Blog

16
Jan
2018

green home design closes the wealth gap in the US

Posted by Allison / affordable sustainable housing, low energy solutions, passive solar, small houses, solar, sustainable design

Sustainable homes may seem like a luxury, but green design solutions can help close the wealth gap in the United States. For any potential homeowner, and particularly important for the low-income housing market, green affordable homes lower electricity and repair bills helping to achieve both environmental and economic sustainability.

Homeownership has been linked to a wide variety of social and economic benefits, including better mental health, neighborhood connectivity, and wealth accumulation. But the risks of homeownership are different for low-income households than other income brackets. Low-income homeowners are more likely to have to pay for repairs or maintenance costs that are beyond their budget. Lower-income households also pay a higher share of their income towards electricity bills than middle or high-income households.

Well-designed, environmentally-friendly and affordable homes can help make buying a good investment, no matter your income level.

When Charlottesville VA | Asheville NC architects hays+ewing design studio [heds] designed and planned a ten-home green affordable home development, we reserved two of the homes for Habitat for Humanity. Two families were selected by Habitat as the new home owners. Both were immigrants – one family had moved here from the Philippines and had co-habitated in a small apartment with a relative for seven years. The other family was from Afghanistan. This family had lost their husband/father and their home on the same day.

As the architects for the two homes, we focused on a few green affordable home solutions: keeping energy and maintenance costs low while using low-cost materials. We super-insulated the houses, making sure they would keep the warmth in during the winter and the heat out during the summer. We optimized for passive solar too, which meant shading out unwanted summer sun but allowing sunshine to penetrate the houses in colder months. Finally, we used Hardiepanel, which requires little upkeep, for the house siding, so the long-term maintenance costs would be low.

We also thought about what it would take for the residents to thrive in their new home. We created a common courtyard to foster community. We also convinced Habitat to frame an opening for a future stair to a basement so the families could rent their daylit, insulated basement and thereby subsidize their income. Through thoughtful design and incorporation of green affordable home best practices, hays+ewing design studio [heds] is helping these families find economic stability in their new adoptive city of Charlottesville.

In addition to the two Habitat for Humanity homes, we also designed a single-family, spec home on land we owned in the same community. We wanted the house to be sustainable but also affordable – the home sold before framing was even completed, a nice testament to the appeal of the home.

Spec homes are rarely designed sustainably. For, instance the better developer might integrate a “flash and batt” approach to insulating the walls, which means using 2” of spray foam insulation with batt insulation on top. This helps to reduce air displacement but there are still losses where the cold air is transferred at the wall framing. For this project heds architects used 5” of spray foam insulation in combination with an insulated plywood on the exterior. The insulated plywood thus acts as a break between the cold air and the wall framing to prevent the thermal bridging. You can see this strategy, along with our use of SIPS panels, solar hot water heating, and passive solar strategies in the diagram below.

A 1432

This 2000 square-foot home was affordable despite its ambitions. It won a Virginia Society of the AIA Award of Excellence and a jurist praised the project as “boots on the ground” sustainability in the spec housing market.

As these two projects highlight, sustainable best practices make closing the wealth gap possible by lessening the risks low-income home-buyers face. Having both economic and environmental sustainability doesn’t have to be hard.

Co-written by Allison Ewing and Emily Hays

02
Jan
2018

2018: Bring it on!

Posted by Allison / Uncategorized

To great discourse in 2018 from Allison and Chris at hays+ewing design studio.

19
Oct
2017

New research on “mother” trees | the importance of FSC certified wood

Posted by Allison / biomimicry, low embodied energy materials, sustainable design

Mother trees that communicate to their seedlings, sending them nutrients? Trees that share information among species to ensure their mutual survival? These are the findings of University of British Columbia Forestry researcher Dr. Suzanne Simard, and her studies illuminate the critical importance of forest stewardship and specifying FSC (Forest stewardship Council) certified wood.

In her TED talk, Simard discusses how roots of fungi form a dense root network system that trees co-opt. Called Mycorrhizae, this root system becomes the link between a tree’s root system forming a node/link network. Simard has found that trees will transit carbon to their own understory seedlings enhancing the potential for survival by four times. Species cooperate as well, sharing carbon seasonally. Fir and birch, for example share carbon seasonally: In the summer when the Douglas fir is more shaded, it receives excess carbon from the birch. Later in the fall, when the birch is losing its leaves, excess carbon from the fir is transmitted through the same fungal exchange system.

