This 3,700 SF high performance, net-zero home built by Dwell Development achieved 5-Star Built Green certification. The home includes solar panels and an electric vehicle charging station. It also includes efficient heating and cooling through use of a Heat Recovery Ventilation System, which also provides the highest level of indoor air quality. The exterior walls of the house have a total thickness of 12”, which is then packed with blown-in cellulose insulation for a very efficient envelope, making it consistent and comfortable no matter the season. The floors are solid hardwood and polished concrete, while the tile and countertops throughout the house are made of recycled contents. The paint and grout were specifically chosen for the house to have no VOC’s.

The Campbell family bought this New Hampshire lake side property to build a family summer residence. The home was integrated into the landscape and takes advantage of views as well as solar gain. The configuration of the rooms allows each family member to enjoy their own private spaces in both winter and summer months. The Residence is a timber frame using Douglas fir from Washington State, where the Campbell's live. The home is wrapped with a wide porch with screened in areas. One corner overlooking the lake has an outdoor fire place integrated into the porch timber framing. This provides a wonderful outdoor fire experience under the roof. The large open concept living and dining room is lit by dormers from above. This two story space is bordered by the stairs to the second floor with a half round look out, all timber framed. The home is well insulated throughout using blown-in cellulose and the foundation insulation was carefully configured to prevent thermal breaks. In addition to the custom timber frame, a variety of custom built-in furniture elements were constructed using a variety of wood types depending on lighting and location.

Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

Example of a 1960s kitchen design in DC Metro

Pool - mid-century modern pool idea in DC Metro

Our client wanted a SIP built home and we incorporated this and many other energy and sustainability features into this home which was in the Sheboygan County Parade of Homes. Named "The Green Balanced Home", this project was all about creating practical and stunning living spaces that combined with sound environmental building materials and methods. By showcasing an assortment of leading-edge- green technologies, the Green Balanced Home was the talk of the Parade that year. In cooperation with our client, our methodology was: Start with the site: 1. Protected tree lines 2. Drought resistant vegetation 3. High proportion of natural, plantings versus higher maintenance lawn 4. Optimal home placement on lot for solar exposure 5. Narrower streets Build a high thermal envelope: 1. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam under basement, garage, and patio. 2. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam around exterior foundation walls. 3. R-10 ESP foam "shirt" around foundation 4. R-24 Structural Insulated panels (SIPs) for exterior walls, including garage 5. Sprayed foam in basement box sills and attic separation walls 6. R-15 garage door 7. R-60 blown cellulose attic insulation Add efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, and electric utilization elements: 1. High efficiency fireplace with auxiliary ducting 2. Pull-out exterior wood-loading drawer 3. Air-to-air heat pump 4. 95% efficient, ultra-quiet variable capacity furnace 5. 19 SEER air conditioner 6. Five zones with programmable thermostats 7. Heat reclamation from hot water usage 8. LED lighting 9. Skylights 10. Energy Star appliances 11. Prep for in-floor heating system 12. Prep for photovoltaic (PV) solar 13. Prep for solar hot water Incorporate water conservation: 1. Rain water recapture for toilet flushing and irrigation 2. Motion activated hot water circulation system 3. Power flush toilets 4. Dual flush toilets Create high indoor air quality: 1. HEPA and UV filters 2. Air-to-air exchanger 3. Ultra-quiet bathroom fans with moisture sensor activation Integrate sustainable, efficient materials: * Expanded polystyrene (ESP) foam that does not emit HCFC "greenhouse" gases * Oriented strand board (OSB) based siding, trim, and shutters * SIPs panels that contain ESP an OSB * Carpeting pads made from recycled materials * Stewardship-certified cabinet manufacturing * Job site recycling and reduce waste with SIPs

This 3,700 SF high performance, net-zero home built by Dwell Development achieved 5-Star Built Green certification. The home includes solar panels and an electric vehicle charging station. It also includes efficient heating and cooling through use of a Heat Recovery Ventilation System, which also provides the highest level of indoor air quality. The exterior walls of the house have a total thickness of 12”, which is then packed with blown-in cellulose insulation for a very efficient envelope, making it consistent and comfortable no matter the season. The floors are solid hardwood and polished concrete, while the tile and countertops throughout the house are made of recycled contents. The paint and grout were specifically chosen for the house to have no VOC’s.

