AIBD President’s Note Kevin Holdridge is President of KDH Residential Designs in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is currently the President of the Charlotte Metro Chapter and the National President of the AIBD. He is also a member of the National Home Builders Association where Kevin received his Certified Green Professional as well as his Certified Aging in Place designations. The new structure of AIBD in beginning its second season and is proving to be the right direction the organization needed. We have moved from an organization comprised of many stand-alone corporations under one national umbrella to a unified national membership with a growing number of local chapters meeting frequently. It is truly an honor to be the new president of this organization at this time. Both revenue and membership are on the upswing. We have seen more associate and corporate members join our organization recently and I can only attribute this to the local chapters moving to a higher frequency of meetings. This allows more opportunities for industry related professions to interact with our members. We are building stronger business relationships through these interactions and in turn building a much stronger organization, one chapter at a time. Our organization has also recently built some strong relationships with ally organizations like NKBA, NAHB, IDS, ASCA, CEDIA, the Green Home Institute, TIBD, and others. Partnering with these organizations, we have fought many issues. We have made a stand against copyright infringement, and many legislative issues nationwide, to protect our livelihood. When I speak to potential members about joining our organization and I am asked, “Why do I need to join?” My number one response is to join the fight to protect our profession. My next response is to make you a better designer and business person. I have personally learned so much from the experience of others in our organization that I can’t imagine being in business without the AIBD or without relationships I have created at AIBD functions. After such a successful summer conference in Denver, CO, I am looking forward to the upcoming year and all of the programs, conferences and education we are working. Thank you to all of the members out there for your support and to the volunteers making this a great organization full of member opportunities. If you would like more information about how to get involved with some of our great programs please reach out to me at Kevin.Holdridge@aibd.org
Warmest Regards, Kevin Holdridge CPBD, CGP, CAPS American Institute of Building Design, President SUMMER 2016 - 01
AIBD Executive Director’s Note
Steve Mickley is the Executive Director of AIBD and a Certified Professional Building Designer. Steve holds numerous awards, such as AIBD’s President’s Award and AIBD Designer of the Year.
Changes In How We Learn 43.3 million Americans live with student loan debt. Monthly payments average between $350 and $400 dollars, but many people can’t afford those monthly payments, resulting in an almost 12% delinquency rate. The good news is, a major cultural shift is happening in the way people learn. Building designers don’t need a degree or formal education to do their job. In fact, many careers don’t require a degree. There was a time when having a degree was required to land a good job. This is still true for many older companies, but landing a job at a startup, or starting your own business, frequently hinges on one thing: can you do the job, or not? Before the internet, many of us learned to design houses by just sitting down and doing it. A mentor may have been there to lead us, and of course there were books to help along the way. Now, experienced designers are taking to the internet to teach what they know at prices far below a semester’s tuition. Students are able to sign on and take these courses whenever and wherever they are without going into debt. The availability allows them to learn around their full time work schedule. One such website is Construct-ed.com. Focused in our industry, they’re bringing educators from all around the world to teach drafting, software, business, and even marketing. The prices of courses range from free into the low hundreds; far below the tuition of just one class at a community college. AIBD has is building a library of courses to offer at www.AIBD.org/courses. AIBD members, at every level, can take them for free. Just give us a call 800-366-2423 or email us at info@aibd. org to get the exclusive member code. AIBD believes in the consumer’s right to choose whoever they want to design their home. The Institute supports that belief by providing education and resources to help the consumer make informed decisions and the professional work at their peak. AIBD represents the way homes are being designed in America. Join our mission. Create your own courses. Inspire the next generation of budding building designers while making some passive income for yourself. Oh, and remember to mention the organization that helped you become famous.
SUMMER 2016 - 02
Editor’s Note
Yu-Ngok Lo is an Architect, a National Director of AIBD and the founding president of the AIBD Los Angeles Chapter. He is also the Managing Editor of the AIBD Magazine. With more than 400 reads and over 1300 impressions, the first issue of the AIBD magazine published in spring 2016 was a success. We received many positive feebacks from our members. I would like to take this opporunity to thank everyone, especially Steve Mickley and Bernie Kern for making it happen. As our magazine continues to grow, we launched a column “Member’s Project Showcase” for our members to showcase their projects. If you are interested in having your projects published in the AIBD magazine, please send us a short description and a few pictures of your project for review. Our magazine continues to serve the organization as its voice. We recently included a new section “Member News” reporting the things that our members are doing. We also need your help! We are currently calling for volunteers to join our editorial team, especially someone with a graphic design background. We are planning on redesigning the magazine’s layout in the near future to align with the organization’s overall re-branding campaign.
