SOUTH FARM HOMESA Farmland and Development

Partnership Vermont Building Resources

The Project Context: Agriculture and Conservation

South Farm Homes/ Russell Farm

Russell Conservation Land

Route 116

Route 116

The SiteHinesburg, Vermont

The Property

Looking South From the Hillside

Project Objectives

Conserve prime agricultural land

Develop only enough land to finance agricultural conservation

Develop land as local ecology deems best

Cluster houses to minimize land impact

Create green homes that are resource efficient

Green Homes

Design byTruex Cullins & Partners

ArchitectsRolf Kielman, AIA, LEED AP

Energy ConsultingAndy Shapiro

Energy Balance, Inc.

Green Homes

Green Highlights Recognized by VBG

Siting and Land Use

Conservation of Agricultural Soils

Conservation of Wetlands

Location within 3 miles of school

Location within 3 miles of food store

Building Design

Built into the hillside

Southern orientation and roofing for solar exposure

Energy Usage

Passive/ active solar

Geothermal heating

Five Star Energy Star Rating

Green Homes: South Elevation

Southern Exposure

Active Solar: Rough Surface Area ~ 696 ft

Passive Solar: Total Southern Facing Exterior Wall ~715 ft, where ~262.5ft (~37%) = windows

Green Homes: North Elevation

Few windows

Lower floor earth bearmed

Green Homes: Side Elevation

Foundation/ lower floor built into hillside

Green Homes: Lower Floor Plan

Over 50% of wall is insulated concrete built into the hillside

Utilities on northern end of house

Front Bedrooms passive solar

Green Homes: Upper Floor Plan

Living spaces heated by passive solar

Heating by geothermal and high efficiency woodstove as well

Utilities on northern side of house

Green Homes: Features

Green Building Features

Thermotech high performance windows

Unisolar solar panels

Econar Geothermal Heat Pumps

Cellulose Insulation

Composite siding

Certified wood

Green Homes: Rating

Vermont Builds Greener (VBG) RatingCurrent Rating Proposal =

350 points

4 3) j Points per peak Watt photovoltaics and/or rated Watt of wind or hydro site generated power with grid connection (bonus). 0.02

78HOUSE SIZE POINTS34

4 2) l Other ENERGY STAR appliances (See www.energystar.gov). (1 point per appliance) 1

5

4 2) f Per hard-wired incandescent fixture with ENERGY STAR screw-in bulbs installed (maximum 10points). 1

5

4 1) r Points per added Home Energy Rating point above 5-Star 86 point Rating for new and above 83 points for existing homes (use conventional rounding up or down to nearest whole Rating point).

8CategoryPoints

Page Total = 130 = 37% total points

Green Homes: Rating Size Chart

Vermont Builds Greener (VBG) Rating

Green Homes: LEED H

While the VBG Committee is generally please with the impact of the LEED for Homes house size table, we would like to suggest that in the interest of afforadability, smaller homes be rewarded more credits (e.g. at 50% of average size, they would only need to complete the mandatory requirements, and not have to earn any other credits) and larger homes be penalized more.

Mandatory MeasureHome SizeMR 1

a. Prepare a surface water management plan.b. Provide swales to divert surface water from hillsides.

Mandatory Measure

Surface Water ManagementSS 4

For parcels greater than 2 acres, submit a site plan that shows the proposed layout and design of the parcel of land with soil delineations included. One or more of the following approaches must be incorporated when the homestead is located on primary or secondary farmland. (A homestead is all that forms a person's residence, including the house, landscaped yard, driveway and other out-buildings.) a. Homestead is located on the edge of the soils suitable for agriculture, thereby maximizing the contiguous land which remains available for future agricultural use. b. No more than 2 acres of plot is developed with the rest enrolled in the Current Use program. (Information at 802/828-5861). c. No more than 2 acres of site is included in the homestead, and the remaining acreage is set aside for future farming under a perpetual agricultural easement to a land trust. d. USDA/NRCS soil maps are consulted to determine the soils least suitable for agricultural uses, and homestead is located in this area. (Maps available at each county USDA/NRCS office or on-line at www.vcgi.org.)

