Home and Habitat
Porch and living area photos by Stephen Savage
The design of this green model home showcases salvaged materials from a deconstructed cottage on their lot and lumber milled from a tree felled during construction.
The design was inspired by the vernacular architecture of the South, and uses passive solar orientation with deep overhangs, porches, natural ventilation, and a reflective roof as a fundamental approach to energy efficiency.
The house was carefully inserted between four mature oaks, to take advantage of their shade. The condensate drain for the HVAC system is routed underground off this lower level and emerges to become a wildlife “watering hole” in the nearby woods. Guests can view foxes, raccoons, and turtles from the hanging beds or a converted livestock trough that the owners have dubbed their “redneck spa.”
Roughly 1/3 of the built area is dedicated to porches. These outdoor rooms provide flexible space for kids to play, adults to dine al fresco, or get-away space to commune with nature. They also give relief to a compact floor plan. The house shape and simple floor plan reduce site disturbance and contribute to the overall efficiency and affordability of the home.
Advanced framing techniques, air sealed construction, open cell foam insulation, LoE windows, and a high performance air conditioning system allow the home to be cooled with minimal energy consumption. The high-performance building envelope reduced the HVAC size by 2 tons, which allowed the use of better insulation and HVAC systems with no net gain increase in construction cost. The owners have hosted workshops, trainings, and tours to educate others about simple, cost-effective green building strategies for the Deep South.
The residence had originally been conceived as a renovation. During demolition, the structure was found to be a conglomeration of heart pine boards, old doors, what apparently were fencing materials…. beautiful, but completely structurally unsound. The owners invited Habitat for Humanity and community members to salvage reusable cabinets and fixtures, then dismantled the structure for re-use as interior paneling, beams, and furniture. While this process added some time and expense, the owners say that the beauty of the materials, the new connections made, and the history preserved are the most valuable attributes of their new home.
Project type: residential new construction, deconstruction, salvage
Location: Fairhope, AL
Certifications: Energy Star, Certified Wildlife Habitat (project predated full release of LEED for Homes)
Key Stats:
Total Water Use Reduced By 64%
Local and salvaged materials used throughout
Exposed structure reduces finishes
Screened porch captures breezes
Yard certified as wildlife habitat
Native landscape requires no irrigation