Thank you for your support !
Editorial Staff and Contributors Managing Editor: National AIBD President: National AIBD Exective Director: Editorial Committee members: Copy Editor:
Yu-Ngok Lo Kevin Holdridge Steve Mickley Bernie Kern Ben Johnson Garrett Mickley
SUMMER 2016 - 03
NCBDC President’s Note Abrams has a BS degree in history and fine art from Excelsior University. He joined AIBD in 1997, and became certified that same year. He earned certification as a Passive House Consultant in 2011. He is now designing occasional remodeling projects, consulting for other designers on energy related issues, and serving on the National Council of Building Designer Certification as the President Two years ago, the NCBDC asked the CPBD Community to support a 50% increase of the recertification fee, to help fund the project to recreate our credential. Our immediate objective is to achieve ANSI accreditation—the industry gold standard—and ultimately, to establish recognition by the International Code Council as Design Professionals. As the new president of NCBDC, it is my pleasure to report that with your support, we have made substantial progress toward this accreditation. Under the leadership of past president John Fought, and with the guidance of our consultants at PSI, the Council has completed an extensive analysis of the practice of building design. In July of 2015, dozens of volunteers participated in a two day meeting in Jessup, Maryland, to evaluate the outline created by the NCBDC task group. Subsequently, hundreds of building designers and allied professionals responded to an elaborate survey, further refining the outline. Finally, our consultants crunched the data, and produced an analysis that outlines the knowledge and skills that a building designer should master, to earn our CPBD credential. During the same period, we’ve developed a new process for evaluating CPBD candidates. Now, candidates can take the certification test online, in the comfort of their home or office. The test no longer includes the 8 hour design phase; rather candidates submit a complete set of construction documents, which are evaluated by Examiners using a checklist similar to the one used by code officials. More recently, dozens of volunteers have begun to re-write the test. The questions will be entirely multiple choice, and derived from the content of the practice analysis. This process is scheduled to be complete later this month. Much work remains, to refine our policies and procedures, to bring them into conformance with ANSI standards. Our commitment is to submit our program to ANSI for their review, by January, 2018. I am also happy to report that NCBDC has grown stronger, nearly doubling its membership for this term. Even so, there are opportunities to help us achieve our objectives—contact Executive Director Steve Mickley if you would like to pitch in. Thanks to all our fellow Designers for supporting these efforts. Stay tuned for monthly reports on our progress.
SUMMER 2016 - 04 03
NATIONAL AIBD LEADERSHIP (2016-2017)
Officers and Directors President
Kevin Holdridge, CPBD, CGP Kevin Holdridge is President of KDH Residential Designs in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kevin is a Professional Member of the American Institute of Building Design and is currently the President of the Charlotte Metro Chapter of the AIBD. The “NCS 411” monthly newsletter is written and edited by Kevin, as one of his duties as the Chair of the NCS publicity committee. He is also a member of the National Home Builders Association where Kevin received his Certified Green Professional as well as his Certified Aging in Place designations. He is involved on a local level with the HBA of Charlotte where he sits on the Associate Council, Green Builder Council, and Remodeler Council.
Internal Vice President
Karen Kassik-Michelsohn, CPBD, CAPS, CGP Karen R. Kassik-Michelsohn is an expert in residential design. She has been designing custom homes and remodeling existing homes for over 20 years. Karen is a Certified Professional Building Designer, a Certified Green Professional as well as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. In addition, Karen was AIBD’s 2014 Designer of the Year. Karen is the chairperson of the ARDA committee.
External Vice President Bernie Kern
As the principal owner of BBKern DESIGNS, Bernie Kern has developed code-approved working drawings for new custom and model homes, multi-residential, additions, remodels, and light commercial projects for nearly 30 years. He assists clients in all stages of building design, including planning, design fees, budget, education, specifications, special services, and consultation. Over the span of 30 years he has collected his best residential plans. As a professional member of AIBD, Bernie is currently serving as president of the AIBD, Central Colorado Chapter.
