With every innovation, the trend of sustainable housing is setting a new benchmark. The latest and improved version is the Shotgun Style Home, which has been accredited with an HERS rating of 7. The house constructed by Craft Construction, LLC and situated in Raleigh, North Carolina, is inspired by the design and mechanics of the Kaneda House, which was built on the principles of net zero energy. The energy-efficient house is owned by Scott Shackleton, who is now harnessing its benefits. The house sports a 4.7 KW solar array on the roof, which helps in generating twice the amount of electricity that it uses. More energy is saved with the provision of a solar water heater that heats up 85% of available domestic water. However, these are the basic features that a sustainable house possesses. The Shotgun Style House specific features include concrete floor that help in ventilating, cooling and heating the house. The house bears windows that filter down the sunlight which is further absorbed by the concrete floor which warms up the house. To add to the cooling effect is the option of opening the top of the stair shaft to utilize the skylight for the same function. It has a backup tankless water heater, Energy Star appliances, quad zone ductless mini split system, and sensory systems to sheer away the smoke and humid atmosphere from kitchens and bathrooms respectively. Specificities claim a benchmark with the strategy of framing the habitat with 2″x6″ studs, 24″ on center and utilizing the Icynene spray form to insulate the house wisely. You still have to hold on to give your rating to the environmentally friendly structure and decide whether the house is actually worth the acclaim it has gathered, as the list of benefits seems endless. The water tank included in the plan of the house can hold up to 1,200 gallons of rain water and that’s not it. As the designing permits, the water held up in the tank can be further utilized for the garden area or the toilet for the flush. The house also flashes a HardiePlank lap siding of a light color with intellectually agreed measurements of 16′ by 82′ has been incorporated in order to reflect the sunlight and stimulate the cooling effect further. As if that was not enough, the architectural plan also allows for a vegetable garden and green house which officially tags it as environmentally friendly. Though, the house bore the price tag of $275,000, the funds invested to construct an efficient habitat would arrange for paybacks with the sale of the extra electricity that the house generates. The house was inspired by the idea of building an efficient housing structure with a wisely allocated design and to top it all in an urban area. With the high HERS rating, the mission has been accomplished. Via: Jetson Green
