Eye on Efficiency from the Start
Project Description This modular-designed 2 story has a walk out lower level and houses four 3-level townhomes. The larger end units feature 4 bedrooms and four baths and the interior units have 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. Both include an open floor plan and cathedral spaces overlooking Willoughby Gap to the north. All units exit directly to the outside so there is no “common” space.
Monitoring at the Factory
During fabrication of the modular boxes we made a site visit to verify the construction. We noticed an area that was misinterpreted on the drawings and were able to correct the insulation strategy shown by installing blown in cellulose in lieu of the fiberglass batts shown here.
With the exterior insulating strategy, it was decided that the modules would arrive on site with sheathing and windows only. This gave us the opportunity to better air seal the joints in the modular boxes. The plywood joints and air barrier are taped, followed by 2” Polyisocyanurate, also with taped joints.
Energy efficiency measures include: • R-34 wall system made up of 5 1/2” of dense-pak cellulose in the wall cavity with 2” Polyisocyanurate Rigid Insulation continuous outside the sheathing. • R-20 above grade foundation walls have 2” of XPS rigid insulation on each side. • R-15 below the radiant heated slab (3” of XPS insulation.) • R-65 roof includes an air sealed ceiling plane and a minimum of 16” cellulose insulation. • Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) providing fresh air while reducing heating and cooling expenses. • High efficiency propane boilers for each townhome. • ENERGY STAR fixtures for 94% of the interior and 100% of the exterior lighting. • ENERGY STAR appliances.
Project Overview Name: Size: Type: Location:
Also during our site visit to the factory we were able to review building envelope details like the insulated header and air sealing strategies.
Mid Construction Commissioning
Vertical furring and siding were installed on the gable above the hipped roof. Once the exterior rigid insulation was installed, a predrywall blower door test was performed to ensure that any air sealing areas needing attention were corrected prior to sealing up the wall cavities.
A modular box wrapped and ready for transportation to the site. This building included 18 boxes of varying sizes.
Continuous Insulation
R-20 above grade foundation walls have 2” of XPS rigid insulation on the inside and the outside.
Final Blower Door Test
Bruce Courtot of Efficiency Vermont during our final blower door and inspection.
Bear Path Townhomes 8,200 SF Single Family Attached Home (4 Units) Burke Mountain Resort Burke, Vermont Cost: $167/SF (including site work) Completion: November 2013
Design Team Developer
Professional Real Estate Services Fall River, Massachusetts Jack Dator
Architect
Black River Design, Architects Montpelier, Vermont John Rahill, Architect Jesse Remick, Designer
General Contractor
Kingdom Construction, Inc Newport, Vermont Karl, Chafee
Modular Company
KBS Building Systems South Paris, Maine Ray Atkisson
Structural Engineer
MacLeod Structural Engineering, PA Westbrook, Maine Bruce MacLeod
BLACK RIVER DESIGN ARCHITECTS
40% Better than 2010 Award Winning Bearpath Units
2013 Actual Gas Bills $3,000.00
$2,500.00
The owners are appreciating the energy efficiency measures every month in lower fuel bills. As shown on the graph, the annual cost of fuel in the new (2013) building is approximately 60% of the annual fuel costs of the building built in 2007.
$2,586.01
$2,000.00
$1,500.00
Furthermore, the first year of fuel costs for propane are 34% better in interior units and 40% better in end units than estimated during a very expensive fuel buying season.
$1,689.39
$1,585.75
$1,000.00
$1,005.39
$500.00
$0.00 Baseline Exterior Unit* completed in 2007)
New End Unit (completed in 2013)
Baseline Interior Unit* (completed in 2007)
New Interior Unit (completed in 2013)
* Extrapolated data to offset for larger square footage.
Continuous Improvement for Each New Unit
2010 EFFICIENCY VERMONT AWARDS Best of the Best in Vermont ENERGY STAR® Homes Single Family Attached WINNER Developer: Professional Real Estate Services Jack Dator 45 North Main Street Fall River, MA 02722 866-756-4771
The developer has been a driving force behind the success of these 5 STAR PLUS rated buildings. He continues to research and question the methods in which these units are designed and built, not focusing solely on cost. As he continues to build up the mountainside, the developer is looking to improve upon each success. The Bear Path Townhomes completed in 2007 received a Best of the Best award from Efficiency Vermont. For the 2013 building, we increased the above grade wall R-value by 9, roof by 21, increased our air sealing efforts and the amount of ENERGY STAR rated light fixtures. By increasing our efforts we were able to reduce our Blower Door ACH by more than half. We are continuing this trend on another 4 unit building in this development and look forward to seeing the results. This will be the fourth building since 2007.