SUMMER 2016 - 05
NATIONAL AIBD LEADERSHIP
Secretary Lisa Schaffer
Lisa Schaffer is currently the president of T. Clear Corporation, which specializes in insulation with durable and bondable concrete surfaces. She is also a member of NTCA, CTDA Green Building Committee, TCNA Backerboard sub-committee, SHRM and a Board of Director of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton, Ohio. She is currently serving AIBD as the Secretary.
Treasurer
Richard Emigh Richard Emigh is a Certified Professional Building Designer and is the Past President of the California Society of the American Institute of Building Design. He has been a member of AIBD for 25 years and has served on the State Board for the past ten years, including five as the President for the Society. He has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Oregon. He has also served as the Chairperson of the National Finance Committee.
National Director Michael J. Battaglia
Michael Battaglia is a graduate of ITT Tech of Dayton with an Associate’s degree in Architectural Engineering. Michael spent many years working in architectural firms and as a staff designer for various home builders. In 1990 Michael opened Michael J. Battaglia Residential Design providing home design service to private clients and builders. While Michael has mainly designed homes and projects for clients in Ohio, his work can be found in additional states including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. Michael’s passion for residential design has been enhanced with interest in the development of the science of building.
SUMMER 2016 - 06
Officers and Directors National Director Ted Hake
Ted Hake is the owner of Hake Custom Design LLC in the Canton, Ohio area with more than 15 years of home design experience. His work received numerous awards over the years, and he is currently serving as a National Director of AIBD. Ted is a professional AIBD member and a Certified Professional Building Designer.
National Director
Newell Cheatheam, CPBD, AIBD, TIBD Newell Cheatheam is President of Newell’s Designs, Katy, Texas. Newell is a Certified Professional Building Designer, Registered Interior Designer in the state of Texas and a member of the Marketing Committee. On a state level, he has served on the Texas Institute of Building Design Board of Directors and numerous committees since 1974. As a frequent Parade of Homes judge across Texas, Newell has been recognized as a professional and industry leader in the design field. As a member of the National Home Builders Association and Greater Houston Builders Association since 1976, he has served on Association Council, New Membership Committee (NAHB 2014-135 Red Spike), Retention Committee, Building and Standards Committee, Government Affairs Committee, Remodelers Council, and Bay Area Builders Association.
National Director Chip Hudson
Chip Hudson, is the Owner of Hudson Home Designs and Portfolio Home Plans. Chip has been an expert in residential design for over 20 years. He is a licensed home builder, Certified Green Professional, a specialist in Building Information Modeling, a CAD programmer, web designer, artist, and woodworker. Over the years, Chip has taught 3-D modeling to a vast array of architectural and design firms and has also served as an adjunct at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phoenix City, Alabama.
SUMMER 2016 - 07
NATIONAL AIBD LEADERSHIP
Officers and Staff, National Directors National Director Yu-Ngok Lo
Yu-Ngok is the owner of YNL Architects, Inc. and a registered architect in Southern California. He is currently serving the AIBD as a National Director. He is also the Editor-In-Chief of the AIBD magazine and the founder president of the AIBD Los Angeles Chapter. Yu-Ngok is a recipient of the 2016 AIA Young Architects Award and the 2016 ENR Califonria Top 20 Under 40 Award.
National Director Sam Morgan
Sam Morgan is the Managing Member of S W Morgan Fine Home Design LLC in South Jordan Utah. He began his career in the construction industry in the 1980’s, building homes, as well as, commercial and government projects in Southern Oregon and Northern California. He spent 10 years as a Real Estate Developer of single and multi family homes as well as commercial properties in Utah prior to the Great Recession. Sam is currently serving as a National Director for AIBD.
NCBDC President Alan Abrams
Abrams has a BS degree in history and fine art from Excelsior University. Abrams designed his first house, sketched on the flyleaf of Ken Kern’s The Owner Built Home, and built it himself, in Los Luceros, New Mexico, in 1976. Over the years, he worked as a motorcycle mechanic, carpenter and electrician, construction superintendent, home builder, and remodeler. Abrams joined AIBD in 1997, and became certified that same year. He earned certification as a Passive House Consultant in 2011. He is now designing occasional remodeling projects, consulting for other designers on energy related issues, and serving on the National Council of Building Designer Certification.
SUMMER 2016 - 08
National Directors College of Fellows Chancellor Jannis Vann
Jannis Vann was inducted into the AIBD College of Fellows in 1996 and she is currently the AIBD College of Fellows Chancellor. With more than 30 years experience in the home design field, Jannis received numerous recognitions including the Design Competition Winner from AIBD National Design Competition, Regional AIBD Conferences, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, OBIE award and more.
