Sustainable Technologies

Arbor Plan: The roots of the pecan tree on this property had grown under the old foundation, and it had to be taken down. We will plant 4 other substantial trees to replace it. The magnolia will stay and provide shade for the home. See our home plans for details on tree layout on the lot.

Location: 156 Mellrich is less than ¼ mile from the East Lake MARTA rail station, allowing for options other than driving alone. MARTA allows bikes on its buses and trains at all times, making a car-free lifestyle a real option. Morever, the Oakhurst Community Garden and the Kirkwood and Oakhurst retail districts are less than 1 mile away.

Paints/Carpets: All paints, stains, and similar technologies will be low VOC (volatile organic compounds), meaning less out-gassing and air quality issues in the home.

Solar Lighting Tubes: These innovative skylights allow you to provide light to rooms without electricity, and without the unwanted heat gain that comes with conventional skylights. 156 Mellrich will utilize solar tubes in the kitchen's walk-in pantry, and the toilet room of the main floor restroom. Click here to see a graphic of how a solar sun tube works.

Windows: Most of the windows on the south, east, and west will use super energy-efficient windows designed for Southern climates. Good windows are more than just two panes of glass, but include the use of Argon gas, insulating spacing materials, and coatings to reduce radiative heat flow. The orientation and quality of windows is very important in the South.

156 Mellrich has invested greatly in windows and insulation, but the cost has been offset by needing a smaller air conditioning unit, being able to avoid attic venting, and much smaller energy bills. Click here to learn more about high-quality windows.

 

Pro-Foam: filling every hidden cavity where cold air can sneak in.

 

Cellulose: Still an excellent product.

Insulation: Originally, we were going to use blown-in cellulose insulation, made of old news print. This material is much, much more effective than Pink Panther-style BATTS rolled insulation, which can't be fitted efficiently around plumbing, wiring, and corners- creating gaps in the thermal insulation of a house. We had discounted using expanding foam insulation, believing that we couldn't justify its additional cost.

However, we had made the classic mistake of thinking of energy efficient technologies as linear pay-back calculations, rather than as whole-house systems. With the blown-in cellulose we were going to use 5" and a 2"x6" framing system. But it turns out that by using Pro-Foam, we could get better insulating performance with only 3" of foam. This meant that we could go to a 2"x4" framing system. The foam itself offers considerable lateral rigidity (making up for the thinner framing materials), a vapor barrier, and tremendous soundproofing.

But best of all, the amount we are saving on lumber is more than the added cost of going from cellulose to foam. So the house is going to cost less, use less wood, and perform better!

Topsoil Preservation: Most builders grade a home lot without first separating the fertile layer of topsoil, leaving poor soil for future landscaping. We have collected the topsoil in a catch basin during construction and will redistribute it onto the lot when the home is finished.

Water Cistern: The home will have a moderate size rainwater collection cistern. This water will be used for landscape irrigation, and perhaps shared with neighbors, if we can figure out water pressure issues. Learn more!

Waste Management: The builder will use on-site recycling, rather than using a dumpster to dispose of waste. We will also be using a considerable amount of engineered lumber, which also reduces waste both in the factory and at the home site.

Heater/Air Conditioner: Because of the investment made in insulation and windows, this house will need a much smaller (re: less expensive) HVAC system than a conventional home, saving lots of $$$. The HVAC system will also be 90% efficient, reducing utility bills dramatically.

HVAC unit location: Many homebuilders carelessly place their air conditioner unit in an outdoor sunny location, or the heater in an uninsulated part of the house, forcing the unit to work much harder than necessary. The AC unit at 156 Mellrich will be located in a shady location on the south side of the home, while the heater will be inside the insulated envelope of the house- putting its energy into heating the house, not itself.

Appliances: The home will have an Asko dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, among the most energy-efficient made. Click here for comparisons among various models.

Landscaping: We’ll be using xeriscaping techniques, which utilize native varieties of grasses, trees, and shrubs, minimizing water use. There will be no pesticides or artificial fertilizers used on the property.

The Not So Big House: Learn about Sarah Susanka's ideas on comfort, good design, and resale value. Large homes often don't equate with any of these things, and although impressive at first, turn out to have very low livability tolerances. Not So Big House.com

Air Exange System: The home also has a built-in air exchange system that will ensure great indoor air quality.

Carpets: We worked closely with Shaw Carpets and Bells Carpet gallery to pick the most sustainable carpets possible for the house. The bedrooms will use a PET recycled carpet that is incredibly soft; the great room on the second floor utilizes carpet tiles, made of 40% recycled content. Best of all, though, they come in 2'x2' squares, and as they wear, you only have to replace one tile at a time. We keep a few extra tiles in the attic for when this is necessary. Tiles result in a dramatic reduction in carpet waste - and they look really cool. And if you get bored with the carpet in that room, it can be moved to somewhere else. Check out the new William McDonough tile designs at the Shaw website.

Foundation: The builder will reclaim and grind the old foundation on the property, and re-use it for the walkway from the street and the basement pad/landing. The new foundation will utilize a high percentage of fly ash, reducing the need for concrete and cement, which are both very energy-intensive.

Driveway/Basement Pad: The old foundation from the previous house (that burned) was reclaimed, sent to a local recycler, and returned to the lot. The gravel will be used to rebuild the driveway, walkway from the street to the front door, and for the driveway. Rather than a conventional concrete driveway (which is very energy intensive and laden with run-off problems) we will use gravel in the tire tracks, and allow grass to grow in-between.

Ceiling Fans: Is there a more energy-efficient way to make a home comfortable than this? Most fans draw only a couple of dollars of electricity each month, making them one of the best deals available.

Lighting: Incandescent and halogen lighting have been described as heating elements disguised as light sources. The EPA estimates that 25% of the energy in the U.S. is dedicated to lighting. Modern compact fluorescent lighting is superior in almost every way- providing better quality light at a fraction of the cost. 156 Mellrich won't have a single incandescent or halogen light.

Local Foods: 156 Mellrich is within biking distance of both the Oakhurst Community Garden, and the Saturday morning Morningside Organic Market. Eating locally-grown organic produce reduces both the transportation costs associated with food, and the pesticide and chemical usage on our land and waterways.