Architects: Black River Design John Rahill & Jesse Remick 73 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05602 802-223-2044
Professional Real Estate Services drives the winning team along with Black River Design and Kingdom Construction for this year’s Best of the Best in Vermont ENERGY STAR Homes Award for a Single Family Attached Home. Bear Path Townhomes in East Burke feature improved building enclosures, particularly with respect to above grade walls. Other energy-efficient features include enthalpy recovery ventilation, ENERGY STAR lighting (56% of the fixtures in three bedroom models and 64% of the fixtures in four bedroom models), and ENERGY STAR refrigerators and dishwashers. Conditioned Area (sq. ft.): Conditioned Volume (cu. ft.): Bedrooms: House Type: Foundation: Under Slab: Foundation Walls: Above Grade Walls: Ceiling Slope: Windows – NFRC U-factor: Air Change/Hour (at 50 Pascals): Heating System:
2013 Units
Controls: Hot Water: Ventilation: ENERGY STAR Appliances: Lighting: Blower Door CFM50: Energy Rating Index Points:
3,856 31,440 4 Single Family Attached Conditioned Basement R-10 R-18.7 & R-13 R-25 R-39 U-0.29 3.0 92 AFUE Propane Boiler, Hydronic Distribution Programmable Thermostat Indirect Fired Storage Tank (Energy Factor .85), Propane Energy Recovery Ventilation Refrigerator & Dishwasher 59 ENERGY STAR Fixtures 1,551 55
Builders: Kingdom Construction Karl Chaffee & Tom Barrup PO Box 219 Newport, VT 05855 802-334-3117 Winning Project: Bear Path Townhomes East Burke, VT
Use Heating: Cooling: Hot Water: Lights/Appliances: Renewables: Service Charges: Total:
MMBtu/yr 90.4 0.0 17.4 41.5 0.0 NA 149.3
Cost/yr $2,768 $0 $533 $1,505 $0 $98 $4,904
Vermont ENERGY STAR Homes is a service available from Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas Systems.
E f f i c i e n c y Ve r m o n t . B u i l d i n g a b e t t e r Ve r m o n t w i t h E N E R GY S TA R ®
2007 Units
End Unit HERS Index: 41
Registry ID: Rating Number: Export Build Run No: Certified Energy Rater: Rating Date: Rating Ordered For:
241 Bear Path Lane, unit 14 East Burke, VT 05832
Interior Unit HERS Index: UP 44
UP
035620106 6038N010 19184 Bruce Courtot 11/8/2013 Jack Dator
Registry ID: Rating Number: Export Build Run No: Certified Energy Rater: Rating Date: Rating Ordered For:
241 Bear Path Lane, Unit 15 East Burke, VT 05832
Estimated Annual Energy Cost Confirmed
5 Stars Plus Confirmed Uniform Energy Rating System 1 Star
1 Star Plus
500-401
400-301
HERS Index: General Information
Energy Efficient
2 Stars
2 Stars Plus
3 Stars
3 Stars Plus
4 Stars
4 Stars Plus
5 Stars
5 Stars Plus
300-251
250-201
200-151
150-101
100-91
90-86
85-71
70 or Less
41
Conditioned Area: Conditioned Volume: Bedrooms:
Duct Leakage to Outside: Ventilation System: Programmable Thermostat:
Photovoltaics Service Charges Total
2703 sq. ft. 23850 cubic ft. 3
HouseType: Foundation:
Townhouse, end unit Conditioned basement
Mechanical Systems Features Heating: Water Heating:
Use Heating Cooling Hot Water Lights/Appliances
Fuel-fired hydronic distribution, Propane, 91.9 AFUE. Integrated, Propane, 0.84 EF, 50.0 Gal.