We think of forests as competing but Simard has found forest are a cooperative system, sharing resources, communicating threats and “talking” to kin.

After hearing Simard’s TED talk I am humbled by how smart forests are. Good forest stewardship requires a more sophisticated knowledge of the local forest, promotion of a diversity of species, and conservation of these mother or node trees.

Wood framing is the bread and butter of residential home building in North America. At HEDS we specify FSC certified wood. The mission of the FSC is to promote environmentally sound and socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests. The need to conserve biological diversity and maintain the ecological functions and integrity of the forest is all the more critical in light of Simard’s research. How can forestry practices reinforce the capacity for forests to regenerate? Simard’s research illuminates how important it is to save old growth forest and reduce clear cutting to ensure the perpetuation of healthy forests.

08
Sep
2017

Architects’ Perspectives on the issue of Confederate Statues

Posted by Allison / charlottesville va architects, Robert E Lee statue, unite the right rally

Charlottesville, Virginia was recently visited, or more aptly invaded by, members of nearly fifty different organizations loosely falling under the umbrella of the Alt-Right. The event was called “Unite the Right” and it became a coming-out party for white supremacists. The alleged purpose of the event was to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee. An independent militia came purportedly to ensure the right to free speech. Virginia has an open carry law (including semi-automatics) and instead Second Amendment rights trumped First Amendment — for the weekend, sleepy Charlottesville became a war zone and three people died.

The removal of the statue was first raised by high schooler Zyahna Bryant who in her petition to City Council wrote, “My peers and I feel strongly about the removal of the statue because it makes us feel uncomfortable and it is very offensive.” In the course of debating the fate of the statue, many solutions were put forth, one of which was to create “counter-monuments.” Instead of removing and thereby erasing history, some argued (architects and architectural historians among them) to augment the park with context that would provide historical perspective; the statue would remain but a larger story about slavery and Jim Crow would take Robert E Lee off his high horse, so to speak.

The Charlottesville Alt-Right rally on August 12, 2017 was a coming-out party for white supremacists.

In a recent article in ARCHITECT, Aaron Betsky (Let’s Entomb our Past Evils) promoted this idea. In my opinion, the approach does have merit, or did — before the Unite the Right rally (but, I had wondered whether adding context would lead to vandalism and more pain to those most impacted by the continued reminders of slavery, Jim Crow and ongoing discrimination). Since the recent invasion of the Alt-right, however, the discussion has shifted — I can no longer countenance keeping the statue because to do so would be to stand beside these groups in common cause — an idea wholly repugnant. In fact, for architects to even be debating this point is in itself, hubris. Shouldn’t we really be asking Zyahna Bryant and others who find the statue offensive, what they want?

confederate statues R E Lee statue unite the right rally charlottesville va

24
Aug
2017

Is beauty a trade-off for green design?

Posted by Allison / green design, Uncategorized

Nature teaches us the importance of beauty for survival. Color in the plumage of birds, the smell of flowers are but two examples of natural selection to promote procreation (of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, consider the horny toad – not called horny for nothing). Nature doesn’t call this green design, it’s just good practice!

If a house or housing complex is not pleasing to the purchaser, it won’t sell. Consider Pruitt-Igoe, once touted as St. Louis’ panacea to housing for the poor. Even with subsidized rents, the building never reached 90% occupancy and was demolished after only twenty years. If it isn’t beautiful, it won’t sell, and even if it’s free, no one will pick it up from the roadside of housing detritus.

A lot of resources go into a building and the longer that building endures, the lower the environmental impact.

Architects must solve for a series of criteria: how does the building take best advantage of views, harness the sun and wind, solve the space requirements|adjacencies, optimize water and energy use, be resource efficient, nurture the local ecosystem, enhance inhabitants’ quality of life, and — delight? The architect’s goal in designing a green building is to find a solution that is an elegantly integrated whole. Beauty is not a trade-off for green design — beauty is essential to a building’s survival and therefore its environmental impact.

biophilia ecosystems environmental impact green design lifecycle analysis pruitt-igo quality of life recourse efficiency

26
Jun
2017

Zero energy homes | the Passivhaus approach to reducing energy bills in homes

Posted by Allison / energy efficiency, green design, low energy solutions, net zero home, passive solar, passivhaus, Uncategorized, zero energy home

The focus of this discussion is achieving a zero energy home through the Passivhaus approach.

