Our clients, a young couple committed to minimizing their environmental footprint, wanted a custom home that was comfortable, “right-sized,” and matched their values. We designed and built an all-electric, high-performance home that produces all of its own electricity from a 9.3-kilowatt solar array. We incorporated Passive House design principles, including an airtight building enclosure, super-insulated envelope, no thermal bridging, and triple-pane windows and doors. The home has LED light fixtures, ENERGY STAR appliances, and a high-efficiency mini-split heat pump.
“There are so many benefits about living in this home,” they said. “Green Hammer was awesome to work with because each individual is super talented and also passionate and also available all the time. The design build model works really well because you always have an architect in the room while you are making decisions.”
An ultra-efficient heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system removes fine particulates and contaminants such as smoke, and delivers fresh, filtered air throughout the home. Adding to the house’s comfort and the low energy consumption is a heat pump water heater that uses CO2 as the natural refrigerant. The heat pump water heater powers an in-floor radiant system on the lower level, domestic hot water for the home, and a soaking tub in the backyard.
A 9,000-gallon cistern is designed to meet 100% of home’s annual potable water needs through rainwater harvesting, on-site water filtration, low-flow fixtures, and right-sized plumbing design. The landscape’s drought-tolerant design significantly reduces the water needed for irrigation.
Awards and recognition
The Richmond Residence received the 2023 Home of the Year Award from Green Builder magazine. The home’s small environmental footprint made this water- and energy-independent home a standout among the other applicants. The residence was also featured on the 2022 Go Zero Tour.