When we took on the Johnson home project, we were charged with a unique proposition - take on the project management and construction of a Dream Home that just happens to also be a Green Home.
As a “Dream Home,” this house was designed with the homeowners’ lifestyle in mind. | | Tour this Dream Home "green home!"
549 MacLeod Drive
Gibsonia, Pa. 15044 map it
Trade only: Oct. 15 & Oct. 22
Public tours: Oct 16-17 & Oct 23-24
|
|
|
Utility areas were pushed north to provide living space in the prime southern-facing areas, and we kept bedrooms and bathrooms smaller in exchange for larger living areas. This home also offers many beautiful extras including an outdoor bamboo shower, built-in salt water fish tanks, and a 16-foot rock climbing wall for their children’s entertainment.
As a “Green Home,” the Johnsons’ house was designed for near net zero energy together with LEED Gold and NAHB Emerald designations. This home includes many state of the art technologies including a super insulated envelope, triple pane windows, reflective standing seam roofing, a geothermal system, photo voltaic panels, a rainwater catchment system and advanced smart home and home automations systems.
Says homewoner Sherwood Johnson, “We built our house simply because nothing comparable was available on the market. Our goals were to reap the benefits of green building: energy efficiency, minimal environmental impact, and health benefits, but “most of all” the comfort that comes from an open, day-lit house that is well-insulated and heated/cooled, yet feels connected to the outdoors.”
Many aspects of green building pay for themselves easily, even after using advanced building methods and material. To make it all come together seamlessly, though, requires knowledge and long-term outlook on everyone’s part. Everyone involved in this project wants to be both an example and a resource for others who are interested in building a green home, as well as to help future homeowners avoid the pitfalls of selecting the wrong contractors for the job. |
