2017 Cool House Tour Guidebook by Austin Energy Green Building

COOL HOUSE TOUR 2017 Sunday, June 11 10 am – 6 pm This book is your ticket. Valid for one person.

2504 Moreno Street

Produced by Austin Energy® Green Building & Texas Solar Energy Society Retail Sponsors Treehouse & Zinger Hardware

coolhousetour.com

Welcome to the 2017 Cool House Tour It’s June, it’s hot, but we want you to stay cool. Join us for the 21st Cool House Tour and see what makes a home comfortable, energy efficient and beautiful in our hot and humid Central Texas climate. We have seven homes and one multifamily project this year, a mix of modern and traditional styles, urban infill and rural family dwellings. Please take a good look at the map as we chose to highlight some very interesting homes south and west of downtown. Development is exploding in the rural areas surrounding the city and we want to encourage sustainable design and construction.

TOUR GUIDELINES » Each visitor must have a guidebook to enter a home » Children 12 and younger attend for free » Please note if there are special parking instructions » Avoid blocking neighbors’ driveways » Be ready to take off your shoes or wear booties provided at the homes » Please refrain from taking photos in the homes » Please respect the privacy of our generous homeowners and visit only during the public tour hours of 10 am – 6 pm on Sunday, June 11 » Share your experience on social media using #coolhousetour and the unique hashtag for each property

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Last year was the hottest year on record and it is becoming incumbent on all of us to do what we can to live lightly. If you are building a new home, you have the advantage of passive solar design – planning orientation and design to reduce energy use before any technical aspects are considered. If you plan to stay in your current home, it can be as simple as changing light bulbs to LEDs or as complex as adding insulation, a raised metal roof or installing solar panels. Austin Energy Green Building offers Green By Design, and for a time commitment of three weekday evenings you can learn the basics of home energy efficiency that will give you the confidence to reduce those utility bills. Thank you for choosing to spend a Sunday in June with us. Your ticket purchase benefits the Texas Solar Energy Society, a nonprofit promoting solar for homes and businesses since 1976. Four projects this year sport solar installations and four homes are ‘solar ready’. Metal roofs facing south or southwest, unshaded by vents, dormers or chimneys and conduit runs in place for wiring, create the opportunity to install solar panels in the future. We offer thanks to all the homeowners who have opened their homes, the professionals with their commitment to green building, to Austin Energy Green Building for leading the way nationally to encourage the revolution in design and construction and to you, for caring enough to take this tour. Warm regards,

Lucy Stolzenburg Executive Director Texas Solar Energy Society

LOCATOR MAP

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Plan your own tour! You may visit the homes in any order you wish.

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3301 Perry Lane 2504 Moreno Street 2304-B East 16th Street 2111 De Verne Street

2301 South Lamar Boulevard 3915 Cattleman Drive 13000 Trails End 1100 Rutherford Drive

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3301 PERRY LANE AUSTIN, TEXAS 78731 Laura Britt Design Laura Britt 512.458.8963 laurabrittdesign.com Tornbjerg Design Thomas Tornbjerg 512.293.7842 tornbjerg.com Bonterra Build | Design Austin Pitner 512.382.1234 bonterrabd.com

Sponsors Premier Windows & Doors Michael Castanon 512.553.4102 premierwindowonline.com Alpha Granite Denis Phocas 512.834.8746 alphagraniteaustin.com Revolve Solar Inc. Tim Padden 512.797.6921 revolvesolar.com Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Incentive Share Your Experience #PerryLane

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The designer/owner rallied building professionals to create a showcase for sustainable methods and materials. This new home in an older neighborhood also paved the way for housing many more people than originally planned. First conceived as a 50’s ranch house remodel, the lot’s expansive soil dictated that the design-build team plan for a new home with a more stable pier and beam foundation, reducing site impact. In the spirit of recycle/reuse, the old house found new life in Bertram where it was donated to a family of 14. The 2,800 square foot home was designed with exterior living space to give the sense of a much larger home. Natural light from public living areas extends into more private rooms where glazing is limited. Overhang and window orientations maximize shading and breezes, keeping HVAC use to a minimum during temperate months. Finishes and custom furnishings were selected to ensure a healthy interior environment. The lot is a certified World Wildlife Fund Urban Habitat. Drought tolerant native landscaping includes a rain garden that absorbs storm water. A 5,000 gallon rainwater system provides water for irrigation. The 12kW solar array offsets approximately 85 percent of the occupant’s electrical use and is ready to power the integrated charging station for electric vehicles.

