Foundation:
The foundation is an insulated slab on grade utilizing a shallow frost design.
The concrete slab works as solar thermal storage as well as a good medium for placing the tubing of the radiant heating system.

Framing:
The framing has been designed for simple quick cost effective construction.
Wall and roof framing are modeled after Advanced Framing Techniques. Utilizing a stacked 2-foot on center wall studs and roof truss design which minimizes lumber resources and cost while insuring an extremely strong building frame.
All wall heights are set at 9 feet, utilizing 104 5/8 precut studs.
The window and door headers are designed with laminated veneer lumber inner and outer structural members sandwiched around a foam-insulating core, resulting in a sturdy, stable substitute for traditional large dimension lumber.
The roof framing is accomplished by simply stacking prefabricated trusses directly over the wall studs.

Insulation:
2 x 6 exterior walls give a big cavity for a choice of green insulation materials.
The raised energy heal roof truss design also gives a large space for achieving an extremely high ceiling insulation value at a reasonable cost.
All door and window headers are designed for prefabricated insulated headers.
The exterior stucco finish is low maintenance and designed to be constructed with 2” of ridged foam giving the entire wall assembly approximately R-30.

Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water :
The space heating is a radiant infloor system and is accomplished by using a high efficiency closed combustion gas fired boiler circulating hot water through the concrete floor.
Domestic hot water is designed to use a tankless on-demand ultra high efficient boiler.
The utility room is configured to have space for solar equipment and a storage tank.
Active solar assisted heating systems are effective and a very worthwhile investment.
Backup heat and wintertime ambience is supplied by a gas or wood fueled freestanding stove adjacent to the thermal mass wall.
In emergency situations the stove can also be used for cooking.

Summer Cooling:
Summer cooling needs are greatly reduced and in most climates, totally eliminated.
The design incorporates several strategies.
1) Proper site orientation
2) Correctly sized South eve overhangs
3) Many vent able windows.
4) Ceiling fans in living room and bedrooms.
5) Vent able skylights.
6) Whole house attic fan.
7) Thermal mass.
8) West façade porch shading.