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Energy House 7&8

Energy House Demonstration & Education Showcase
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Energy House Seven

An Arlington Home Builder’s Mantra – Location, Location, Energy Efficiency

By Renee Dexter

We could easily say that energy efficiency is the new black and that paying utility bills in the three figures is so 2005. And, we’ll bet that two Arlington families, who recently purchased arguably the most energy efficient homes in the area, would agree. With the help of an Arlington builder, architect, and energy contractor, these families won big in the new home jackpot. Read more >

Inside the Energy Efficient House Next Door

By Renee Dexter

In a quiet Arlington neighborhood perched high above the road, sit two of the most energy efficient homes in the area. Billed as Energy House 7 and Energy House 8, both homes were built by local award-winning green builder, Arlington Designer Homes and were outfitted for energy efficiency by Energy House – a partnership of D.C. area companies that provide residential energy upgrades.

Each house blends nicely into the local landscape and by looking at their exteriors, you wouldn’t know that these houses pack an enormous energy efficient punch. Both homes boast advanced ENERGY STAR framing which increases energy efficiency by replacing lumber with insulation material while maintaining the structural integrity of the home. The homes were built with ZIP System® which is a structural roof and wall system with a built-in energy-efficient barrier that keeps moisture out and reduces air leakage. An enhanced insulation package that has a combination of foam, cellulose, and fiberglass is in the homes and heating and cooling comes in the form of a hybrid geothermal mini split with six separate zones. A geothermal unit in a home puts into action the law of physics, which says it’s more efficient to move heat that already exists (in this case, from the ground) than to make new heat from another form of energy.

All of the appliances, doors, and windows are ENERGY STAR and the lighting throughout the homes is LED. SMART technologies have been incorporated which monitors and reports energy usage, the thermostats are programmable, and the homes are wired for networking, audio/video, and security. The homes have passive solar components and are photovoltaic ready.

Energy House 7 has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. The home has an estimated Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 28. Energy House 8 has nearly 3,000 square feet of living space, 4 bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms with an estimated HERS rating of 34. The HERS index indicates how energy efficient your home is, and the lower the score, the better. The best news, the estimated monthly energy costs for Energy House 7 are $64 and $55 for Energy House 8, which can be verified through the SMART technology monitors in each home. The graphic shows where the energy efficient features are located.

Energy House 7

Energy House 7 is located at 4033 22nd Street in Arlington, Virginia and will be open to the public on May 31 and June 14 from noon – 4:00 p.m. Energy House 8 is at 2200 N. Military Rd. in Arlington and you can tour the home on June 14 from noon – 4:00p.m.

Overview

Energy House 7 Overview (pdf) >
Energy House 8 Overview (pdf) >