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“The purpose of this (green) house is that it doesn’t look different from any other house.”

Emerson Eco-Model home in Maryland.

The “bones” of the home help reduce energy costs.

 

•  Some parts, like walls, floor joists and roof trusses were pre-built in a factory, reducing waste.
• On site, the first floor headers and heels were raised, allowing the placement of additional insulation around the windows.
• South-facing windows in the home are Pella Sun Defense styles with extra sheer, bronze-colored glazing and insulation to reduce the sun’s glare and heat. Mike joked,

“These windows are like putting on a heavy pair of sunglasses. They cut down on the sun’s UV rays.”

• Within the home’s exterior and interior walls, NCFI open cell foam insulation has been sprayed, filling up the cavities to cut down on energy loss and air leaks.
• Throughout the house the floors were either pre-finished bamboo or cork, both renewable resources. The bamboo flooring was manufactured with “low VOC” (volatile organic compounds) adhesives.
• Nearly every wall was painted or papered using low VOC materials; one bedroom featured walls painted with “no VOC” paint. “These McCormick paints finish off-gassing in three or four days,” he said.
• Bathrooms have dual flush toilets. Depending upon what was put in the toilet, a user could choose a 1.1-gallon or 1.6-gallon flush.

 ”For a family of four, this feature can save 4,000 gallons of water every year,” Mike said.

• Throughout the house, low flow faucets and shower heads were installed using 20 percent less water than regular faucets and showers, with similar results.
• The bathrooms boast attractive tiles made with recycled content. “They’re nice!” he said. “You’re not giving anything up here.
• ” One bathroom featured an Eco-Stone countertop made of 75 percent recycled content.
• All the bathroom fans had multiple-choice timer settings.
• Talk of low and no VOC materials continued into the kitchen, where the locally-sourced cabinetry has no added urea formaldehyde.
• The brushed stainless steel Energy Star refrigerator and freezer duo looked huge. “They’re oversized to encourage homeowners to get rid of the old fridge in the garage that’s draining electricity because it is old and inefficient,” said Mike.
• The home’s Energy Star refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher and washing machine can reduce water and energy costs 25 percent over regular appliances.
• One wall held a GE Ecomagination Home Management System. Touching the small screen, a homeowner can check on the home’s water and electricity consumption and costs-to-date.
• A plate on a second wall held a lighting control system.
• Mike was eager to talk about the tankless hot water heater, the manifold plumbing system and the cross-linked red and blue polyethylene pipes in the basement, along with the basement’s pre-cast, nine-foot high walls.
• He made sure we saw the Velux sun tunnel, a flexible domed tunnel skylight. Up on the second floor, it casts a sunny glow. And, we looked at every eco-friendly nook and cranny inside.

“A lot of things in this house I have in my own home,” he said. “I’m a member National Association of Home Builders 20 Club in this area. I learned from the other members and went through courses. Much of what Baldwin Homes was doing in our higher quality homes is already ‘green.’ As I became a better builder, I became a greener builder.”

For more:  
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/hom/2010/08/21-16/Eco-friendly-can-be-green-and-gorgeous.html