This ranch style home was gutted and insulated with cellulose wall spray insulation in the exterior walls. Framing was examined and strengthened. All the plumbing and electrical was out of date and was replaced for safety reasons. Efficiency upgrades included a 95% EFF Triangle Tube Prestige Solo LP gas boiler with Uponor radiant floor heat throughout for the ultimate in comfort. A high efficiency Rheem AC system keeps the occupants comfortable in the summer months. Completely new kitchen cabinets with LED task lighting help to complete the upgrades.

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

Beautiful covered deck lets you soak in the outdoors
Inspiration for a craftsman deck remodel in Other

The Campbell family bought this New Hampshire lake side property to build a family summer residence. The home was integrated into the landscape and takes advantage of views as well as solar gain. The configuration of the rooms allows each family member to enjoy their own private spaces in both winter and summer months. The Residence is a timber frame using Douglas fir from Washington State, where the Campbell's live. The home is wrapped with a wide porch with screened in areas. One corner overlooking the lake has an outdoor fire place integrated into the porch timber framing. This provides a wonderful outdoor fire experience under the roof. The large open concept living and dining room is lit by dormers from above. This two story space is bordered by the stairs to the second floor with a half round look out, all timber framed. The home is well insulated throughout using blown-in cellulose and the foundation insulation was carefully configured to prevent thermal breaks. In addition to the custom timber frame, a variety of custom built-in furniture elements were constructed using a variety of wood types depending on lighting and location.

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

HardiePlank Cedarmill 7" Exposure (Light Mist) Hardie NT3 Trim (Arctic White) AZEK Full Cellulose PVC Trim ProVia Signet Fiberglass Front Entry Door 6" Gutters & Downspouts (White) LeafTech Gutter Guards Installed by American Home Contractors, Florham Park, NJ Property located in Florham Park, NJ www.njahc.com

This 2020-2021 custom single family home project features Aiki Homes standards for advanced framing, air and water purification, and the use of non-toxic materials wherever possible. Additional specs include: Radiant floor heating. Blown-in batt wall and R-49 cellulose insulation. Zehnder system for heating and cooling. Pre-wired for solar panels. Custom local cabinets and woodwork.

Earthshade Safeshade Roller; Single Shade; Happy Screen 3: Winter Magic; Outside Mount; Regular Roll; Privacy: 4** Shading: 65% Insulating: r2.15 Light control: 12%*** Grass, Cellulosic Fiber, Min Poly No Chlorine, Unfinished, Compostable Daylighting, Partial Privacy, Heat & Fade reduction, Glare Control EURO Clutch; Right; Color: White (W)

Living room
Inspiration for a country bedroom remodel in Boston

Check out the Features on this Premier Office/Studio Building This fully equipped HOME STUDIO BUILDING is full of light on the inside and has an attractive exterior to fit nicely into the backyar. The Clapboard Siding is a smart GREEN CHOICE when comparing siding options of a backyard studio shed. - Four Thremopane Windows - Four Transome Windows Thermopane - Floating Hardwood Floor for easy care - Single Entrance Door with 9 Lite Glass to allow MORE LIGHT - Full ELECTRICAL PACKAGE with Outlets, Exterior Light and interior lights - Cellulose Insulation with Beadboard on the Interior - Ridge vent, Gable vents, Felt Paper and MUCH MORE!! A home workshop shed fully insulated and ready-to-use. Buy from the Amish in Lacnaster County, PA and have this home workshop delivered to your property. Chris @ Sheds Unlimited INC.

Create unique home décor with the revolutionary Liquid Temporary Wallpaper. This wallpaper is 100% Echo-Friendly and made of all natural materials such as Silk, Cellulose and Decorative minerals. Liquid Temporary Wallpaper is ideal for homes and offices and can be used on walls as well as on ceilings. One of the advantages of Liquid wallcoverings is the ability to fill gaps in areas of adjoining frames, casings, baseboards, electrical outlets and switches.

Example of a mid-century modern home design design in DC Metro