LEED Platinum Green Home
Cypress, TX
What did a leading mechanical engineer do when he wanted to lower his family’s “Living Cost”? He commissioned EA to design his family’s home. Many other engineers have chosen to do this too, including a cofounder of the Houston Solar Energy Society many decades ago (see Canyon Lake Home). Now this client has a certified LEED Platinum home, the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest rating.
For high wind and other safety concerns, this home, along with its separate quarters for her mother, were built using ICFs (insulated concrete forms), concrete tile roofing, a PV solar system, and rainwater harvesting system rainwater for landscaping and gardening purposes. Highly efficient on-demand water heaters, lighting, mechanical cooling and heating systems, plumbing fixtures and appliances were installed.
Our signature Design for Life passive sustainability and resilience features were designed-in to combine natural day-lighting with natural ventilative cooling abilities along with enhanced indoor air quality, extended durability, and ample roof area optimally sloped for solar systems, even though the owner instead chose to put their PV system on their barn. This home passive design for energy performance and enhanced comfort will allow them to become grid independent if desired. The design also enables the owners to greatly extend the number of months they can live comfortably without having to use their supplemental highly efficient mini-split conventional artificial heating & cooling systems.