Image Quest Photography - A sill sealer was installed between the foundation wall and sill plate to reduce air infiltration and to prevent bug intrusion.House wrap was installed on all exterior walls.The 4' foot overhang protects the walls, windows and doors from water intrusion. The overhangs also divert water away from the foundation wall.The foundation is protected with Tuff-N-Dri waterproofing and Warm-N-Dri insulation system with a 30 year warranty against water intrusion. The waterproofing seals cracks and the insulation helps with draining water adjacent to the foundation wall and helps insulate the basement. A perimeter drain pipe takes the storm water to daylight.

Applause® Honeycomb Shades help your house stay comfortable—whether temperatures are hot or cold—with their insulating, double-cellular design.

MVB.
Drop-in bathtub - large transitional master white tile marble floor drop-in bathtub idea in Seattle with beige walls

A modern classic - ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) wall system will help keep this home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Beige one-story concrete gable roof photo with a metal roof

AFTER - A great view of the coffee station. Plus, the wall where the window was had dark wood on it. Taking off the wood, we re-insulated and drywalled and lightened everything up! Potlights help a lot too!

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

This is the honeycomb shade I mentioned that has the best insulating affect. But almost all window coverings will help to block heat and improve room temperature.

INSULATES AGAINST EVERYTHING BUT JEALOUS NEIGHBORS. Haven® insulated siding combines the looks of real wood and the energy efficiency of industry-leading insulation technology. Let’s call it very high tech. Our graphite-enhanced EPS insulation is made with Neopor® from BASF SE. Neopor helps absorb and reflect radiant heat, which makes Haven’s R-value (how well insulation keeps heat out of your home) up to 19% higher than traditional insulated siding. Our EPS insulation also reduces the flow of hot and cold air through wall cavities. Plus our “locked-tight” TXL™ Lamination distinguishes itself by how uniformly it holds siding and insulation together for a seamless, flat fit. (Thumbnail shown in Sand)

Modern ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) Custom Home in San Diego County. Insulated Concrete Forms is to help protect you against wildfires.
Modern exterior home idea in San Diego

Kids' room - coastal carpeted and beige floor kids' room idea in DC Metro with white walls

Carrier Insulation offers you the most effective solutions for crawl space cleaning in Los Angeles. We offer you the complete range of crawl space cleaning services so that you can get the best services that would help you to get the most of the benefits of having professional crawl space cleaning in Los Angeles take care of your home's insulation system. Crawl Space Cleaning in Los Angeles, CA - http://www.carrierinsulation.com/

Bedroom
Urban master concrete floor bedroom photo in Birmingham with gray walls

Inspiration for an industrial u-shaped open concept kitchen remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Michael Moran
Deck - large contemporary three-story stucco white deck idea in DC Metro

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

photo by Michael Hospelt
Example of a farmhouse family room library design in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Lennox Insulation offers you the most effective solutions for attic cleaning in Inglewood. We offer you the complete range of services so that you can get the best services that would help you to get the most of the benefits of having professional attic cleaning in Inglewood take care of your home's attic space. Attic Cleaning in Inglewood, CA - http://www.lennoxinsulation.com/

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Home Stars Insulation offers you the most effective solutions for attic cleaning in Torrance. We offer you the complete range of services so that you can get the best services that would help you to get the most of the benefits of having professional attic cleaning in Torrance take care of your home's attic space. Attic Cleaning in Torrance, CA - https://www.homestarsinsulation.com/