Finish Details

When building the awnings over our south windows we were careful to allow winter sun and block summer sun.  This is a crucial aspect of the design that can make or break the heating and cooling passivity of a home.  To jive with IRS requirements for passive solar tax credits your south windows must receive full sun on the winter solstice and no sun on the summer solstice.

We were able to use wood from a wild cherry tree we felled from the house site for the bar top and backsplashes.

Not only do we love natural stone but the slate tile adds more "incidental mass".  This will help to smooth out our temperature "fly wheel" that much more.  It's also beautiful.

The lower 4' of this wall is actually 8" block filled solid with concrete.  The space between the block and stair treads is slate on backer board.  This vertical mass wall sits 3' from a big south-facing picture window.

We couldn't get enough slate!

A large ceiling fan above the staircase moves air between the floors.  This fan is extremely efficient for two reasons.  One is the large sweep (70").  The other reason is that the motor runs on direct current.  Fans have an efficiency rating based on cubic feet per minute per watt.  This fan is rated at 276.28 CFM/watt.  This is 121.28 CFM/watt higher than the minimum required for Energy Star compliance.

Concrete counter tops add more incidental mass, are highly durable, and provide aesthetic beauty while being more affordable than other solid state options.

All appliances are of course "Energy Star" rated.  When striving toward a net-zero (energy) home, one dollar spent on efficiency can save several dollars on a renewable energy system.  In other words, the less electricity you consume, the fewer photovoltaic panels are required to offset your consumption.

More concrete!

This brick surround for the wood stove will warm up, store, and slowly release heat back into the living space long after the fire goes out.