New homes are wood framed, single story. Sunlight provides almost all of the heat and light for the entire house. Some unique features in new homes include:
passive solar design
1,056 ft2
wood frame, three-bedroom, one-story
direct gain solar tempering with low-e insulated windows
2x6 stud walls
high density batt insulation Rv=21
insulated sheathing Rv=5
raised heel wood trusses with extra insulation Rv=60
shallow frost-protected foundation
hydronic fin-tube baseboard radiation supplied by gas-fired
40 gal. water heater
air-tight drywall with gasketing and caulking
heat recovery ventilation system
energy efficient appliances
compact fluorescent lights
low-volume toilets and showerheads
average winter gas bill ranges from $20-30
average 43% reduction in energy consumption
Back-up
Water Heater
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Heat Recovery Unit
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