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CreekSide Net Zero Home

Pulaski, NY

Welcome to CreekSide Net-Zero Home! We’ve challenged ourselves to maintain our position ahead of the curve with whole-home envelopes, to craft homes with new materials and methods to achieve ‘net zero’ in energy use, or as close to it as we can get, for every project. We designed and built this home in partnership with CreekSide Energy Solutions.

Natural lighting, an on-site PV array, and a design that allows passive solar heat gain in the winter and shade in the summer are just the tip of the iceberg for this net-zero home. Efficiency is key in the overall design (due to site restrictions as the home is next to a nature preserve), space usage, building envelope, and mechanicals. Overall the home marries finely tuned energy and enclosure solutions with an environment suited for creating artwork, woodworking, and a generally relaxed retirement lifestyle. The home was featured as a Pro Tour project by NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) in 2016.

Our construction team handled the enclosuring including building/installing a pre-panelized double wall system, exterior zip wall, interior zip ceiling, and the windows. Air infiltration tests, taken after windows installation, cellulose, and air sealing measured at 1/8 the rate of a home built just to code. That’s 53% better than the Passive House Institute for high energy efficient building standards! “The infiltration results are truly an example of excellent collaboration, communication, coordination, and attention to detail,” explained CreekSide homeowners, Tom and Ann.

Tom and Ann debated the sustainability of available roofing materials, looking closely at standing seam metal but deciding on rubber roofing material from Euroshield EuroLite Slate which is made of up to 95% recycled material (think used tires). Rubber roofing is also recyclable at the end of use and most rubber roof materials have a 50-year warranty.

Other items of note:
- Douglas fir timber frame
- Reclaimed Elm wood floors from Pioneer Millworks throughout
- Rescued Cherry crafted into kitchen cabinetry by NEWwoodworks
- Site harvested Black Cherry and White Oak used for interior millwork
- Pre-panelized 12” wall and 18” roof systems
- Air infiltration rate of 0.28ACH50
- Insulation materials include dense pack cellulose, Roxul and Foamglas; minimal foam board
- Projected PV solar array production of 12,700 kWh/yr (10,260 watt ground mounted array with 36 SW 285 mono panels)
- Triple pane windows made in Canada
- Mitsubishi ducted air source heat pump

Also see this project in NESEA's Building Energy Magazine's article "From Theory to Reality: Our journey towards sustainability - building a net zero home" and blog post