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2504 MORENO STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78723 The Muskin Company Alan Muskin 512.371.0037 themuskincompany.com Clayton & Little Architects Paul Clayton 512.477.1727 claytonandlittle.com

Sponsors BMC Curtis Hausmann 512.977.7401 buildwithbmc.com Talon Air Home Comfort Solutions, LLC Kevin Hoskins and Michael Vogler 512.389.9709 talonairllc.com Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Share Your Experience #MorenoStreet

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A garden home in the Mueller development has become a part of a close knit community. Inspired by the central courtyard, neighbors come together for spontaneous gatherings like sports, games and weekend picnics. The smaller lot size of garden homes in the Mueller neighborhood allows each house an abundance of shared outdoor space. Neighbors of the 12 courtyard homes gather out front as well as enjoy easy walking access to the community’s parks, restaurants and shops. The owners of this home rarely use their car because they work from home. The 2,000 square foot house also has a balcony, front porch and a courtyard patio leading to the garage, providing ample outdoor living areas.

The house is orientated for passive design with the long sides facing north and south. The front porch shades morning sun and the garage shades the western sun. A simply designed south facing roof is solar ready if the owners choose to install PV panels. Mechanical ventilation provides fresh air when outdoor humidity is below 60 percent. A screened porch at the top of the stairs allows for stack ventilation, and ample cross ventilation is an easy option for spring and fall in place of turning on the HVAC system. Mueller uses treated storm water for irrigation throughout the neighborhood. The development also incorporates outdoor lighting, shielded from above to promote dark skies.

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2304-B EAST 16TH STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78702 Trinity White Architecture Trinity E. White, AIA 401.662.1367 trinitywhite.com Mischel Wood Works Jesse Mischel 504.376.4777 jessemischel.com

Sponsors Enabler, LLC Elizabeth Sherman 512.707.0760 enablerllc.com Eastside Lumber & Decking Deric Merz 512.492.3950 eastsidelumberaustin.com Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Share Your Experience #East16thStreet

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Venture past the traditional home on the front of this lot and step into a new backyard dwelling. This small home makes the big statement that less is more. Urban infill doesn’t always mean tearing down an older home on a city lot to build new. By building on the back portion of the original homestead, this accessory dwelling became home for a family of four, and they now rent the front house. They created their 839 square foot dream home without oversizing for their needs. The house features high ceilings, balconies and porches to create an open home with expansive views. Recycled materials were used for cost savings, sustainable qualities and the added character they bring to a new home. Southeasterly breezes are captured by the orientation of the home, and stack ventilation pulls summer heat up and out. Solar studies determined window placement and overhang design to ensure an ideal combination of shading, light infiltration and cross ventilation. When conditioned air is needed, two mini-splits provide comfort. The home is solar ready, as the owners eventually plan to install panels on the south facing roof. Native and drought tolerant plantings are fed with rainwater so that no city water is used in the yard.

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2111 DE VERNE STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704 Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture Alan Barley, AIA Peter Pfeiffer, FAIA 512.476.8580 barleypfeiffer.com Capital Construction Company Kelly Wunsch and Ethan Jones 512.693.4030 capconaustin.com

Sponsors Austin Air Conditioning, Inc. Phillip Leach 512. 252.7711 austinairconditioning.com Premier Windows & Doors Michael Castanon 512.553.4102 premierwindowonline.com Austin Outdoor Design Gretchen Leigh Dupre 512.368.2001 austinoutdoordesign.com Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Share Your Experience #DeVerneStreet

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A study in passive solar design, this home illustrates the benefits of orientation, shading and daylighting. The open living/dining/kitchen area is a 360° experience in spacious, modern living. Sited in an established Austin neighborhood, this contemporary design was scaled to fit with the surrounding classic homes. Modest-sized and designed for comfort, the plan maximizes living space by minimizing hallways - creating spaciousness without adding up square footage. The compact two-story floor plan reduces impervious cover on the tight lot and saves energy by reducing the roof space and diminishing heat gain.

