An Energy-Efficient, Low Maintenance Design-Build
Most people build with the future in mind, and energy efficiency and ease of maintenance are among their primary concerns. We designed and built this comfortable, family-friendly cape for a client who wanted to provide an energy-efficient, low-maintenance solution for his daughter and her three children.
A Focus on Energy Efficiency
The easiest way to lower energy costs is to minimize use. In this project, we accomplished this by using a 2×6 wall with rigid insulation wrapped on the outside to eliminate thermal breaks, and densely packed cellulose insulation in the wall cavities. The roof was insulated in a similar way using both rigid foam insulation and cellulose.
The home’s heating system employs a geothermal heat pump, which extracts heat from the Earth in winter and stores heat there in the summer. A solar panel array offsets electrical consumption.
Comfort and Ease of Maintenance
While working with the client to develop a design for the Middlesex Cape, we put a premium on comfort and ease of use. The house features a big mudroom for the family, a screen porch for summer lounging, a living room woodstove, and the convenience of a walkout basement.
For the cape’s exterior, we suggested composite siding and trim. This means less time and money spent on exterior maintenance, which gives everyone more time to enjoy their new home.
