The plans can be used as is or modified to fit your needs and your lot.
Zero Energy Home 2004
Description:
The goal is to design a long-lasting structure that is low maintenance. Possibility of future about 500-square-foot addition is taken into consideration in the plans. The addition will not affect the impervious cover requirement.
The exterior walls of the house are constructed of 10” ICFs (insulated concrete panels), and the roof is made of 8” SIPS (structural insulated panels). Combination of these two materials will form an energy efficient building envelope with greater thermal mass and better R-value than when using conventional building materials.
The exterior walls have stucco finish and the inside of the same walls will be plaster. The other non-structural interior walls are wood studs, 24” on center to conserve wood.
The foundation slab will be finished with stained concrete floors throughout the house.
Natural light is brought in from above on the north side of the house through clerestory windows. All windows are double pane, low-e, thermal break aluminum windows.
"Zero Energy Home Development Moves Forward
The Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) development planned for East Austin's Montopolis neighborhood is moving forward. The Green Building Program recently held a design competition for Program members interested in designing homes for the ZEH development. We had a handful of excellent submittals; each project was required to meet criteria from the GBP Single Family Residential Rating and the Montopolis Neighborhood Guidelines. Our panel of judges then assigned scores to each design in three broad categories - Energy, Affordability, and Community. The first place award went to LZT Architect and the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, who submitted a joint proposal. Second place was a tie between Z Works Design/Build Inc and Barley + Pfeiffer Architects. 9Design received the Honorable Mention. All the submittals were excellent and the GBP intends to pursue use of the winning plans after some final revisions. "