Immediate Past President David Pillsbury, CPBD
David Pillsbury is a Certified Professional Building Designer, a Certified Green Professional, a Certified Renovator, and the Immediate Past President of the American Institute of Building Design. As an AIBD Leader, Pillsbury serves on several state and national committees. He also co-chairs the Master Residential Designers Council, which offers mentorship to designers nationwide. He has been a guest speaker at the National AIA Convention, the National AIBD Convention and other design venues.
Executive Director Steven Mickley, CPBD
Steve Mickley is the Executive Director of AIBD and a Certified Professional Building Designer. Prior to his current position, Steve most recently was the Managing Director of SGA Architecture in Palm Beach, FL, and spent 10 years as owner of a residential design firm. Steve holds numerous awards, such as AIBD’s President’s Award and AIBD Designer of the Year. Steve’s many interests include skydiving, in which he broke a world record by successfully completing 52 skydives from an airplane within 11 hours and 15 minutes, each time packing his own parachute.
SUMMER 2016 - 09
AIBD’s Copyright Task Force Chip Hudson has been an expert in residential design for over 20 years. He is a licensed home builder, Certified Green Professional, a specialist in Building Information Modeling, a CAD programmer, web designer, artist, and woodworker. He is also the chairperson of the AIBD Copyright Task Force. We at AIBD Magazine would like to introduce to you the new AIBD Copyright Task Force. This group is setup to collaborate on the processes involved to promote, protect and educate consumers and designers alike in the field of copyright works. Our goal focus is to take a proactive approach in copyright protection. Here are just a few notes about the AIBD Copyright Task Force and what the team members are doing. The team has since created a Copyright Task Force logo. Several meetings have taken place and goals have been achieved to create a workflow process to help designers with some advice on what to do to protect your copyright work and what steps you might take if any copyrights have been infringed upon. In addition
to the meeting discussions, the team is in the process of rewriting the old AIBD copyright guidelines. The team has started posting great Q&A discussions on the AIBD member fuse site. On the site, the Copyright Taskforce team has downloaded standard forms which include a standard form of copyright release: a form for the client to sign that states the ideas and sketches submitted is not copyrighted material “Hold Designer harmless”. Additional forms also include a Work For Hire form and a Hold Customer Harmless form. “With the help of our members, it is our hope that we can unify our efforts in the protection of our prized copyrighted possessions and reduce the overall infringements that are known and unknown among our industry. Together I believe we can make a difference.” –Chip Hudson, Chairperson
Our team consists of the following members. If you want to get involved contact AIBD member and team chair Chip Hudson at chiphudson@hhdplans.com . Chip Hudson Richard Balkins Michael Battaglia
David Bennett Bernie Kern Kieran Liebl William May Sam Morgan
Charles Parsons David Pillsbury Scott Sullivan Steve Vatter Steve Mickley
SUMMER 2016 - 10
2016 AIBD Spring Conference North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Bernie Kern has been in the residential building industry for 30 years and is the owner of BBKern DESIGNS, LLC. Bernie is a professional member of the AIBD, member of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the CSI and the Colorado Springs Home Builders Association and Remodelers Counsel. He is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
4
:00 am and I am in Colorado Springs boarding my flight to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Waiting for me in South Carolina is AIBD’s Willie Dalrymple. I arrive on time, thankfully, and Willie is pulling up to the curb. His is the first of many faces I will get to see again and haven’t seen since AIBD’s annual conference in Rhode Island last August. This was my first trip ever to Myrtle Beach and the South Carolina conference. I have heard about this conference for many years as being one of the conferences you should try to attend. This venue had been going on for 16 years, led by Willie and Brenda Dalrymple along with the rest of the North and South Carolina AIBD Design members and AIBD Corporate members like Ron Miller from Weyerhaeuser. Thanks to the efforts and support from Willie and AIBD’s best from the Carolinas, AIBD will be able to continue this annual event.
change clothes, and head out to dinner with Willie and Brenda. Fried flounder and sweet tea, yum!
