The 2011 National Green Building Conference got under way with a day-long Green Building and Technology Tour that showcased the best of what Salt Lake City-area high-performance builders have to offer. From a custom vacation home to a sustainable historical renovation to an affordable and ultra-efficient solar home, the tour highlighted the area’s diverse green building options.
To learn more, see the descriptions below and click on the slide show at left for design and product highlights.
RIVERTON HOUSE
This dwelling by Lindon-based Magleby Construction, set to be complete in two months, incorporates full ICF construction, preassembled floor and roof systems, DuPont Tyvek building wrap, Icynene spray-foam insulation, and a five-well closed-loop geothermal system. With full radiant heating on all three levels, the 7,000-square-foot home will stay comfortable even during the harshest Utah winters.
A one-level section of the NGBS-Gold home incorporates the town’s 130-year-old original brick schoolhouse. Other green highlights include low-flow faucets, low-volume irrigation, a high-efficiency sealed combustion water heater, and four Lennox HRVs.
SOUTH JORDAN RESIDENCE
This LEED-Gold home combines a Logix ICF foundation, panelized advanced wall framing, and a well-insulated envelope. Harrisville-based builder Planet Conscious Resources focused heavily on keeping waste to a minimum and filled only one Dumpster during construction.
Other green products and technologies include two Carrier high-efficiency gas furnaces, recycled-content carpet, cork flooring, CPVC piping, and a gas-fired Navien CR240 series tankless water heater. All hot water lines are insulated to R-4.
THE SOLARIS HOUSE
Designed for first-time home buyers, the Solaris model from Garbett Homes includes a highly efficient building envelope and solar PVT system standard for about the same price as a traditional home. Models range from $209,000 to $265,000.
Hybrid PVT technology from Echo Solar captures and uses waste heat from the PV panels to heat household water and supplement the home’s space heating and cooling needs, generating two to three times more energy than a basic PV system.
Solaris is located in Daybreak, a master-planned community in Salt Lake City developed by Kennecott Land of South Jordan. With an eventual buildout of 20,000 homes on more than 4,000 acres, Daybreak is the largest Energy Star-certified community in the state.
Other features of the Energy Star-certified Solaris homes include 24-inch o.c. framing, R-24 walls, R-39 ceilings, dual-flush toilets, and tankless water heaters.
EMPIRE AVENUE HISTORICAL RENOVATION
Located in Park City, this renovation and expansion of a 100-year-old mining shack included radiant heating, low-E windows, a tankless water heater, and an Energy Star advanced lighting package. Four 200-foot wells were dug on the tight lot for the home’s geothermal system. Because of the neighborhood’s historic designation, no residential solar systems are permitted.
VILLA VERDE
Certified NGBS-Silver, this European-inspired custom home in Park City combines rustic Old World styling with modern high-performance technology. Designed and built by Green Tech Design/Build, the one-of-a-kind home takes advantage of the sloping site and southern exposure to provide warmth, natural light, and breathtaking views.
The home also features a sealed combustion heating unit, Energy Star appliances, recycled building materials, heat recovery ventilation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, R-15 insulation on all exterior walls, and cold roof ventilation to limit ice dams. Native vegetation and indigenous stones enhance the exterior landscaping.
Jennifer Goodman is Senior Editor, Online for EcoHome.
