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| Architectural rendering of 1310 Calder Road (conceptual) | view PDF |
The Carbon Neutral House is a partnership between WEST*GROUP and Fairfax based GreenSpur, Inc. The project will showcase how energy efficient design and renewable energy systems come together in a home that is not only seriously environmentally friendly, but also a beautiful place to live. The goal is to create an environmentally responsible home that fits right into the close-in McLean community in which it is being built.
Project LOCATION
The site for the home (view map) was selected because of its walkable proximity to the amenities of McLean and its access to the Metro bus system. The home is less than a five minute walk to the grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants, and numerous other shops in downtown McLean. The site is also a short walk to a Metro bus stop. Reliable and attractive public transportation is a key piece of the carbon puzzle, which influenced the location of the project. From here, a family can still use the Metro bus and train to be in downtown Washington in less than a half hour.
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Site plan and floor plan (conceptual)
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Project Design
The Craftsman Style house is being designed by Cunningham Quill Architects of Washington and will feature 4 bedrooms and 3-½ baths. The house will include approximately 3,800 s.f. of livable space— substantial, but significantly smaller than other new houses in the neighborhood. The house will include geothermal system for heating and cooling, a solar hot water system, and photovoltaic panels and wind turbines to generate on site electricity. The design and site plan have been subjected to extensive energy modeling to position the house on the site and to incorporate architectural elements which maximize thermal efficiencies.The walls and roof of the house will be insulated through a Structurally Integrated Panel System (SIPS) that often doubles the R-factor required by local building codes. The house design will also treat water as a precious resource. The design will include low-flow fixtures as well as a rain water capture and grey water recycling systems. Upon completion, the house is projected to use 70–80% less energy per square foot than a comparable new home. Any remaining power required to operate the home will be purchased as “clean” power from the local utility provider. As a result, the home will be carbon neutral from the standpoint of the family’s day-to-day living, and the walkable location of the home to McLean and the Metro transportation network will reduce even further the total carbon footprint of the family living here.
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