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    DOE Tour of Zero: The Preserve by Greenhill Contracting

    1. Buildings
    2. DOE Tour of Zero: The Preserve by Greenhill Contracting
    Photos
    1/18
    This Greenhill Contracting U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home has estimated utility bill savings of $1,900 a year without solar panels or $3,000 a year when solar panels are added.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    2/18
    Greenhill Contracting Inc. of Esopus, New York, built this community of certified DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes in upstate New York.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    3/18
    Advanced lighting technology is used throughout the home with LED lamps in 80% of the fixtures and CFLs in the remaining 20%.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    4/18
    The home’s high-efficiency appliances include an ENERGY STAR-labeled refrigerator, clothes washer, and dishwasher.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    5/18
    High-efficiency ENERGY STAR ceiling fans reduce cooling costs and noise.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    6/18
    The ultra-efficient windows feature three layers of glass; anti-glare, heat-retaining coatings; and an insulating argon fill.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    7/18
    Low-VOC paints and finishes help provide a healthful environment while high-efficiency ceiling fans provide cooling air movement.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    8/18
    A professionally installed balanced fresh air system called a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is installed in this airtight home. The HRV brings in fresh filtered outside air while continuously exchanging heat with stale air removed from the kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    9/18
    Water-saving EPA WaterSense-rated faucets inside and drought-tolerant landscaping outside ensure low water bills.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    10/18
    On-demand hot water plumbing speeds hot water to fixtures with minimal waste. In addition, the ultra-efficient geo heat pump provides combustion-free water heating and space heating and cooling.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    11/18
    Insulated concrete form (ICF) construction provides a thermal blanket of quiet comfort and comprehensive draft protection.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    12/18
    ICF construction provides a very durable structure that can withstand severe winter weather and other natural disasters.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    13/18
    Advanced ICF wall technology can better withstand disaster risks such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and pests.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    14/18
    The professionally installed interior comfort delivery system includes ducts within conditioned space under the spray-foam insulated roof deck.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    15/18
    Three inches of closed-cell spray foam is applied directly onto the ground before pouring the slab, creating an R-20 layer of high-efficiency foundation insulation.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    16/18
    The ultra-efficient wall insulation system utilizes 11-inch ICF block construction consisting of two sheets of rigid foam held together by plastic spacers and reinforced with steel rebar to form a hollow wall that is filled with concrete. A fully cured system results in a remarkably airtight, sturdy structure.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    17/18
    The ultra-efficient geo heat pump provides the home with forced-air heating and cooling, and hot water.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
    18/18
    The ultra-efficient R-60 attic insulation system includes 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam and 10 inches of open-cell spray foam applied to the underside of the roof deck.
    Photo courtesy of Greenhill Contracting
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