The kitchen/dining/living area utilizes natural light, keeping the need for daytime artificial lighting to a minimum. Large windows to the north and deep overhangs on windows to the south provide balanced light without glare or heat gain. The back yard and porch are sited to catch prevailing breezes. A detached garage serves as a buffer from the afternoon sun, provides privacy to the backyard, and protects air quality in the house by isolating any vehicle fumes. The back roof is solar ready, directed to the west with enough area free of shading when the owners decide to install solar PV.

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BLUEBONNET STUDIOS 2301 SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704

An asphalt lot was transformed into affordable, healthy, energy efficient housing with both community and walkable urban amenities. Stylish studios in the heart of south Austin create space and opportunity for transforming lives.

Foundation Communities Alyah Khan 512.610.4009 foundcom.org

Once home to an auto dealership, this urban site now hosts a supportive housing community with 107 efficiency apartments designed to provide residents with a robust range of amenities and support services. Foundation Communities invests in green building initiatives to save on operating costs, reduce residents’ utility bills and make the community a better place to live. These healthy living units are also part of a neighborhood dense with retail and alternate transportation options.

Forge Craft Architecture + Design Scott Ginder 512.872.6655 forgecraftarchitecture.com SpawGlass Contractors, Inc. Kirby Baird 512.719.5251 spawglass.com

Sponsors Lighthouse Solar Stan Pipkin 512.476.5555 lighthousesolar.com Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Incentive Share Your Experience #BluebonnetStudios Parking is available in the garage behind Bluebonnet Studios on Del Curto.

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Public areas wrap around a central light well that brings natural daylight and green space to the heart of the building. The private apartments are joined by open air corridors designed to facilitate cross breeze ventilation. Views through the circulation area and a rooftop courtyard with its panorama of downtown provide a feeling of wide open space in this high density development. LED lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems keep energy bills low, as do each unit’s window and door triggered occupancy sensors. Material and product choices focus on durability and health. All composite wood products are verified to contain no added urea formaldehyde. A 90kW solar installation reduces the building’s monthly electric bills.

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3915 CATTLEMAN DRIVE MANCHACA, TEXAS 78652 Clay Sand Straw Design-Build Kindra Welch and John Curry 830.998.0614 claysandstraw.com

Sponsor Hill Country Conservancy Frank Davis 512.328.2481 hillcountryconservancy.org Austin Energy Program Participant 5-Star AEGB Rating Share Your Experience #CattlemanDrive

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Forty acres purchased with a conservation easement facilitated lifelong plans for an energy efficient and healthy home, a family gathering place, a retirement homestead and a legacy of land conservation. With walls that are 24” deep and at least nine feet tall, this earthen house is dense and sturdy. Over 160 tons of cob mixture (adobe) was used to create this 2,200 square foot home. Thermal mass changes temperature slowly, and combined with site orientation, deep overhangs and access to the prevailing summer breezes, a comfort level is easily attained, minimizing energy needs.

Sited on acreage governed by a conservation easement, the disturbance to the native landscape was minimal. Considerable effort was made to reuse materials that the land provided. Soil, rocks and brush cleared for the home were repurposed back into the home’s construction and landscape. Floors are made of sealed clay earth and local mesquite. Extensive use of locally sourced, standing dead eastern cedar makes a statement on the trim and porch. Every finish was vetted by the owner/designer/builder team to foster good health. A goal of zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) led to the selection of healthy paints and earth plaster for feature walls. Pure linseed oil and soy based sealer were used on the floors.

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13000 TRAILS END AUSTIN, TEXAS 78737 Native, Inc. Lloyd Lee 512.970.1401 buildnative.com Thoughtcrib, Inc. Eric S. Brown, LEED AP 512.769.1622 thoughtcrib.com

Sponsors Cool Insulation Company Jake Sloan 512.619.6536 coolinsulationaustin.com Air Care Today Von Toler 512.348.6810 aircaretoday.com Share Your Experience #TrailsEnd

