The LEED-Platinum dwelling gets its high-performance power from …
The serene setting of the Power Haus belies its hardworking and highly efficient infrastructure, including a 250-gallon greywater recovery system, a wind-resistant 14.2-kW PV array, and carefully calibrated and installed HVAC components. Thanks to an ultra-tight insulation package including rigorous air sealing and 5 inches of closed-cell spray foam, the home is so efficient it garnered a -22 HERS rating, the lowest ever recorded by Energy Star.
With 30% fly-ash concrete CMU foundation and walls, low-E impact-rated windows, and a standing-seam metal roof, the coastal home is engineered to withstand up to 150-mph winds. Polished concrete floors; clay walls over mold-resistant drywall; native cypress doors, trim, cabinets, and roof framing; and tough but beautiful FSC-certified Massandaruba wood decks offer exceptional performance against the elements while enhancing the contemporary Florida Cracker vernacular.
The home is wide open to the west to capture sea breezes and expansive views of the nearby hardwood swamp and the green field beyond, where the homeowner makes the 0.1-mile commute to his job as a polo player.
Project Details:
Power Haus, Sarasota, Fla. | Size: 3,089 square feet | Cost: $400 per square foot | Completed: April 2011 | Certifications: LEED-Platinum, NGBS-Emerald, Florida Green Building Coalition-Platinum, Florida Water Star-Gold, Energy Star, Energy Star Indoor airPLUS | HERS Rating: 22 | Architect/Builder: Josh Wynne Construction, Sarasota | Verifier: Two Trails, Sarasota
