RainShine House Atlanta

Construction Sequence to Completion - Master Bedroom

2010-12-20T09:22:00.002-05:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the loft, looking toward the south windows in the living room. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Construction Sequence to Completion - Kitchen

2010-12-13T09:26:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the dining room, looking toward the kitchen. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Construction Sequence to Completion - Living Room

2010-12-07T09:09:00.002-05:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the entry, looking toward the south windows in the living room. The final photo is the overall living room from the loft above. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Construction Sequence to Completion - Loft

2010-11-02T15:32:00.002-04:00

Construction Sequence to Completion - NW

2010-10-26T15:14:00.002-04:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the Northwest corner of the property, from the street toward the driveway and kitchen windows. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Construction Sequence to Completion - SE

2010-10-19T11:24:00.000-04:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the Southeast corner of the property, from the backyard toward the porch and master bedroom. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Construction Sequence to Completion - SW

2010-10-12T16:33:00.006-04:00

Please enjoy the construction process of the RainShine House from start to finish, viewed from the Southwest corner of the property, from the street toward the porch and living room windows. Feel free to email with questions or comments about any image in the slideshow or specific stage of construction!

Further publication

2010-10-11T09:26:00.000-04:00

After the most recent press release, the RainShine house has received more online attention.

http://www.architecturelist.com/2010/07/27/rainshine-house-by-robert-m-cain/

http://designitgreener.com/archives/date/2010/10

“RainShine” House Continues to Garner Recognition and Awards

2010-07-27T09:27:00.003-04:00

The aptly-named RainShine House, one of the healthiest single-family houses in the United States, which achieved the highest level of “green architecture” possible through the United States Green Building Council’s LEED^® [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] for Homes Pilot Program, continues to be recognized for its beauty and sustainable features.

RainShine’s recognition, since its completion in 2009, has been widespread, primarily due to its unique distinction as the first modernist home in the Southeastern United States to achieve the much-coveted LEED Platinum rating. The RainShine blog, http://www.rainshinehouseatlanta.blogspot.com/ continues to be visited daily, and repeatedly, by individuals and organizations from all over the world. The most recent local recognition for this simple, elegant home was from the City of Decatur Historic Preservation Commission who awarded it a 2010 Design Award. Nationally, the home received a 2010 Custom Home Design Award Grand Award for homes under 3,000 square feet conferred by Custom Home Magazine. The consensus of the panel of distinguished judges called it “a great combining of design with eco-features.” and observed “the thin butterfly roof, which floats above a continuous glass clerestory and an artfully-expressed steel structural frame, offers the ideal vessel for rainwater collection and a discreet mounting platform for [the] solar panels” and “….the house…acknowledges its more traditional neighbors in the symmetry of its façade.”

In print, Architectural Record featured RainShine in its online edition Green Home section of their “Green Projects Showcase” and the Sustainable Environment class of Spring 2010 students of William J. Carpenter, professor of Architecture at Southern Polytechnic State University featured it on the cover and in their publication Modern House Book published in May of 2010. Also included in that publication was Mr. Cain’s design for the St. John family in Gillsville, Georgia which also received the Southern Home Award from Southern Living Magazine and awards for Excellence in Architecture from the Georgia Chapter and South Atlantic Regional Council of the American Institute of Architects and was featured in the publication Creating the Inspired House by John Connell published by Taunton Press. RainShine was also featured in the Arquitectura Sustentable magazine 04 issue, based in Mexico.

The RainShine house was also featured in the April 2010 issue of Atlanta Home Improvement magazine’s “Green Home in Rain or Shine” article which featured the very environmentally-sound selection of Nichiha lap siding material.

Certified in April 2009, the RainShine House was featured in the popular Modern Atlanta Home Tour on May 16-17, 2009 and welcomed over 200 individuals through its doors and into its basement to view the five 500-gallon cisterns and talk in depth to everyone on the design team from the builder, Pinnacle Custom Builders and the landscape architect, Lynn Saussy to the rain harvest system designers, RainCatchers of McDonough, Georgia.

