DOE Tour of Zero: Blackfoot Pass by Sustainable 9 Design + Build
Photos
1/10
Sustainable 9 Design + Build built this 8,263-square-foot custom home in Edina, Minnesota, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
2/10
The DOE Zero Energy Ready Home upgrades on this large Minnesota home are expected to save the homeowners $3,700 a year in energy costs, or $5,000 a year when the 12-kW solar system is included.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
3/10
The large triple-pane windows let in plenty of light but won’t transfer much heat thanks to three layers of low-emissivity coatings.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
4/10
The home’s six refrigerators, three dishwashers, two clothes washers, and seven exhaust fans are all ENERGY STAR rated to ensure lower energy use.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
5/10
Permanent awnings, motorized shades, and dynamic glazing allow in light but protect interiors from glare, fading, and unwanted heat gain.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
6/10
A central manifold plumbing system with PEX piping speeds hot water to each tap with minimal waste while low-flow fixtures further reduce water usage.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
7/10
Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes help improve air quality throughout the home including in this guest suite.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
8/10
The 2-by-6, 16-inch on-center framed walls for the four-story home were insulated with spray foam on the inside and rigid foam on the exterior.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
9/10
The walls of the home are wrapped on the exterior with plywood sheathing, house wrap, and 2 inches of rigid foam, then a 3/8-inch drainage gap behind the fiber cement siding.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable 9 Design + Build
10/10
A 12-kW array of solar panels is installed on angled racks on a flat roof of the home. The home also has two solar batteries with a capacity of 13.5 kWh each, or 27 kWh total.