Mandatory MeasureSite SelectionLL 2

Suggested Addition for Vermont

Mandatory or

Optional Measure

Description

LEED-H

Credit #

Define "proper refrigerant charge" to be within 10% of manufacturer recommendations.Mandatory Measure

Space Heating and CoolingEA 6.1

Do not limit available HERS points, but allow credit for up to 100 in order to reward zero energy homes.

Optional Measure

ENERGY STAR HomeEA 1.2

Mechanical equipment must be accessible for service, including AC condensate drain pan and trap.

Mandatory MeasureTBDEA

Add as requirements to Durability Plan: a. Install materials with proper detailing to control degradation from sun, heat and moisture, including:Wood>8above soil; Roof/wall flashing with siding cut 2 above roofing; minimum 10 overhangsize at eaves with a sloped roof.b. Minimum 25-year expected lifetime roof warranty.c. 10 year warranty on vertical insulated glass.d. Reduced ice dams: No non-airtight recessed light fixtures in insulated flat ceilings; no non-airtightrecessed fixtures in insulated cathedral ceilings.e. Reduced ice dams: At least R-30 attic/roof-slope insulation R-value extending over outside ofexterior walls.f. Effective flashing on all rough openings, including membrane flashing on bottom of all roughopenings for windows and doors using adhesives compatible with drainage plane materials andwindow and door head casing flashing.g. Detail deck to house connection to shed water away from house and to allow natural drying of assembly.h. Foundation continuous footing drain with stone covered with filter fabric, drained to daylight or ifnecessary to drain to the interior, use a sealed sump pump system. (Drainage system not Req'd in puresand.)i. Basement foundation walls use porous backfill material.j. Provide continuous crushed stone under footings or provide pipe through footing for drainage of anyaccumulated water under slab to drainage.k. Vapor retarder (poly or rigid insulation) directly under slab.l. Exterior of below grade foundation damp proofed.m. Crawlspaces not vented; crawlspace walls insulated; crawlspace floor with complete, continuoussealed vapor retarder, also sealed to walls. (Must complete all approaches.)

Mandatory MeasureDurability PlanMR 4

Suggested Addition for VermontMandatory or Optional

MeasureDescription

LEED-H

Credit #

Green Homes: LEED H

Do not limit ID credits to four, but allow open-ended options to be submitted for review/approval.Optional MeasureInnovative DesignID

Air seal ventilation ductwork.Mandatory Measure

Outdoor Air VentilationIEQ 4.3

Use rigid duct or other methods to keep fan back-pressure below 0.2 for EOV systems.Mandatory Measure

Outdoor Air VentilationIEQ 4.2

Insulate all ventilation exhaust ductwork (minimum R-8) outside of the insulated envelope.Mandatory Measure

Outdoor Air VentilationIEQ 4.1

a. No carpet in kitchens, bathrooms, spa areas, or within 3' of exterior door.b. Carpet installed on slab on grade or on concrete basement floor, must have: minimum R-10 continuous insulation under slab and minimum R-5 slab edge insulation break at foundation wall intersection and R-10 slab edge insulation outward of any walk-out slab edge.

Mandatory MeasureTBDIEQ

No adhesives for carpet attachments unless zero VOC (100 grams per liter or less).

Optional Measure

Environmentally Preferable Products

MR 5.2

Non-mercury thermostats.Mandatory MeasureTBDMR

Provide smoke detectors per code (hardwired with battery backup).Mandatory MeasureTBDIEQ

Air filter housings must be air-tight to prevent bypass or leakage.Mandatory Measure

Supply Air FilteringIEQ 7.1

Suggested Addition for Vermont

Mandatory or

Optional Measure

Description

LEED-H

Credit #

Green Homes: LEED H

VBG Proposal to USGBC ~ January 06 Determine that the USGBCs bylaws allow for local modification and enhancement of a LEED product.

Integrate some local mandatory requirements and optional credits into the LEED for Homes Rating System to create state-specific Checklists. An integrated approach--and not an addendum with local criteria or utilizing the innovative design credits--would be the desired approach.

Co-brand the home certifications with the local (e.g. Vermont Builds Greener and New Jersey Green) and LEED for Homes designations, using both logos.

Work towards resolution on how a local program that desires a higher standard than LEED for Homes in time for the national 2007 roll-out.