On Friday March 4th, we began the conference at noon. It was just like the annual conferences, with the excitement of seeing everybody again. Kevin Holdridge walks up to me and says “Hi”. Kevin is talking to me and I am thinking, “I can’t believe I am standing next to Kevin and sharing our excitement for AIBD’s future”. I walk up to the registration counter and there is Steve Mickley and Eric Nielsen. Steve walks around the desk You get a great impression of the Carolinas and gives me a hug. Cool! Just a few months when they send their top conference ago, I had the privilege of spending two days with coordinator to pick me up at the airport Steve and Karen Kassik-Michelsohn in Denver and give me an architectural tour of Myrtle to scope out plans for our Denver conference Beach on the way to our hotel. On our way, this summer. Even as far away from home, Jon Willie told me much about the history of the Rentfrow from Colorado came to the Spring Myrtle Beach area, which included many Conference as well. We get to visit. Although of the segregated areas along the beach from the same state, we see each other more at fronts. AIBD conferences than in the State of Colorado. I might have to do something about that and Arriving at the Ocean Drive and Beach visit him more often. Robert Maixner walks up to Resort I had just enough time to unpack, me. Robert “Bob” used to live in Colorado. We
SUMMER 2016 - 11
and as is typical with AIBD events, the educational events inspire me to continue to expand my design business credentials. It is the one-place source for Residential Designers that cannot be found anywhere else in this country. The evening was well spent with a great networking social and buffet dinner. I learned how to play an LCR (Left, Center, Right) dice game.
worked on multiple projects together over the years. Bob has since moved to South Carolina and I am so happy he is an AIBD member and that I get to stay in touch with him. After all of that excitement, it’s time to gather together at the conference classrooms. An excellent choice of class subjects as we started off listening in to legal advice from Lawyer Robert Newkirk from Cornelius, North Carolina. Mr. Newkirk presented us with a great offer to review our design business contracts and to provide advice on how to make them more protective for our industry. Peter Cook from CEDIA was there with the latest in residential tech trends. John Bishop gave a great presentation on dB sound control, home security systems, and collaborating with a team of professionals. By the end of the afternoon, the three presenters remained at our conference for a Q&A session into the early evening.
We met up again for a Saturday morning breakfast with keynote speakers from Weyerhaeuser. The morning sessions were also well prepared by Anne Cope and Loren Bosazzi. Anne talked about developing building science into real world solutions while Loren had some great visuals showing the advantages of composite shingles. David Brainard of CG Visions showed us a cool BIM (Building Information Modeling) Quickstart kit to help designers make the transfer to BIM. During our lunch, Houzz was our keynote speaker and showed us the advantages of
The classroom events were well presented
SPRING 2016 - 12
2016 AIBD Spring Conference
social media with Houzz. And later Hillary Gottemoeller presented her new venue to help AIBD members with ARDA and plan book submittals from her new exciting business “Gotteplan”. During our lunch break Steve Mickley and Kevin Holdridge spoke to AIBD members about upcoming plans for AIBD including awards and recognition that also included Willie Dalrymple and Ron Miller’s service for 16 years at the Carolina Conference.
was glad I did. It allowed me to have a great breakfast and spent part of the day with Kevin Holdridge and Harry Boody. Plus I was able to have dinner with Harry and Robert Maixner, where I had the best gumbo soup I have ever tasted.
The event was everything I was told it would be; a great conference venue following a tradition started by the North Carolina-South Carolina Societies. And now passed on to AIBD as a Spring Conference, we hope to compliment what the AIBD members from the Carolinas had already During our lunch networking, Smith Millwork established. awarded their first Moulding Design Award. The competition involved creating a new See you all at the next Conference ! profile for a traditional moulding. Those ideas were submitted beforehand, and Jim Kilpatrick presented all the entries before announcing their inaugural winner. Caleb Knott of Pitt Community College won with the best crown mold profile. The plaque that was presented included an authentic milling blade like the one used to cut Caleb’s finished product. The conference ended with a big bang trade show on Saturday night. Many gifts were presented by the great sponsors of the show. Continuing his annual gift give-away, Harry Boody with Energy Innovations raffled off another big screen TV to AIBD members and their families. Harry also graciously allowed his daughter to move around the trade show room, announcing all of the raffle ticket winners. I stayed one extra day in Myrtle Beach and
SUMMER 2016 - 13
Zero Energy Home Design Gord Cooke is a Partner with Construction Instruction Inc. He is a professional engineer with over 25 years of experience in the low and high-rise residential building industry. He has developed and delivered a multitude of workshops in these fields, as well as sales and marketing courses for builders and real estate agents to help them best promote the features and benefits of high performance houses.
