Ann Arbor Home Designed For The Future Offers Public Look 'Behind The Drywall'
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) -- The Ann Arbor architecture firm Architecture Resource and the green building and remodeling company Meadowlark Builders will offer another of their peeks "behind the drywall" of a resource-efficient home under construction in Ann Arbor this weekend, Dec. 14 and 15.
Guided tours will take place at the home, 1512 Montclair Place.
Attendees will be able to see what makes up the core of a super energy-efficient home using a variety of cutting-edge green design and building strategies during construction before the drywall goes up.
"We named this home 'Pushing the Envelope' because we are not only using new green technologies and design strategies, but we are also designing for future technology and building code advances - all with an eye on the changing lifestyles of the clients as they age," said Michael Klement, principal at Architectural Resource. "We also want this home to nestle into the neighborhood both in terms of scale and architectural design. This home will look like it has always been in this neighborhood and although the home stretches deep into the property to provide the needed functionality and solar exposure, the street façade is modest and creates a good 'neighbor' feel to the home."
The homeowners wanted to create a special home that would carry them throughout the balance of their days. For them, that meant "aging in place" design strategies, super energy-efficient construction and mechanical design and capable to generate power -- all so they won't have to worry about mobility issues and the inevitable increase in energy prices once they get into the fixed-income stage of their life.
"Our clients' goal is to get as close to a carbon-neutral lifestyle as possible and, because they are both scientists, they wanted to push the envelope with new technologies," said Doug Selby, Meadowlark president and co-founder. "This home is going to be jam-packed with cool technology and future-ready design strategies that would make even George Jetson proud."
The home will include Dow Powerhouse solar shingles, advanced ducting and energy management systems, pre-plumbing for future "greywater" use, bio phase change materials that cool and heat indoor spaces, and "Earth Tubes" heat exchangers.
The one-hour tours are free, but pre-registration is required by visiting www.behindthedrywall.com or by calling (734) 332-1500. Tours will take place Saturday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 2 p.m., and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m.
The Visible Green Home - Behind The Drywall Tour Series was started in 2007 to provide the public with a unique hands-on chance to visit and view the latest in green building techniques and design before the drywall goes up. Architectural Resource and Meadowlark Builders originally joined forces to present both an architect's and a builder's perspective on what it takes to make a house energy and resource efficient. Most people don't get a chance to see these features because the majority of the green technology is put in place before the drywall is placed on the walls and ceiling.
More at www.visiblegreenhome.com or www.behindthedrywall.com.
