Sustainability
A Holistic Vision for Sustainability
Sustainability
A Holistic Vision for Sustainability
A Holistic Approach
Sustainability is more than just solar panels
We are striving toward a fully circular flow of materials in society, but until we get there it takes a lot of hard decisions to respect all facets of sustainability in one design. See how we approached constructing the home, and then check our resources list.
Materials
Reduced Carbon Concrete
There are options to reduce the use of Portland Cement
The Cement used to make concrete typically has a high carbon footprint. Of the multiple approved options readily available to substitute for Portland cement, we chose a natural Pozzolan (ancient ash material) in a 50:50 proportion.
Project Learning:
Post-tensioning can add a little complexity, but it worked perfectly
here. We reduced the embodied carbon of our materials, and the gorgeous
floors never cracked outside of the control joints.
Sustainable Materials & Finishes
Every decision has a story
Building a dream home means finding the right finishes that you love. But those decisions should consider where those materials came from, how were they processed, and what happens to them in the future. These days it is much easier to find beautiful finishes with true sustainability stories. Make those stories be a part of your home.
Project Learning:
Be careful when selecting finishes to ensure that the quality will last-a
sustainable product isn't sustainable if you need to frequently replace
it. Our surfaces have lasted nicely, even the veneers.
FSC® certified lumber
Wood can be an excellent building material choice, but only if it is responsibly sourced to protect our forests for future generations. We used only FSC certified lumber for our construction, as well as in all of the interior trim and furniture.
Advanced framing techniques
Even when it is sustainably sourced, we should still treat wood as the valuable resource that it is. We used advanced framing techniques and double-stud walls. This framing method places structure only where it is needed, improves thermal performance, and can reduce costs.
Recycle during construction
Even when it is sustainably sourced, we should still treat wood as the valuable resource that it is. We used advanced framing techniques and double-stud walls. This framing method places structure only where it is needed, improves thermal performance, and can reduce costs.
Water
Gray water recycling & landscaping
Xeriscaping instead of turf
Your plants enjoy gray water just as much as portable water. By landscaping with native plants that require less water than turf, you can create a lush garden using only the water flowing out of your sinks and showers.
We saved over
80,000
gallons per year by using greywater irrigationPlan for growth
Our landscape architect realized that our plants would grow significantly over the first few years. So even though they looked a little small at the start, they were soon up to full size. This is important not only for the aesthetics, but also to make sure that the expected gray water flow will continue to be enough for the mature plants.
Project Learning:
We're pretty happy with our plants, but we'd make some suggestions. First,
have a backup watering plan if the house sits empty during a long vacation.
Second, design your system with the filters outside.
Compact Plumbing
Faster is better
Waiting for hot water is no fun. You can reduce the wait by using a Compact Plumbing design, which relies on smaller pipes with shorter runs from the hot water tank. Committing to this desing decision early on guarantees a lifetime of high performance. Our shower gets hot in ten seconds, which also means that we are not wasting water just waiting for it to warm up. Sustainability never felt so good.
Project Learning:
Our initial design utilized a touch faucet, to make it easy to start and
stop water flow while doing the dishes. But this proved unreliable and was
replaced.
Energy
Energy Conservation
Efficient Luxury
We challenged ourselves to improve the quality of life in the house in every way, not to create compromises just to save energy. Energy efficiency meets luxury living.
Passive Design
Heating and cooling your home is one of the largest energy demands, so to reduce those loads we first employ passive design strategies. The south-facing glass was optimized for glazing as well as overhangs; the double-stud walls are 9.25" thick for superior insulation, and the envelope of the house was sealed in a two-step process to
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Lighting
The home's efficient LED lighting is controlled by motion sensors and daylight sensors, to provide the perfect lighting without the waste when a forgotten fixture is accidentally left on. Click here to jump to our Lighting page for more details.
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Integrated HVAC
The HVAC system integrates heating, cooling, hot water, and ventilation. By coordinating the ventilation, we can use the free, cool nighttime air instead of mechanical cooling. And when we do run mechanical cooling, the integrated heat pump can push the waste heat into the hot water tank to give free hot water. Click here to learn more about our Integrated HVAC System.
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Energy Management
Sometimes turning appliances on and off to manage energy just isn’t smart. So our control system was designed to make it easy to understand the energy use, but not to turn off appliances when you need them. The HEMS system automatically manages all of that in the background.