A
s I travel and speak to builders and designers across North America, I am so pleasantly surprised by how those I meet are responding to the compelling trend towards net-zero or zero energy homes and buildings. For example, in my own home market of Toronto, Canada, where we work as energy raters and consultants with 60-80 home builders and high rise, multi-family builders, we currently have 25 net-zero energy projects on the go. The most gratifying aspect to me is how builders see this trend as a “it’s not if, but when” opportunity. They are approaching it in a responsible and appropriate way, not as a fad, but as something to research, explore and demonstrate to ensure it can be done profitably and within the context of the demands and realities of production home building. As a result of this measured approach we have already learned a great deal about the design, technology, process and cost challenges that can be overcome to make these highly efficient homes more mainstream.
for embodied energy of all components and future energy. Fortunately, in the fall of 2015, the Department of Energy published a simple and remarkably helpful definition of a Zero Energy Building as “an energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy.” Notice first that the DOE has dropped the term “NetZero” in favor of simply Zero Energy; a term that frankly needs less explanation to busy, over tasked homebuyers. Second, it empowers designers to consider the new metrics of energy usage versus energy production or exportation. Thus, the design and specification process is no longer one insulation company versus another or a gas furnace versus a heat pump. Now, we may add the trade-off or consideration of favorably oriented roof designs to optimize solar production, passive solar gain through strategic glazing as well as consideration for occupant loads such as lights and appliances. This should be seen as an exciting opportunity and our builders’ experience has been that it is not that tough to do. I encourage all designers to visit the DOE Zero Energy website at http://energy.gov/ eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-home to see the full specifications for both Zero Energy Homes and the very popular Zero Energy Ready home – a first and most cost effective step towards zero energy where, as the name implies, focuses on getting the envelope and mechanical systems ready for when solar panels are more cost effective.
As an industry, the first challenge was in defining what net-zero energy means so as not to create unrealistic expectations or burden designers and builders with insurmountable challenges. There are, or were, at least 5 possible definitions ranging from a simple concept of average zero Here are four things we have learned that may annual energy bills for building owners to full be helpful to you as you consider your first zero carbon neutral developments that account energy home design. With the only caveat
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being that design parameters will change depending on the climate zone you live in, even though we are finding that the variations between climate zones are not as much as you might think. Often the first challenge is to find a wall system that respects the need for high effective R-values and that is cost effective to build. That term effective R-value should be familiar to all designers by now. It considers the thermal transfer through an entire wall assembly, and to get to zero energy in any climate zone, it means a respect for thermal bridging. While you can try various iterations of double wall or staggered stud framing, it has been our experience that you will end up with continuous exterior insulated sheathing as the most practical approach. For example, a builder by the name of Reid’s Heritage Homes in Guelph, Ontario, Canada constructed five Zero Energy homes as part of a partnership between Natural Resources Canada and Owens Corning called the ecoEII project. For more information on this national project that includes four other builders across Canada, visit www.zeroenergy.ca. As Reid’s Heritage Homes looked for the sweet spot between added enclosure and systems costs versus the required renewable energy capacity, they tried different wall sections on different homes. In the first home they used a 2x6 wall at 24” O.C. with 3” extruded polystyrene insulation on the exterior for a total effective R-value of just over R35. If you grimaced at the R15 (3” XPS) insulated sheathing on exterior walls, you weren’t the only ones. This
item was one of the first on the chopping block for the next four homes. It alone caused substantial foundation costs, unnecessary complexity for brick ties and siding fastening, and significant process changes that proved detrimental to air sealing. On their second Net Zero home they considered 2x8 top and bottom plates with staggered 2x4 double studs. In the end, the framing crew had the last say and elected to use simply 2x8s in the entire wall. Exterior insulated sheathing was limited to R10 or 2”. Compared to the first Net Zero wall assembly, framing and sheathing time was cut in half and the process differed very slightly from their standard ENERGY STAR walls; with 1” thicker exterior insulation and 2” thicker studs. Most importantly, all air sealing details were consistent between Reid’s Heritage Homes’ normal ENERGY STAR process and these Net Zero homes. That 2” exterior insulation (R8 to R10 depending on the type of insulation you choose whether it be EPS or XPS foam or semirigid rock wool insulation board), in our opinion, will be a common element in all zero energy walls. In climate zones 1-4 that could be 2” exterior insulation on a 2x4 wall, in climate zones 4-6 it would be 2” on a 2x6 wall and in very cold climates it would be the R10 over a 2x8 wall. The second challenge designers can help with is achieving high levels of air tightness. Start by identifying air barrier elements and details on your plan sets. Air tightness is not about specific material choices as just about any building material used qualifies as an air barrier. Wood, OSB, drywall, rigid foam sheathing and good quality house wraps can all be part of the air barrier. You can help by identifying the transition points in the assemblies and how to bridge the
