Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Designing the Zero Energy House
Marcie Meditch - AIA & Mike Binder – Assoc. AIA, LEED-AP
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Who We Are
► Meditch Murphey Architects is a small firm based in Chevy Chase, MD.
► Mostly single family homes but expanding into multi-family housing, small commercial and institutional projects.
► Commitment to sustainable design that is comfortable, beautiful and affordable.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
What IS Zero-Energy?
► Goal : House is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes on yearly basis.
► The power grid is our storage system.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Our Motivation
► To prove that a zero-energy, market-viable speculative house is possible.
• Cost competitive
• Beautiful
• Sustainable
► Because American energy independence is important.
► Because a healthy natural environment is important
Bethesda Zero
Chesapeake Zero
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
► Highly Insulated, Tightly Sealed Envelope
► High Efficiency Mechanical System
► High-Efficiency Appliances
► Taking Advantage of Free Energy
► Solar Power – Heat and Electricity
How to achieveZero-Energy
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Beyond Zero-Energy
► Water efficiency
► Sustainable materials
► LEED-H Platinum Rating
• Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Homes.
• Levels (high to low) Platinum Gold Silver Certified
• EnergyStar Home
► Public Outreach and Education
► Market Viability
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Design Process
► Integrated Design Team• Architect• Owner• Builder• Mechanical Electrical and
Plumbing Engineer (MEP)• Structural Engineer• Civil Engineer• Landscape Architect• LEED Consultant/Green-
Rater
► Sustainability from Day-1
► Staying focused on goals
► Accepting trade-offs• Energy vs. water vs.
materials• Sustainability vs. cost• Up-front vs. recurring costs
► Exploit synergy, know when to stop
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
The Architectural Design
► Comfort
► Aesthetics
► Efficiency
► Sustainability
► Cost
► Context
Kitchen viewed from Dining RoomFront of house with entry and pergola.First floor
Second floorLiving room & Dining room viewed from Kitchen
Solar array
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Site Selection
► Infill vs. Virgin Territory
► Public Amenities
• Transportation
29
T2
3232
1/4 mi1/4 mi 1/2 mi1/2 mi
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Site Selection
► Infill vs. Virgin Territory
► Public Amenities
• Transportation
• Community Services
Community Pool
Bannockburn Elementary School
Community Clubhouse
Walt Whitman Senior High School
Glen Echo Park
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Site Selection
► Infill vs. Virgin Territory
► Public Amenities
• Transportation
• Community Services
• Greenspace
PARK
CLUBHOUSE
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Site Selection
► Infill vs. Virgin Territory
► Public Amenities
• Transportation
• Greenspace
• Community Services
► House Orientation for optimum solar income:
• Passive solar design
• Solar hot-water and Electricity.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Building Demolition & Construction Waste
► Neighbors offered materials from existing house
• Cabinets,
• Flooring
• Fixtures
• Windows & Doors
► Contractor salvaged all usable materials for reuse/recycling.
► Very little waste sent to landfill.
► Framing lumber being ordered to minimize waste.
► All waste is being tracked.
► Waste materials will be sorted and recycled to greatest degree possible.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Envelope – Insulation
► The cheapest energy to buy is the energy you don’t use.
► Continuous Air-Barrier, sealed at all openings and edges.
► Basement walls : R-20 (R-13 by code)
► Slab : R-10
► Wall : R-33 (R-19 by code)
► Roof : R-50 (R-30 by code)
► High-reflectivity roofing to reduce heat island
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Envelope – Windows
► Windows/Doors
• U-factor = 0.32 (R3)
• Solar Heat Gain Coeff. (SHGC) = 0.28
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Envelope – Windows
► Windows/Doors
• U-factor = 0.32 (R3)
• Solar Heat Gain Coeff. (SHGC) = 0.28
► Limit East and West facing Glass
• At least 50% more glass on North and South than on East and West.
► Shade South-facing Windows and Doors
• exclude heat in summer, admit it in winter
SOUTH
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Envelope – Windows
EAST
WEST
NORTH
SOUTH
Limit East and West facing GlassAt least 50% more glass on North and South than on East and West.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Envelope – Sustainable Materials
► Framing : FSC if you can afford it… we couldn’t.
► Soy-based foam insulation
► Local or recycled gypsum
► Local, recycled, reclaimed or FSC siding.
► Reclaimed buildings
► Low VOC sealants
FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL Certified
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Passive Mechanical Systems –
Nature’s Services
► Natural ventilation during swing months
• Operable windows
• Cross-ventilation
• Timed or Humidistat controlled fans in bathrooms.
► Awnings and trees reduce cooling requirements in summer.
► South orientation allows for some passive heating in winter.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Active Mechanical Systems –
Heating & Cooling
► Geothermal – Ground Source Heat Pump
► Energy Recover Ventilator
► Sealed duct work, all INSIDE the Envelope.
► Mechanical Ventilation – “seal tight, ventilate right” – 0.35 air changes per hour.
► House zoned to allow upstairs and basement to be ‘shut down’ when not in use. Master bedroom is also a separate zone for day-night differential control.
BASEMENT
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
ZONE 3
ZONE 4
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Appliances
► EnergyStar Appliances
• Refrigerator
• Convection ovens
• Induction cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Clothes Washer (no dryer is energy efficient – consider clothesline instead)
► Compact Fluorescent (CFL) and LED Lights, EnergyStar Ceiling Fans.
