GOALS

• Determine what the needs are for the house and the garage.
• Prioritize and deal with the most pressing issues (safety first).
• Make appropriate upgrades to the house so that it would qualify for Energy Star especially regarding high efficiency and conservation.
  • Improve indoor air quality.
  • Incorporate sustainable material features.
  • Combine new technology with recycled and reclaimed products.
  • Meet the needs of the homeowners.
  • Promote a sustainable lifestyle.
• Evaluate the acreage and
  • Determine appropriate use areas for Livestock, Fruit & Vegetable Gardens, Orchard, etc.
  • Turn it into a successful, self-sufficient organic farm.
• Add renewable energy production.

The following information is provided as an example of data collection and goal setting regarding any construction project. It is important that the other members of your project team understand the way you live and what your goals are (not only in the resulting building project, but in life as well).

SITE

The site is two (2) adjacent 10-acre lots located in a rural part of Lafayette County, MO which is zoned agricultural/residential. It is part of a subdivision of 5-acre and 10-acre lots surrounded by farm land. The absence of strict regulations makes this a good choice for the innovative construction techniques of sustainable building. (The photo shows both lots.) Each 10-acre lot is situated on the south side of the road and is rectangular (330 ft by 1370 ft). Each is a gently rolling field with a difference of approximately 30 feet from its highest point in the northwest to the lowest point in the southeast. Prevailing winds during the summer months are from the south/southwest and shift to the north/northwest during the winter months. The site has full solar access. It also has sufficient wind capacity for a residential wind turbine. The site is also conducive to both underground storm water storage and geothermal heating/cooling. The top soil at the site is rich and favorable for organic farming. The each lot is connected to the rural water utility. There is electricity to both the house and the garage on the east lot.

CLIENT

The client is a middle-aged couple without children who do not feel middle-aged.

The husband enjoys woodworking and will be maintaining the grounds and requires an area adjacent to the garage which allows for these activities and to store equipment. He is also an avid beekeeper.

The wife has a degree in Commercial Art in addition to being the Owner/Manager of PlayHaven Farm LLC and works from a home office/studio when not working on the farm itself. She requires an office/studio area that has excellent lighting without being hot during the day. She is also an avid environmentalist and proponent of sustainable building and renewable energy production. It is her intention to provide tours of the PlayHaven Farm and the Green Building Project to show the average person how they can get involved in both Sustainable Farming and Sustainable Building, while showing them a range of options they can incorporate into their own farming, new building or remodeling ventures.

The couple intend to reside at PlayHaven East for the remainder of their lives. To do this, accommodations have been considered and features planned to handle compromised mobility. Among these compromised mobility features are a ramped entry, dumbwaiter and stair lifts. The house is intended to qualify for the American Lung Association’s Healthy® House program.

The couple enjoys entertaining and desires the common areas of the house to be open and inviting.

DESIGN

Originally, the house was white with green trim **DONE!!** House RESIDED and Repainted. 1-1/2 story structure (with basement) located approximately 300 feet south of the road and centered a bit closer to the west lot line than to the east line. It had a red brick chimney with a wood stove insert in the fireplace on the first floor **DONE!!** Chimney Repaired and Resurfaced. and a wood stove in the basement. There are porches on both the north (street side) and south that require flooring replacement. **DONE!!** South porch floor replaced. North porch completely replaced. There are two bedrooms on the 2nd floor which share a bathroom with a shower stall. On the 1st floor is the living room, kitchen/dining room, full bath, guest bedroom, front hall, master bedroom/bathroom. The basement is unfinished with a mechanicals/laundry/storage area. There is no egress from the basement.

Major remodeling plans include each bathroom, the basement to incorporate a root cellar (with egress) and pantry, the kitchen to provide better use of space and storage with a eating porch added to the east side of the house with an external door.

The roof is dark green standing seam metal (8 years old). There is a gutter on the south slope next to the chimney. **DONE!!** Roof Replaced. Gutters added on the north and south.

There is a rain garden 'pond' surrounded by a circle drive on the north side of the house. There are mature trees along the east, south and west lot lines and along the driveway.

Views are primarily within the grounds in all directions, hindered beyond only by the treelines.

The garage is a metal, gambrel building with a white roof located just west of the house and is set lower than the surrounding ground and gets standing water in it when there is heavy rain. **DONE!!** French Drains Installed around Garage. Area to the north and south of the garage/workshop is suitable for planting and/or livestock.

The septic system is located to the northeast of the house. **DONE!!** Riser added to Septic Tank. A fruit tree orchard is planned to the north of this area. **DONE!!** Orchard Planted.

The area adjacent to the house on the south and southeast sides will be fenced and designated as a dog yard. The adjacent areas to the north and east of the house will also be fenced and have vegetable, herb and flower gardens. **DONE!!** Yards fenced. Raised Beds Added.

The rest of the acreage (to the south and in the lot to the west) will be cross fenced and is suitable for pasture. **DONE!!** Pasture cross fenced. There are two (2) small livestock ponds and a 4-stall horse barn near the southern edge of the property.

