This high-efficient house design is an iteration of the house I designed and built in Vermont, proven to produce the energy needed to power the home annually on-site with a solar array and tiny wood stove installed. It achieved this not just with technology, but with the envelope construction, air-tight detailing methods, and insulation strategies used in this new iteration!

Some notable elements are the passive solar strategies, to allow sunlight in the glazing in the winter, but block out the sunlight in the summer with the roof overhang angle and depth. Being an iteration for a mixed-humid climate, the design has a fully conditioned crawl space, allowing for the mechanical systems to be installed under the floor, saving space in the mechanical room, and allowing for a powder room on the first floor, helpful for overnight guests. This also allows flexibility with floor material choice without fear of mold or thermal bridging issues. 

The walls and roof also have mitigated thermal bridging with the use of exterior insulation and overlook framing construction strategies. The construction also allows for all chase paths to route ducting from the crawl space to their appropriate destinations without interrupting the interior design, allowing for fresh air and comfortable temperature to be achieved all year long without any noisy visual indications of the systems.

Lastly, the roof is pitched to the south, to allow for the optional solar array, as well as short and long term storage without taking up room on the second floor footprint.