Cost $1720 $0 $593
Percent 52% 0% 18%
21.5 -0.0
$912 $-0 $111
27% -0% 3%
87.7
$3337
100%
This home meets or exceeds the minimum criteria for all of the following: 2011 VT Residential Building Energy Standards* Energy Code Plus* Federal Energy Policy Act, 2005*
5 Stars Plus Confirmed Uniform Energy Rating System 1 Star
1 Star Plus
500-401
400-301
HERS Index: General Information
Energy Efficient
2 Stars
2 Stars Plus
3 Stars
3 Stars Plus
4 Stars
4 Stars Plus
5 Stars
5 Stars Plus
300-251
250-201
200-151
150-101
100-91
90-86
85-71
70 or Less
44
Conditioned Area: Conditioned Volume: Bedrooms: Heating: Water Heating:
Use Heating Cooling Hot Water Lights/Appliances Photovoltaics Service Charges Total
1971 sq. ft. 17248 cubic ft. 3
HouseType: Foundation:
Townhouse, inside unit Conditioned basement
Mechanical Systems Features
Duct Leakage to Outside: Ventilation System: Programmable Thermostat:
Building Shell Features
574922799 6038N011 19185 Bruce Courtot 11/8/2013 Jack Dator
Fuel-fired hydronic distribution, Propane, 93.0 AFUE. Integrated, Propane, 0.86 EF, 50.0 Gal.
MMBtu 31.0 0 14.7
Cost $1100 $0 $522
Percent 42% 0% 20%
20.5 -0.0
$864 $-0 $111
33% -0% 4%
67.0
$2597
100%
This home meets or exceeds the minimum criteria for all of the following: 2011 VT Residential Building Energy Standards* Energy Code Plus* Federal Energy Policy Act, 2005*
NA Balanced: HRV, 98 cfm, 70.0 watts. Heating: Yes Cooling: No
Building Shell Features
Ceiling Flat: Sealed Attic: Vaulted Ceiling: Above Grade Walls: Foundation Walls:
R-66, R-39w/RB NA R-42, R-36 R-33 R-20.0
Slab: Exposed Floor: Window Type: Infiltration Rate: Method:
R-20.0 Edge, R-20.0 Under NA U0.280-SHGC0.300************* Htg: 874 Clg: 874 CFM50 Blower door test
* Compliance with criteria for this program is determined by the rater.
Lights and Appliance Features Percent Interior Lighting: Percent Exterior Lighting: Refrigerator (kWh/yr): Dishwasher Energy Factor:
Ceiling Flat: Sealed Attic: Vaulted Ceiling: Above Grade Walls: Foundation Walls:
R-66, R-39 NA R-42 R-33 R-20.0
Slab: Exposed Floor: Window Type: Infiltration Rate: Method:
R-20.0 Edge, R-20.0 Under NA U0.280-SHGC0.300************* Htg: 581 Clg: 581 CFM50 Blower door test
* Compliance with criteria for this program is determined by the rater.
Lights and Appliance Features 94.50 100.00 515.00 0.84
Range/Oven Fuel: Clothes Dryer Fuel: Clothes Dryer EF: Ceiling Fan (cfm/Watt):
Electric Electric 3.01 100.00
The Home Energy Rating Standard Disclosure for this home is available from the rating provider.
REM/Rate - Residential Energy Analysis and Rating Software v14.3 Vermont This information does not constitute any warranty of energy cost or savings. © 1985-2013 Architectural Energy Corporation, Boulder, Colorado.
Vermont Energy Investment Corp 128 Lakeside Ave Burlington, VT 05401 888-921-5990 802-658-1643
End Unit HERS Index: 41
Estimated Annual Energy Cost Confirmed
MMBtu 48.5 0 16.7
NA Balanced: HRV, 98 cfm, 70.0 watts. Heating: Yes Cooling: No
Interior Unit HERS UP Index: 44
Percent Interior Lighting: Percent Exterior Lighting: Refrigerator (kWh/yr): Dishwasher Energy Factor:
96.40 100.00 691.00 0.84
Range/Oven Fuel: Clothes Dryer Fuel: Clothes Dryer EF: Ceiling Fan (cfm/Watt):
Electric Electric 3.01 100.00
The Home Energy Rating Standard Disclosure for this home is available from the rating provider.
REM/Rate - Residential Energy Analysis and Rating Software v14.3 Vermont This information does not constitute any warranty of energy cost or savings. © 1985-2013 Architectural Energy Corporation, Boulder, Colorado.
Vermont Energy Investment Corp 128 Lakeside Ave Burlington, VT 05401 888-921-5990 802-658-1643
BLACK RIVER DESIGN ARCHITECTS