Photo Gallery- Steigleman
Residence
Hold cursor over
photo to enlarge.
|
 The
first American Lung Association Health House
in the state of Connecticut. The building
science standards for this program are among
the most stringent in the country. House features
include super-insulation and highly efficient
central ventilation, filtration, and dehumidification
systems.
|
 The
house takes advantage of the sloping topography
to create a walk-out basement. The stone retaining
walls permit large windows in the partially
finished but fully conditioned basement.
|
 The
foundation is a pre-cast concrete product
manufactured off-site. It is highly insualted,
air-tight, waterproof and uses much less concrete
than in a conventional poured foundation.
|
 The
back of the house was aligned to solar south
for passive solar heating and ample natural
light in the winter. Note the three pop-outs,
which add aesthetic interest to a simple rectangular
floor plan. They also create wonderful interior
spaces for bench seating.
|
 Cement
fiber clapboard siding with a cedar appearance
is installed over vertical strapping to create
a drainage plane to remove moisture that gets
behind the siding. The building wrap is old-fashioned
felt that is preferred by most building scientists.
The trim is engineered wood treated with borates,
and the deck is a recycled wood fiber and
plastic composite. All of these green building
products offer durability and low maintenance.
|
 The
garage is separated from the house to eliminate
the potential for automobile exhaust, including
carbon monoxide, to be sucked into the living
areas.
|
 The
cabinets and the countertops were chosen for
their low toxicity. The IKEA cabinets are
attractive, reasonably priced and meet the
stringent European standard for off-gassing
of formaldehyde, the adhesive used in most
engineered wood. The concrete countertops
are manufactured in Germany and are completely
inert.
|
 The
outside walls are over ten inches thick and
filled with cellulose, a recycled paper product
treated with borates so that it will not burn
or grow microbials. These super-insulated
walls are virtually air-tight and achieve
a resistance to heat loss of R-40, much higher
than a conventional home. The homeowners reported
a home heating and hot water expense of $400
one recent winter. They also reported walking
around the house in socks and tee shirts all
winter.
|
 The
relatively small floor area of the house allows
each room to have windows on two walls, which
greatly improves the natural lighting. The
Canadian windows are fiberglass, the best
material for windows and doors. Solid maple
flooring is certified to have been harvested
from a forest managed for sustainable yield.
|
 The
master bedroom features cathedral ceilings
and a cantilevered bench seat, which provides
a birds-eye view of the woods. Note the deep,
flared window well with the maple stools.
|
