Preservation of Trees and Existing Vegetation
Mature oak populates this family parcel in rural Dade City, Florida. The house placement was chosen to protect the oak. The oak also provides shading of the house from the western setting sun.

Subcontractor Involvement in Resource Efficiency Plan
Most of the subcontractors used on this job were already familiar with the Energy Efficiency goals of this project and readily adapted to the use of steel insulated panel construction. Therefore, they were able to achieve the necessary quality product without much learning curve. The electrician required a slightly longer learning curve, as the installation of electrical into the panels is a bit different from that in standard framing.

Structural Framing
Interior walls were constructed of steel studs. The exterior walls and roof of this home were built entirely with premanufactured insulated steel panels on top of a monolithic slab foundation. Precision Foam Fabricators manufactures the recycled steel product with a solid Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam core in their plant in Georgia. It provides high insulation values, termite resistance, and hurricane resistance as well as other advantages during construction. The use of these panels for residential construction is an innovative application. More detail on this system is available here.

Windows
Vinyl windows from Simonton are Energy Star approved for efficiency. The double-panes are filled with an argon gas thermal break and coated with Low-e film.

Doors
The doors installed to complement this building envelope are also Energy Star qualified doors. They are manufactured of fiberglass with a chlorofloro carbons (cfc)-free polyurethane core insulation from Therma-Tru. They also contain double-pane, argon-filled, low-e glazing.

Exterior Wall Finishes
Hardieplank siding was placed on the exterior of the home. HardiePlank is a fiber cement product that is very durable, low-maintenance, and again termite resistant.

Finish Floor
A low-maintenance ceramic tile was laid throughout the family room, foyer, bathrooms and kitchen. The living room is finished with a durable synthetic plank with laminate wood finish. Only the low-traffic rooms (bedrooms) have carpeting.

Efficient Use of Materials
The use of prefabricated panels reduced the amount of waste generated on the construction site. The panels were cut to length so only the window and door openings required on-site cutting.

Alternatives to Burying or Burning Construction Waste
Scrap steel generated from window or door cutoffs was recycled.

Reduction of Textiles, Maximized Hard Floor Surfaces
High traffic areas are finished in hard surfaces (ceramic tile and laminate flooring), which reduces moisture and dust from becoming trapped in the home.

Ventilation Design (related to climate conditions)
The high-efficiency HVAC system (see Energy Efficiency section) brings fresh exterior air into the living space and maintains a positive pressure within the home, which helps to reduce indoor air contaminants from entering.

Water Management for Foundation, Attic and Walls
The skin of the insulated steel panel walls and roof performs as a vapor barrier to restrict movement of moisture, so no house wrap (nor the cost of one) is required in this humid climate. Stormwater is directed away from the home and foundation with proper grading techniques.

Detached Garage (or attached with "advanced sealing")
The wall separating the living space from the attached garage was completed with an insulated metal panel, just as with the rest of the house. This provides an airtight separation that will eliminate the potential introduction of fumes into the home.

Building Envelope
As discussed in greater detail under the Green Products section, the building envelope for this home used primarily insulated steel panels. These are steel panels constructed with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) core. The unvented roof and walls were constructed, and windows and doors cut in on-site. The panel system creates a more airtight home (see Performance Data below) than conventional construction since each panel joint has a tight friction fit interlock. Other advanced air sealing techniques for the home include: windows and doors sealed with a low expanding foam; exterior window flanges sealed with tape; and base plate sealed to slab with an expanding foam. The home achieves Energy Star rating for its high-performance building envelope and HVAC system. Whereas the cost was approximately 2 percent greater to build, the energy savings should reach 40 percent of conventional construction.

Mechanical Systems
A 13 SEER variable speed air handler (heat pump) was installed for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) of the home. The ductwork that creates the distribution system was placed entirely within conditioned space and sealed with mastic so as to reduce air loss and improve efficiency. The forced-air system is sized smaller than conventional HVAC systems for a home of this size in Florida due to the decreased energy load resulting from the high-performance building envelope, efficient appliances, and lighting. The system costs less both to install and operate.

Appliances
Appliances including the dishwasher, refrigerator and washing machine were chosen for their Energy Star qualifications.

Lighting
Approximately 50 percent of the fixtures in this home are fluorescent. This measure alone will greatly reduce the overall energy load (and heat generation) within this home.

Report performance data if available
The walls and roof of this home exceed building code for the locale with R-values as follows:
4" wall R-value = 17, Code R-value = 11
6" roof R-value = 26, Code R-value = 19

Energy Star rated windows and doors also provide exceptional energy efficiency with low U-Value, which restricts heat transfer into the home:
Windows U-value = 0.33
Doors U-value = 0.36

Performance testing completed with a blower door test found that the home achieves an airflow of 2754 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 50 Pascals and an estimated air changes per hour (ACH) of 0.27. Energy Star home sealing specifications state that Natural Air Changes per Hour (ACHnat) shall be less than or equal to 0.50 ACH.

Other
This home received a HERS rating of 84, calculated in accordance with the 2006 RESNET standard, Section 303.2 (Reference home = 100, Zero energy use = 0). The rating corresponds to savings of approximately $195/month on utility costs (as compared to reference home), which qualifies the home for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM).

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater
The construction area was graded to direct water away from the foundation, yet so that no runoff traveled onto the neighbors' property. With an acre lot, plenty of permeable surfaces exist to allow for good infiltration of stormwater on the property.

Water Efficient Appliances, Equipment and Fixtures
The washing machine and dishwasher are Energy Star certified appliances that save both energy and water.