True or false – adding insulation has diminishing returns? True, doubling the thickness of a roof insulation doubles the cost while halving the heat loss/gain, and half of a half is a quarter and half of that an eighth…. So, “How low should we go?” as some have asked. The idea behind the Passivhaus program, developed in Germany, is to break through the cost barrier by sealing and insulating the bejesus out of an envelope till the need for mechanical equipment is eliminated (apart from fresh-air delivery). What about the applicability of the system to the mid-Atlantic region? According to Galen Staengl, Passivhaus-certified energy consultant, “It’s still an open question as to where the cost/performance balance is struck in in our region where cooling and dehumidification are also required.” Even with the adaptability of the approach to different climates still being explored, the program offers valuable insight into how we might crack the zero energy code.

The Passivhaus program is performance-based. To achieve the 4.7 kBtu/ft/yr goal, recommended R-values for walls are R-40, for roofs, R-60. At the Hickory Hall project at the College of Emory & Henry in Virginia consulting engineer Staengl says this is achieved with a wall system comprised of 2×6 studs with cellulose insulation and 2 1/2″ of EPS insulation outside of the sheathing – all building techniques well understood by contractors and resulting in a cost increase of only 5%. The Contracting firm of Structures Design Build, located in Roanoke, Virginia alters the DNA of the typical wall section by adding a modified Larsen truss outside of the studs and sheathing. The truss, truss joists turned on their side with the webbing removed, is filled with cellulose.

The Passivhaus approach doesn’t stop at the envelope. In the US, where the climate varies from hot to cold and somewhere in between, and where some parts see enough humidity to wilt Blanche Dubois’ curls, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, especially hot water heating, need to be addressed. And of course, all the other aspects we’ve discussed above are thrown into the stone soup of the Passivhaus approach resulting in a HERS rating of between 20-30.

One of the challenges of the application of Passivhaus approach in the US is availability of cost-friendly materials. Triple-pane windows, a must for the approach, are just beginning to show up in the marketplace. Happily many of the major window manufacturers are getting on-board and Marvin, Pella and Milgard all offer triple pane options. In Europe where energy codes now mandate a Passivhaus approach, triple pane windows have become the norm — and costs are lower than for double pane — the more stringent codes in Europe are affecting a radical change in the marketplace.

In addition to the significant energy savings of the Passivhaus approach, consider the indoor climate. A recently completed home in Virginia Beach uses triple pane windows and the temperature of the glass is ten degrees warmer in the winter. The increased

Triple pane windows in this home reduce energy bills and increase comfort. The temperature at the windows is 10 degrees warmer in the winter.

comfort associated with a well-designed envelope is palpable and a nice side benefit to reduced energy bills.

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13
Oct
2016

In pursuit of happiness – the question of size and architecture

Posted by Allison / charlottesville va architects, energy efficiency, green design, low embodied energy materials, net zero home, not so big house, small houses, sustainable design, Uncategorized

In November of 2014 I wrote about the Not so Big Apartment and of Gary Chang’s clever Swiss army knife style apartment that transforms into 24 different spaces. I admired the inventiveness of Cheng’s project and the notion of living well in a small setting.

The topic of size comes up a lot at architectural conferences. The issue is an important one for obvious reasons – bigger homes require more energy to heat and cool and more energy goes into the construction materials. Clients however aren’t always so interested in the notion of doing with less. That’s not surprising in the US, home to the super-sized Big Mac and it’s cousin the McMansion.

At HEDS we think big, from the perspective of living well, is beside the point –size has very little to do with the qualities that foster a sense of well-being and happiness. Size is what builders promote in the absence of good design. This is size over substance thinking – size is a false prize.

We share our clients’ goal that our designs should contribute to their happiness and well-being. In pursuit of their happiness, we promote more substantive qualities such as homes that bring richness through CLEVER ideas. Other qualities we pursue in our designs: FUN, COMMUNITY at all levels (between siblings, within the family, with neighbors and the larger community), a connection with NATURE, and last but not least, COOL.

In pursuit of COOL: The Exbury Egg by Pad Studio, Spud Group and Stephen Turner.

In pursuit of FUN and COMMUNITY. This kids room has a shared loft. An art wall exhibits the children’s masks. A window between the children’s rooms fosters community between siblings. When small these children held hands between the window and have grown up to be close friends. Woolen Mills House by HEDS.

