DOE Tour of Zero: Hope for Health by High Performance Homes

High Performance Homes built this 5,359-square-foot custom home in Easton, Maryland, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.

The detached garage had the best orientation for installing the 6.5 kW of solar shingles.

The kitchen exhaust fan was recessed into the ceiling above the induction cooktop for extra quiet venting.

Low- and no-VOC stains and finishes were used throughout the home, which was certified to the EPA Indoor airPLUS requirements.

Low-flow fixtures were selected and a central manifold water distribution system with PEX piping helped to speed delivery of hot water to faucets.

Double-pane vinyl-framed windows bathe the home in natural light. The argon gas fill and two low-emissivity coatings on each window help to reduce heat transfer through the glass.

After building the CMU crawlspace foundation wall, the builder sprayed 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam on the ground and half way up the sides of the stem walls and piers. Then he installed a SIP rim band, the floor joists and the first-floor decking and mechanicals, then he came back and sprayed from the subfloor down over the SIP band and overlapping the initial spray. This provided a continuous R-15 insulated crawlspace with R-30 at the bands.

The above-grade walls of the home are 6.5-inch R-23 SIPs. The bands are 4.5-inch SIPs plus 1 inch of closed cell-spray foam plus an R-13 batt for a total R value of R-30.

The builder used a combination of open- and closed-cell spray foam to provide a continuous R-56 insulation value around the dormers and other attic structures.

For space and water heating the builder installed a ground-source heat pump with a 4.9 COP with a 19.2 EER and .93 EF. Domestic hot water is provided by a 55-gallon desuperheater fed from the ground source heat pump and a .93 EF electric water heater.