Materials
- Austin White LImestone
- Most flooring is durable
- On-site waste reduction
Energy
- One-room width design
- Operable thermal chimney
- Large porch
- Home designed for 600 sq. ft. of living space per ton of
cooling
- Cooling system sized by Manual J based on actual design
- Duct installation to City of Austin Energy Code
- 14.0 SEER A/C system
- Ceiling fans
- Programmable thermostat
- Insulated roof deck
- Low-E glass & Double pane
- Light-color for exterior
- No skylights
- Compact fluorescents
Health, Safety
- Low-Voc
paints
- No vapor barrier
- 1in pleated media filter
- Exhaust fans
- Utility room exhaust fan
- Hard-surface flooring
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Electrical panel set-back from bedrooms
- Programmable thermostat
- No wood on exterior
Wate
- Low-flow
shower heads
- Low-water use dishwasher
- Existing vegetation is 90% undisturbed
- Native plants utilized
- Rainwater system
This 2169 s.f.
residence is being built by Robert Johnson, a graduate of the City of Austin's Green Boots Program. This is Robert's first green building home and he is doing a wonderful job.
The Design
Concept was that the home should coexist with the trees rather than remove them.
The courtyard design allowed for almost all of the trees to be saved by creating a bridge from the public living areas in the front to the private sleeping areas in the rear, and at the same time creating an oasis accessible from all of the main living areas of the home.
The home utilizes both natural daylighting and ventilation through a number of sustainable design principles including a thermal chimney/cupola and one-room width design.
Almost all of the original vegetation is retained, and the homeowner wanted a small rainwater collection system that she could use to water plants in her vegetable garden.
The home has abundant green feautres, local white Austin Limestone, metal roof, Marvin Integrity windows, spray-foam insulation, and a small rainwater collection system. Yet at the same time was designed with a tight budget in mind.
First Floor Plan
copyright Elliot Johnson, AIA
Second Floor Plan
copyright Elliot Johnson, AIA