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glazed windows will become the norm. One final consideration for designers is to ensure provision for renewable energy production. Currently that means enough roof area, in the right orientation and at the right pitch for optimized PV solar panels. In spite of best efforts to reduce energy consumption, a typical household needs a PV system with a capacity rated at 7 to 10kW to meet the DOE definition of Zero Energy. There are exceptions, but from our experience this represents the sweet spot between envelope and HVAC system costs and the cost of solar PV. With the most efficient panels available today, a 7 to 10 kW array would require approximately 600 to 800 sq.ft. of roof area facing somewhere between southeast to due west at a pitch between 6/12 and 9/12. The optimum pitch and orientation varies by geographical location and can impact PV It should be no surprise that we need production by as much as 20%, so check with to address windows. Of course, every a solar design company in your area to get the homebuyer and designer wants to maximize specifics. window area and yet windows can be a big burden on energy usage. The issue is climate Let’s go back to that Reid’s Heritage project zone specific and professional energy raters and see what the final specifications were in your market can help you find the balance for their lovely 1750 sq.ft. home in a suburban between responsible energy use and the subdivision; these are the specifications for the big open looks your client desires. You can fifth of the series of zero energy homes built. help mitigate the effect of windows with a few simple guidelines. Incorporate location Notice that the mechanical specifications specific overhangs to optimize solar gain in include both an air source heat pump and a winter and minimize overheating in summer. heat pump water heater. It is really hard to deny Look to incorporate north facing glass in the efficiency of heat pumps, even when the southern climate zones and south facing cost of natural gas is about one third the cost glass in northern climate zones. Specifying of electricity in most markets. In most of the zero appropriate low E coatings depending on energy projects we are working, natural gas is the glass orientation and recognizing that used as a back-up for both space heating and in at least climate zones 5 and higher, triple domestic hot water, often using a condensing air barrier continuity. This would include wall to ceiling, floor joist assemblies, cantilevers and wall to foundation transitions. Zero Energy homes are most cost effective when air leakage rates are less than 1.0 to 1.5 Air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference (this is the common metric for blower door testing). If air tightness testing isn’t familiar to you, then in the next year go experience a test and identify air leakage points that you could help resolve with better details on your plan sets. In the end, our experience has shown that builders can achieve extremely low air leakage rates, under 1.5 ACH50Pa, in a typical house for less than $1000 to $1500, if designers can help identify framing details to facilitate continuity of the air barrier.
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Zero Energy Home Design
tankless water heater. All zero energy homes ready can easily be defended as cost effective. benefit from application of energy recovery All designers should be ready and willing to take ventilators both for the energy efficiency on the challenge of zero energy homes. aspect, but also the improved air quality control. Over the building of five Net Zero homes, Reid’s Heritage Homes gained enough valuable experience in the process to decrease the incremental cost by over 25%. The DOE has suggested in their Zero Energy Ready program that the incremental envelope and HVAC system costs could be as little as $15000 to $20000 today and I think designers can see this to be plausible given the specifications listed above. It’s compelling because the changes needed are not that daunting in any climate zone and because getting to at least zero energy
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Member’s Project Showcase
Mountain View Residence by Karen Kassik-Michelsohn, Anchorage, AK
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his home was designed for a young professional couple soon to be empty-nesters. They have dreamed of a large entertaining home for their parents, children and grandchildren. The property is 2.5 acres of incredible view to mountains and downtown metropolis and has a stream on the south side (see site plan). The land slopes approximately 16’0” in the building pad area. The rear of the home faces the front of the lot, so the entire garage and entry face away from the street. The owners wanted breathtaking, open living with views across the valley, over the city to the ocean and mountains beyond. They wanted the exterior to be subtle and harmonize with the lot, while maintaining the look of the northwest. The interior is transitional with comfortable rooms all of which have a view. The basement houses 2 bedroom suites, play room and exercise room, while the
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Karen has been designing custom homes and remodeling existing homes for over 25 years. She is currently AIBD’s First Vice President and was AIBD’s 2014 Designer of the Year. upstairs welcomes the master suite, guest bedroom and laundry. The owners requested a Parent’s Apartment for their aging parents. The suite has many aging-in-place features. Due to the slope of the lot, we placed the apartment as close to grade as possible with an extra-wide garage separating the main house from the parent’s apartment. Even Mom and Dad have an extraordinary view! As a Design/Build firm, Karen had a part in every facet of the design, from inception through completion of construction. The owners love their home and look forward to many happy years there.
