Architectural firm LG Squared collaborated with the Imery Group on construction of the two-story, 2,600-square-foot Proud Green Home project, which was built in Atlanta’s famed sustainable community, Serenbe. The Home Energy Ratings System score of -2 is an amazing achievement for the project, especially considering that most newly constructed high-performing homes score within the 50-60 range.
The Proud Green Home project is a true powerhouse of efficiency and accordingly, various accolades have been rolling in since its completion. In addition to breaking records with its Home Energy Rating score, the design also earned anEarthCraft Platinum Certification, which is awarded by the EarthCraft House Program, a residential green building program that specifically focuses on climate conditions and building practices in the Southeast. The Imery home is the highest scoring project to date under the current EarthCraft program.
Obviously, the Proud Green Home’s energy efficiency attributes are abundant – to say the least. Starting at the foundation, the constructors used a concrete slab that acts as a heat sink in order to regulate interior temperatures. AHuber ZIP System®, a structural roof and wall system, provides an ultra-effective exterior moisture drainage system and reduces air leakage, achieving an extremely airtight envelope for the entire home.
A healthy living environment is made possible by numerous active and passive features of air control within the house. An advanced Energy Recovery Ventilator is installed for fresh air circulation and is used in collaboration with the the mini-split duct system that heats and cools the interior. Additionally, the 29-foot foyer layered with Boral bricks is used for passive air circulation as well as enhancing the modern look and feel of the interior. Adding to the project’s many exceptional features, the interior rooms are adorned with artwork that pays tribute to some of the home’s unique performance characteristics.
For energy generation, solar was the only way to go to meet the house’s energy needs. A 10kw solar array is installed on the roof and passive energy comes from solar shades installed on the south side exterior. A solar water heat provides hot water to the home and is dispensed by low-flow WaterSense fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. The home was built with low VOC materials where possible and for added transport efficiency, relys on a central water distribution manifold.
Although the home is clearly a bulging vessel of energy efficiency, the project is more than just an elegant skeleton held together by incredibly efficient building materials. According to Imery Group CEO Luis Imery, “A true green home is much more than the sum of its parts. Site selection, building materials and construction techniques are all important, but it’s the integration of these elements into a functional system that allows a green home to far surpass the energy efficiency and health benefits of a standard home.”
Via Imery Group
Images ©Imery Group