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A rural haven is reward for living in the tight quarters of an onsite trailer during construction, watching the electric meter spin and summer days too hot to turn on the stove. The dream of a spacious, comfortable and beautiful home turned the building adventure into a distant memory. Durability, low maintenance, energy efficiency and comfort were the goals for this new family home. A desire for a more usable design with the same square footage as their previous residence inspired this plan which now has daily activity in every room. The house is sited to minimize solar heat gain by facing the long sides north/south and shading the windows with large overhangs and porches. The hybrid electric water heaters were chosen for their low energy consumption and located within 30 feet of fixtures to provide efficient hot water delivery. Natural light fills the home during daytime hours - including hallways and closets. Energy efficient LED lighting is used in the evening. An 8kW solar PV system installed on the south facing roof offsets the majority of the home’s electrical consumption. Water for this family of five is provided by a fully potable 30,000 gallon rainwater collection system. Native low maintenance, minimal landscaping requires no irrigation and the cedars removed for the home’s footprint were recycled as mulch. Hill Country views, an outdoor kitchen and expansive porches extend the livable space into the natural environment.

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1100 RUTHERFORD DRIVE DRIFTWOOD, TEXAS 78620 Native, Inc. Lloyd Lee 512.970.1401 buildnative.com Lévy Kohlhaas Architecture Kimberly Kohlhaas 512.947.1007 levykohlhaas.com

The owner is a real estate home inspector who sees all aspects of residential construction daily. These field observations inspired a home that is energy efficient, comfortable and a private oasis for entertaining friends. The design of this home captures the wide open space of the Texas Hill Country in the midst of a rural subdivision. The street facing side of the house has a double stone wall with minimal penetrations for privacy. The rear elevation features northwest oriented glass facing a 500-acre greenbelt that provides protected views and additional sanctuary. The home’s passive design incorporates an east/west orientation. The northwest windows and sliding doors offer natural daylighting as well as indoor/outdoor living space with minimal heat gain. The southwest facing 16.5” thick stone wall blocks summer sun exposure, keeping the interior temperature stable, providing both comfort and lower energy bills. A carport/workshop/courtyard on the west side also protects the house from heat gain and provides future live/work flex space. A 10kW solar array complements the energy saving passive design and provides for most of the home’s energy needs. A standing seam galvalume shed roof was designed to collect water efficiently and supply a 24,000 gallon rainwater harvesting tank for potable water and irrigation.

Sponsors Cool Insulation Company Jake Sloan 512.619.6536 coolinsulationaustin.com Air Care Today Von Toler 512.348.6810 aircaretoday.com Made in the Shade Blinds and MoreAustin Matt and Kelli Houston 512.426.0761 mitsaustin.com Share Your Experience #RutherfordDrive

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More than a Cool House Tour Visit with the Austin Energy team and other City of Austin departments at Moreno Street and Perry Lane. Learn about the residential offerings that help save energy and preserve our natural resources. AT MORENO STREET, enjoy a locally-made frozen treat, fill reusable containers with refreshing water and hear a live solar-powered radio broadcast. Learn more about: GREEN NEIGHBORHOODS Mueller » Experience the world’s largest LEED Gold Neighborhood Development, the City of Austin and Catellus Development Corporation’s 700-acre joint project that transformed the former municipal airport into a sustainable community. ENERGY EFFICIENCY Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® » Make “whole-home” energy efficiency improvements with the help of rebates and low-interest loans. ENERGY STAR appliances » Install ENERGY STAR appliances to earn rebates and save on energy costs while increasing home comfort. ECAD energy audit » Learn more about the condition of your home, potential for improvements and distinctive advantage of certification. Austin Energy Green Building » Get technical support from the early planning stages of new construction or major remodels. Power$aver™ Volunteer » Receive email and text alerts reminding you to lower your electric usage during peak demand times. Power Partner℠ Thermostats » Earn a rebate for qualified internet-connected thermostats that use smart technology to maximize comfort. Austin Energy web app » Access our free, interactive web app to monitor your energy use from anywhere and receive energy savings alerts. AT PERRY LANE, charge up with electric vehicles, become a wind fan and shine on with solar. Learn more about: RENEWABLE ENERGY GreenChoice® » Choose 100% renewable Texas wind to meet your home energy needs and reduce global climate change. Solar panels » Find clean, quiet and efficient ways of generating electricity at home by harvesting sunlight. TECH-SAVVY SAVINGS Electric Vehicles » Protect air quality, enjoy rebates and learn about multiple area charging stations.

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savings.austinenergy.com

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» 512.494.9400 » austinenergy.com

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» 512.482.5300 » greenbuilding.austinenergy.com

» 512.751.1873 » txses.org