In Pursuit of Nature: A captured outdoor space brings nature into the daily living for this home’s occupants. The space is used for sitting and dining during the spring, summer and fall. Dogtrot House by HEDS. Photo by Prakash Patel.

Allison Ewing building size charlottesville architects chris hays green design hays+ewing low energy solutions not so big house the not so big house virginia architects

29
Aug
2016

affordable green buildings: lessons from the Make It Right Homes

Posted by Allison / affordable sustainable housing, energy efficiency, green design, low energy solutions

To understand how to build affordable green buildings, it’s useful to look toward low-income communities where these strategies are being applied at scale, where costs and paybacks are being measured. The Make It Right (MIR) Foundation is just such a test-bed community – a Petri dish for our examination. Make It Right builds affordable green homes and buildings and began by with the reconstruction of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Started by Brad Pitt in 2007, Make it Right buildings are LEED Platinum certified and inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking. The MIR Foundation’s primary goal is to change the building industry by implementing green building strategies that is affordable to all. MIR utilizes an array of methods:

Advanced framing to reduce material and labor costs: studs at 24″ on center or the use of structural insulated panels are some of the techniques used (R-25 walls, R-33 roof, R-13 subfloor). Less labor means more affordable. Less materials means more green.
Interior finishes that are low or no off-gassing make for healthy living.
Green electrical through wireless electrical system (Verve). The higher cost of the system is offset by lower cost for installation.
A high velocity air-conditioning system reduces size of duct/trunk lines which can then run in the structure, saving on structural and finishing costs.
Well insulated walls and air tight buildings reduce energy loads and therfore long-term operational costs. Green Insulation such as spray foam and recycled denim insulation are used.
Low-flow faucets, shower heads and dual flush toilets reduce water consumption.
Cisterns for irrigation also reduce water usage.
Tankless water heaters means no tanks — water is heated only when needed which reduces energy costs.
4.25 KW solar array (grid-tied/net-metered) uses the sun to generate energy for the buildings.
Building Information Management (BIM) allows the organization to analyze and reconfigure the building DNA as it evolves. BIM provides feedback to increase the efficiencies to make their buildings ever more affordable and green.

The typical HERS (Home Energy Rating System) of a home is 100. The typical Make it Right home has a HERS rating of 15-20, or an 80% reduction in energy use over the typical. For $150/SF, including solar panels (of which a portion receives a government tax goodies), this is a remarkable feat.

advanced framing affordable air tightness BIM building design cisterns dual flush toilets low off-gassing materials low VOC materials SIPS panels solar homes spray foam insulation structural insulated panels sustainable tankless water heaters Verve

02
Aug
2016

Modern Green Virginia Beach House Tour

Posted by Allison / charlottesville va architects, energy efficiency, green design, low embodied energy materials, low energy solutions, passive solar, passivhaus, sustainable design

Tour of soon-to-be-finished modern green Virginia beach house on August 11th at 6:00 PM. Meet at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club (parking lot nearest the clubhouse) at 1052 Cardinal Road, Virginia Beach, VA. Attendance limited. Please RSVP to aewing@hays-ewing.com.

House features:

Superinsulated and designed to meet Passivhaus standards, triple glazed windows, Huber Zip system, FSC certified woods and many other sustainable features. A second floor outdoor covered living space offers a stunning view of Linkhorn Bay. See also Facebook event.

Custom home located in Virginia Beach.

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28
Jul
2016

Solar Energy: Let the sun shape the roof

Posted by Allison / green design, solar

Solar energy is becoming more affordable by the day (see blog post 3/16/2106). Before long, the cost for solar power will become cheaper than grid-sourced. Twenty years ago the payback on solar was roughly equal to the lifespan of the solar array. Still, we designed our roofs to accept solar panels, looking forward to the day that the economic case could be made to mount those panels on a project’s roof. Recently-built Solar Faber project has not had to wait for those panels – with a return on investment of over 5%, the economic case can now be made. The big, south facing roof of the project was designed with that intent. What’s more, if the sun shapes the roof, the roof shapes the interior of the house, adding height and interest. It’s a two-for-one proposition that makes so much sense for both the environment and the quality of life for the building owner.

If the sun shapes the roof, the roof shapes the interior.

lynchburg green home solar solar energy