► Gas fireplace w/ Electronic Ignition
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Power Generation
► 9.5 kW Photovoltaic array • Goal: 100% of annual
electricity needs • 49 panels on the roof• Two inverters in the
basement• Grid tied : power grid is our
storage system
► Solar Hot Water system• Goal: 85% of hot water
needs• 2 flat panel panels on roof
(tubes another option)• 120 gallon pre-heat tank in
basement
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Energy Balance
► Zero was our goal, but don’t have to go that far to save money and the environment.
► High efficiency envelope, HVAC and appliances cuts demand to manageable level.
► Cut usage first before buying more PV panels.
► Knowing when to stop – the better it is, the harder it is to improve.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Water Efficiency
► No irrigation system required. Plants are drought tolerant.
► Low-flow fixtures• 1.75 gpm shower head• 1.5 gpm lavatory faucets• 1.1 gallon per flush
toilets• Clothes Washer – Water
Factor ≤ 5.5
► Recirculation pump – water recirculated to tank until desired temperature is reached.
► Fixture-by-fixture graywater reuse – had to delete because of county permit trouble.
► Still considering rainwater harvesting AQUS system from AquaPro Solutions
s s sMotion Sensor
Hot water heater
Motion Sensor Motion Sensor
warm water recirculates in cold water line
RECIRCULATION PUMP
sink
sink
tub
shower
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Finish Materials – Sustainability
► LEED Recognizes following materials as ‘environmentally preferred’:
• FSC Certified (Forrest Stewardship Council)
• Recycled (including rubber)
• Reclaimed• Local• Rapidly Renewable
(bamboo, linoleum)
► Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).
► No urea-formaldehyde
► No exotic woods
► Durability – more about how and where materials are installed than materials themselves. Ray Amos – New Oxford Studios
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Finish Materials on Our project
► No added urea-formaldehyde in anything
► Low VOC paints, sealants, adhesives.
► Hard-floors instead of Carpet
• FSC / reclaimed / local Hardwoods
• Engineered wood• Linoleum• Rubber
► Cabinets• FSC / reclaimed / local
woods
► NOT planned• FSC framing or trim • Window / Door framing –
hard to get.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Landscaping
► Keeping rainwater on-site
• Nearly 100% Pervious surfaces.
• Light colored surfaces to reduce heat island effect
• Rainwater harvesting (still being considered)
• Bioswales (not planned)• Green Roof (planned as an
OPTION)
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Landscaping
► Shading the House (but not the panels)
► Saving potable water
• 100% Drought tolerant
• High-efficiency irrigation system (we need NO irrigation system)
► Native Species Only
► Protecting house
• No materials that attract termites within 2 ft. of house.
► Minimize site disturbance, add plantings to eliminate erosion.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Cost Advantages of Green Building
► Basically prepaying your energy bills for next 25 years.
• It’s (relatively) inflation-proof
• It’s deductible
► Comfort• Sustainable materials
are healthier for you and your family to live with.
• Tight, energy-efficient construction is more comfortable to live in (when properly designed).
► Grants and Tax Rebates• Federal• State• Local
► Cooperatives offer additional discounts.
http://www.dsireusa.org/
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
ROI on Green Building
► One Example
• $11,900 added cost
• $1000 added mortgage payments per YEAR
• $1,900 utility savings per year
• About $900 / year ROI
Near net-zero house in Massachusetts courtesy Steven Winters Associates
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
LEED-H
► Administered by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
► Considered by many to be the de-facto standard for green home construction
► LEED-H is administered by approved network of Green Raters.
► Other standards exist
• EnergyStar (U.S. EPA)
• NAHB (National Association of Home Builders).
• Others?
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
LEED-H – Cost trade-offs
► Bragging rights
► Marketing tool for sale / resale
► Can definitely add to cost, may save money in long run. Really depends.
► Point system seems odd at times:
• Skewed in places : same points for shoe rack as for all FSC framing.
• No-irrigation landscape earns less points than high-efficiency irrigation system.
• Tends to suppress innovation.
• Zero-energy design not rewarded.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
LEED-H – Our score
► Going for PLATINUM (102.5 points), might settle for GOLD.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Summary – the Fundamentals
► Site selection
► Energy efficiency
► Water efficiency
► Sustainable materials• Recycled• Reclaimed• Local• Certified
► Demolition and construction waste management.
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Summary
► Have to decide what’s important to you. Setting priorities and limits.
► Synergy and Holistic design – Look for opportunities to achieve multiple goals with one solution.
► Explore LEED but be open to other options too.
► You want something that you will love and which will enrich the community. This is why Architects are especially important.
► The Zero Energy House Project embodies all these principles and is at frontier of market-rate speculative house construction. Webcam image
April 13, 2009
8:21 AM
Making Progress
Meditch Murphey Architects Meditch Murphey Architects6900 Wisconsin Ave – Suite 500 phone: (301) 657-
9400Bethesda, MD 20815
www.meditchmurphey.com
Shameless Plug
► For more information, visit our website at www.meditchmurphy.com
► If you are looking for a good and green architect for
• New construction
• Additions
• Renovations
CALL Meditch Murphey Architects
@ (301) 657-9400.