See the Status Reports and individual project pages for more information on our progress renovating PlayHaven East. (All information prior to 2016 is available in Adobe Reader files (PDFs) from the Merchandise Section.)

ACCESSIBILITY

As needs change, it is important to incorporate accessibility into home design, a concept that strives to incorporate characteristics for access into products, elements and spaces that can be used by everyone.

Because this home was not designed for a middle-aged couple desiring to stay in the house through their senior years, the house contains many opportunities to make it accessible should their health become compromised.

House: Kitchen is currently wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Interior Doorways have a flat threshold but many are very narrow. Hallways and stairs are wide, stair risers are shallow, and stair lifts can be installed. Lighting: Daylighting is not a dominant feature in this house. Natural lighting reduces energy use and increases the comfort level of the inhabitants. Artificial lighting will be a combination of CFL and LED technology to reduce heat gain and energy use. **DONE!!** Sensors and timers will be used in appropriate areas, i.e. closets, passageways, etc. Appliances: All new appliances will be Energy Star rated (as possible). **DONE!!** Bathtubs & Showers: Tubs and showers will be equipped with grab bars, hand held showerheads, and non-slip flooring.

SYSTEMS

Ventilation

As the house becomes more tightly constructed, an High Efficiency Recirculation and Ventilation system will be used to introduce fresh air into the house when the weather does not permit opening the windows. An ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) will be used to retrieve heat and moisture and transfer it from the exhaust air stream to the incoming air stream during the heating season (and vice versa during the cooling season). The ERV also includes a high efficiency filter to reduce air-borne pathogens, producing a better indoor air quality.

Heating

The house is heated with LPG (liquid propne gas) and has an older furnace and water heater. Plans are to replace it with a geothermal system with a programmable thermostat. **DONE!!** Geothermal Installed.

Cooling

The house is cooled by a 9 SEER central air conditioner. Plans are to replace it with a geothermal system with a programmable thermostat. **DONE!!** Geothermal Installed.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Insulation

The house is standard stick-frame construction with fiberglass batt insulation. It has a radiant barrier on the exterior walls beneath the composite siding. The attic insulation is fiberglass batt between the ceiling joists with a layer of drywall nailed to the top of the ceiling joists and another 4 inches of blown in fiberglass on top of that. Plans are to remove this insulation and replace it with dense packed cellulose. **DONE!!** Insulation Updated.

Exterior windows and doors are double paned. Additionally, the windows on the main level are generally protected and shaded by the south and north porches. There are only three small windows on the east and west sides.

Renewable Energy Production

Plans are to incorporate photovoltaic (PV) products on the roof of the house for year-round production of electricity. Storage of electricity via batteries is desired but not feasible at this time. Each 10-acre lot is large enough to accommodate a residential-size wind turbine.

Appliances

The house will utilize Energy Star rated appliances to the greatest extent possible. Energy Star qualified refrigerators use up to 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001 and at least 15 percent less energy than models built to current federal standards. These refrigerators feature high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms. **DONE!!** Refrigerators Updated. Energy Star qualified freezers use at least 10 percent less energy than required by current federal standards. **DONE!!** Freezers Updated. Energy Star qualified dishwashers use at least 25 percent less energy and up to 40 percent less water than standard models and can save more than $25 a year in energy and water costs. These dishwashers use “smart” features such as effective washing action, energy-efficient motors, and sensors that determine the necessary cycle length and water temperature. **DONE!!** Dishwasher Updated. Energy Star qualified clothes washers use up to 50 percent less energy and about one-third less water than standard washers. As a result, expect to save up to $75 per year on utility and water bills with additional savings from using less detergent. Most Energy Star qualified washers extract more water during the spin cycle, providing further energy savings when using a clothes dryer because drying time will be shorter. The client will see less wear and tear on clothes from front loading model(s), which do not need an agitator. Since there is not Energy Star rating for clothes dryers, a unit that matches the clothes washer will be purchased. Additionally, clothing will be dried outside using the sun and wind whenever feasible. **DONE!!** Clothes Washer Updated.

Lighting

Artificial lighting will be a combination of CFL and LED technology to reduce heat gain and energy use. **DONE!!** Lighting Updated. Sensors and timers will be used in appropriate areas, i.e. closets, passageways, etc. Exterior steps will be well lit with solar powered LED lighting. **DONE!!** Lighting Updated.

SUSTAINABILITY

Energy Star 'Cool' Roof

Water Collection System

Gutters will be added to harvest rain water and will be collected in at least one underground cistern. This water will be used for tertiary uses e.g., watering plants. **DONE!!** Gutters Installed. Rain barrels will be added at each down spout. **DONE!!** Rain Barrels in Use. The use of rain water not only promotes water conservation, but it also promotes an aspect of sustainable development of such an irreplaceable resource.

Reuse and Recycle

Eco-friendly Products

It is important to maintain a healthy indoor air quality; therefore, the PlayHaven Green Building Complex will use: low and no-VOC paints, stain, varnishes, and sealants, **DONE!!** FSC certified interior wood and panel products, and Environmentally-friendly cleaning products. **DONE!!**