SUMMER 2016 - 19
Member’s Project Showcase Auburn Hill Residence by Ben Johnson
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ituated at the crest of the property, this home overlooks rolling hills and a lake that glances through the rear tree line during autumn and winter months. The overall goal of the project was to design a simple, balanced, and easy-living single floor home for a family to enjoy during all seasons of life. With two spare bedrooms on the main floor and an additional over the garage, there are enough rooms for kids and family visitors to enjoy a stay.
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Ben Johnson is a former district director of AIBD, a contributor to national and local publications, and heads planning and design at Will Johnson Building Company. His firm focuses on the design and construction of custom homes and renovations. Ben is also active within the NAHB and currently holds a master green professional certification and an aging in place specialist certification.
A gracious mudroom area which can be entered from the front and rear of the home was very important aspect of the space planning. Working on a farm can be messy and grandchildren coming in from playing outside need a place to leave the dirt and grime prior to entering the main of the home. A large great room and dining room were designed to support Sunday gatherings of friends and family with the keeping room then being the ideal place to get a quick update on the score of the football game. At the end of a long day, the owners wanted their master suite to feel like a sanctuary. Placing it at the end of a brief hallway gives it just the right amount of separation from the rest of the home while also allowing it the best and most uninterrupted views of the rear farmland.
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Member News
Firm Exhibition - YNL Architects, Inc. Yu-Ngok is the Principal of YNL Architects, Inc. in Southern California. He is currently serving the AIBD as a National Director. He is also the Managing Editor of the AIBD magazine and the founder of the AIBD Los Angeles Chapter. Yu-Ngok is a recipient of the 2016 AIA Young Architects Award, 2016 ENR Califonria Top 20 Under 40 Award, and 2015 AIA California Council Young Architect Award.
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architects, Inc. hosted the first firm exhibition on July 23rd. The exhibition was sponsored by NGY Stone and Cabinet, Inc. and was held in their exhibition hall in Chino, California. The exhibition was a great success and well received. YNL architects showcased more than twenty projects including residential, commercial, retail, mix-used and theoretical in both United States and China.
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Tingwei Xu is the Project Director at YNL Architects, Inc. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania with master of architecture. His works were published on the IVY league media and other prestigious design medium such as Architizer, Evolo, etc. Tingwei is now managing the YNL office in mainland China.
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Member News
AIBD members from three states collaborate on new design BBKern DESIGNS, LLC.
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he New Apostolic Church in Arvada, Colorado is complete and open for services thanks to the collaborative efforts of 3 AIBD members from 3 different states. AIBD member Steve Marchincin of SDM Management Group in Jamestown, New York headed up a design team consisting of AIBD members Registered Architect Robert Maixner of RJM Architect from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (originally from Colorado) and AIBD member Bernie Kern of BBKern DESIGNS from Colorado Springs, CO. The three collaborated on a design for the New Apostolic Church, a 10,000 square foot building re-use project. The vacant building originally used for retail warehouse was redesigned to provide a new full use assembly building for the New Apostolic Church. The designs included architectural details of the church auditorium, gathering and fellowship, an alter platform, complete ADA restrooms, a catered kitchen, and classrooms. The drawings also provided complete electrical, mechanical, and plumbing designs. A complete code analysis, change of occupancy and the city fire department was needed for the reuse project.
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Bernie Kern has been in the residential building industry for 30 years and is the owner of BBKern DESIGNS, LLC. Bernie is a professional member of the AIBD, member of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the CSI and the Colorado Springs Home Builders Association and Remodelers Counsel. He is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
The project has successfully been approved by the City of Arvada, Colorado a suburb of the Denver area. It is a testament to AIBD members and the potential for the Institute to work together to help in “Creating Where People Live�, or in this case, where people worship.
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