Learn More
Passive Design
Heating and cooling your home is one of the largest energy demands, so to reduce those loads we first employ passive design strategies. The south-facing glass was optimized for glazing as well as overhangs; the double-stud walls are 9.25” thick for superior insulation, and the envelope of the house was sealed in a two-step process to reduce air infiltration.
Lighting
The home's efficient LED lighting is controlled by motion sensors and daylight sensors, to provide the perfect lighting without the waste when a forgotten fixture is accidentally left on. Click here to jump to our Lighting page for more details.
Integrated HVAC
The HVAC system integrates heating, cooling, hot water, and ventilation. By coordinating the ventilation, we can use the free, cool nighttime air instead of mechanical cooling. And when we do run mechanical cooling, the integrated heat pump can push the waste heat into the hot water tank to give free hot water. Click here to learn more about our Integrated HVAC System.
Energy Management
Sometimes turning appliances on and off to manage energy just isn’t smart. So our control system was designed to make it easy to understand the energy use, but not to turn off appliances when you need them. The HEMS system automatically manages all of that in the background.
Health
Improved indoor air quality
One of the biggest impacts to health inside the home is indoor air quality, so we approached this critical need from three angles. First, we designed the walls so that they would not have the chance to accumulate moisture and create mold or mildew. We also specified paints, materials, and furniture to prevent off-gassing during occupancy. And finally, we implemented a mechanical ventilation strategy to ensure clean, filtered air was adequately provided.
Wall Design with a Rainscreen
Even though Davis doesn’t see much rainfall in a typical year, we built the walls so that the exterior cladding would be installed over furring strips (what is called a Rainscreen system). This ensures that any water that penetrates the cladding can drain or evaporate without buildup in the walls. We also specified plywood instead of OSB siding because of its increased vapor permeance, which will allow any water vapor within the walls to escape outside.
Specifying Materials for IAQ
Modern paints have come a long way, and it’s easy to specify high quality paint with zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds). We also specified building materials with no added formaldehyde, which is commonly used in adhesives. But even a perfectly built home can have poor air quality if the homeowners bring chemicals inside, so we also carefully checked all of our furnishings to ensure that they were free from VOCs and fire retardants.
Ventilation
We used a series of conventional bath fans in the Smart Home to bring in fresh clean air (through a controlled, filtered inlet). As much as we love heat recovery ventilators, our controls did a good job to use those conventional fans when the outside temperatures were favorable, so it was more efficient in our case. We also ran the fans when humidity was detected in the bathrooms, which is a good strategy for any house. And of course, our central vacuum canister sits in the garage to keep that dust from making its way back into the living area.
Wall Design with a Rainscreen
Even though Davis doesn’t see much rainfall in a typical year, we built the walls so that the exterior cladding would be installed over furring strips (what is called a Rainscreen system). This ensures that any water that penetrates the cladding can drain or evaporate without buildup in the walls. We also specified plywood instead of OSB siding because of its increased vapor permeance, which will allow any water vapor within the walls to escape outside.
Specifying Materials for IAQ
Modern paints have come a long way, and it’s easy to specify high quality paint with zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds). We also specified building materials with no added formaldehyde, which is commonly used in adhesives. But even a perfectly built home can have poor air quality if the homeowners bring chemicals inside, so we also carefully checked all of our furnishings to ensure that they were free from VOCs and fire retardants.
Ventilation
We used a series of conventional bath fans in the Smart Home to bring in fresh clean air (through a controlled, filtered inlet). As much as we love heat recovery ventilators, our controls did a good job to use those conventional fans when the outside temperatures were favorable, so it was more efficient in our case. We also ran the fans when humidity was detected in the bathrooms, which is a good strategy for any house. And of course, our central vacuum canister sits in the garage to keep that dust from making its way back into the living area.
Technical Resources
The Smart Home project was about generating insights for others to build upon. As you develop your next home, please use any of our specs, drawings and data to help create a more sustainable future.
Mechanical and Plumbing Plans
See how we originally designed the integrated system, the heat pump circuits and the boreholes.
Interior Design Plans and Specifications
View our original layouts, as well as the Excel file of furnishing and lighting specs.
Take a tour of what made the Smart Home “Smart”
Prepare your home for a sustainable future
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