Sustainable, Efficient Design
Design carries through in the materials and methods that will make a home healthy and sustainable for generations, and my design work is based on years of experience in sourcing the best.
When we work together, I will recommend materials and methods for their ability to increase efficiency, add to the beauty of the building and stand the test of time.
Materials and Methods — Efficient and Sustainable
Faswall Wall Systems are best in class
Faswall (ICF blocks) is an insulative mass block manufactured in Oregon. It’s made from used wooden pallets, chipped up and bonded with 15% cement to form blocks. These blocks are then dry stacked, rebar is added and cement poured in. With four different shapes of block, this makes a system that can be used for any structure.
Using a Faswall (ICF blocks) wall system along with stucco and lime plaster results in a “breathing” insulated thermal mass block. It far exceeds any product in its class, helps maintain good relative humidity and stable indoor temperatures in the home and regulates heat and cold from the outside. This livable, efficient system is both fire resistant and impervious to mold.
Lime plaster is beautiful and lasts for decades
All products that are applied to the Faswall (ICF blocks) inside and outside need to provide an equally high level of breathability, and natural lime plaster is the ideal choice for inside wall finishes. With no synthetics and a good choice of colors, this is a vapor permeable, beautiful finish that is hand applied by skilled artisans and will last for decades.
Traditional stucco is strong, holds up well and has a timeless look
Traditional stucco on the outside is a breathable, strong material that adds structural integrity to the walls and holds up beautifully to wet weather. It provides excellent fire resiliency and sound insulation, as well as a soft, timeless look.
SIPS Roofs — Strong, Cost Efficient and Environmentally Responsible
SIPS are Structural Insulated Panels— roof systems that are designed and made to fit your specific structure. They create a “hot,” or non-ventilated, roof, with strong fire resiliency and no gaps in insulation. This type of roof is highly efficient and outperforms typical code requirements. It also makes interior framing easier so there is less work needed to prepare walls for drywall.
Using SIPS for roofs, in tandem with Faswall (ICF blocks) walls, results in a building system that is highly cost efficient, extremely strong and one of the most environmentally responsible available today. The resulting high-performance building envelope also allows for dramatically reduced utility bills.
Heating and Cooling For Efficiency and Comfort
Siting the home is critical to getting the most from passive solar heating and cooling, and using thoughtfully placed windows, skylights and solar tubes to light up the house and distribute heat add to its efficiency and comfort. We use this to have the home be more in harmony with the environment.
Providing hydronic (water powered) in-floor heating, fans and the ductless heating and cooling systems known as mini-splits also increases the home’s year-round livability and efficiency.
Masonry indoor heaters are extremely clean burning and efficient. One I’m fond of is the Tulikivi, a beautiful soapstone fireplace made in Finland that can be configured in hundreds of combinations, including a fireplace/slow-cook oven. Extremely clean burning and efficient, the Tulikivi meets the toughest emission standards, produces very little ash and provides warm radiant heat while remaining cool to the touch.
The HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) functions as the “lungs” of the home. The HRV provides continuous fresh, filtered, outdoor air to the living spaces inside and moves stale air out of the home. In the process, heat leaving from the inside transfers to the incoming air without cross contaminating air streams. The result is continuous, comfortable, fresh, filtered outdoor air. This system also takes stale air out of bathrooms, replacing the need for fans in there.
In-Ground Water Storage is Key to Livability
In-ground water storage systems, with water becoming a serious issue, allow water to be available onsite at all times and is key to livability. This makes it possible to have a garden, to always have potable water and to protect the home in case of fire. These systems are best suited under the garage to make efficient use of the land’s square footage and take advantage of the earth’s constant 55 degree temperature. Tanks can be custom sized to whatever usability makes sense for the home.
These are just a few of the innovations in efficient, sustainable building design being used today with Walls of Time.
