT LANDSCAPING
To reduce the need for supplemental irrigation of the landscaping, and ultimately reduce the demand for water, drought resistant and native plantings have been selected to be planted around the house.

ROOFTOP GARDEN
A rooftop vegetable garden and two rooftop planters will reduce the heat island effect, boost the insulation of the roof, and reduce storm water runoff. In addition, the working garden will provide fresh produce for household use.

FLUORESCENT & LED LIGHTING
Most lighting for the house will be either fluorescent or LED lighting. These light sources use only a fraction of the energy consumed by conventional incandescent bulbs and have extremely long lamp lives.

ERV (ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATOR)
Because the house will be close to airtight, fresh air will be provided by an Energy Recovery Ventilator which captures the stored thermal energy in the stale air and transfers it to incoming fresh air.

LOW VOC PAINT & FINISHES
Paints and other solvents used as protective coatings typically emit high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that, when concentrated, create a toxic indoor environment. Products with low VOC emissions have been chosen to mitigate this effect.

WATER EFFICIENT FIXTURES
Toilets, showers, and washing machines account for three-quarters of indoor residential water use. Low-flow and WaterSense fixtures will be used to reduce overall consumption.

To find out more about this home and any upcoming walking tours, you can reach out to them via their website www.meditchmurphey.com

Michael Kiefer
Green DC Realty Team
Phoenix Real Estate Solutions
Realtors DC/MD/VA
www.greenDCrealty.com
www.GreenDCdaily.com
c-240.481.5041
o-301.526.5212