The dramatic drilling of the four wells for the geothermal heat pump system was featured in the March 11, 2008 segment of the Discovery Channel’s Planet Green series that focuses on architecture “in synch with the planet”, Renovation Nation, with Emmy Award-winning host, Steve Thomas, formerly of This Old House. Further coverage of the wells being drilled and the rainwater collection system was aired on The Weather Channel in Natalie Allen’s Forecast Earth segment in June 2009.

RainShine was also featured in the 2009 Decatur, Georgia GREENFEST tour of homes this year during the weekend of May 2. This home is so energy efficient that it is anticipated it will consume only 43% of the energy consumed by a similar home built to the standards of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Less is More Art Show

2009-12-18T14:23:00.003-05:00

The house model display board and images will be at the Connexion Gallery through January.

"Less is More"

2009-12-03T09:54:00.006-05:00

The RainShine house was selected to participate in a cross-professional show "Less is More Simplicity Leads to Sustainability" held at he Connexion Gallery. Concepts and designs in the fields of art, furniture and architecture are in the show. The RainShine house was selected among applicants as a Best in Show for its architectural and sustainable aspects. Below is the gallery website with all of the opening and show information.

http://connexiongallery-studio.com/connexion/gallery/gallery_upcomingShows.asp

RainShine House on Tour One More Time

2009-12-02T16:48:00.002-05:00

The RainShine house will be a part of the Decatur Candlelight Tour of Homes December 4-5 5:30-9:30 pm. Visit the website below for all of the ticket information and tour details.

http://www.decaturtourofhomes.com/

RainShine House Publications

2009-11-25T11:30:00.003-05:00

The RainShine house is now featured in several online journals and web publications.

Decatur Spotlight November Issue

Ecologue

AJC Modern Atlanta Tour

AJC Photo Gallery

Green Eco Online Magazine

Solar Path

2009-11-19T16:14:00.001-05:00

Passive Solar Techniques in Diagram

2009-11-19T16:05:00.001-05:00

Complete Exterior Images

2009-07-28T16:18:00.009-04:00

Complete Interior Images

2009-07-27T11:41:00.023-04:00

Site Plan

2009-07-23T17:17:00.002-04:00

Basement System Coordination

2009-07-23T17:14:00.003-04:00

Floor Plans

2009-07-23T17:11:00.002-04:00

Modern Atlanta Tour

2009-05-29T11:50:00.007-04:00

Modern Atlanta Launch

2009-05-20T09:43:00.000-04:00

Decatur Greenfest Tour Photos

2009-05-05T14:18:00.006-04:00

The Decatur Cool Cities Greenfest tour sponsored by The Sierra Club was a great success. An estimated 250-300 people toured the home and learned about its systems, recycled-content and re-purposed products, and the passive solar design techniques. The downpour in the afternoon did not deter locals from visiting the house, and, as a bonus, they were able to see the effectiveness of the rain-gardens.

The very last time this "very green" home will be open to the public will be May 16 and 17 for the 2009 Modern Atlanta Tour of Homes.

Tour and Open House

2009-04-28T13:59:00.003-04:00

The RainShine House will be on the Decatur Cool City home tour on May 2nd

Modern Atlanta Tour of Homes on May 16-17 visit the Modern Atlanta website for details and tickets.

Official LEED Platinum Press Release

2009-04-28T13:42:00.001-04:00

One of the most nontoxic new single-family houses in the United States, The RainShine House in Decatur, Georgia has achieved, and exceeded, the highest level of “green architecture” possible through the United States Green Building Council’s LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] for Homes Pilot Program. It is the first modernist residence to achieve the much-coveted LEED Platinum level in the Southeastern United States.

Also qualifying in other “green” architecture programs, the home is a certified EarthCraft Home and Energy Star home and currently a candidate for certification by the US Department of Energy under their Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program.

The RainShine House was designed for a couple as their retirement residence with provision for visiting children and extended family members. The simple elegance of the design is achieved through fine detailing and an EarthCraft builder who worked diligently to achieve the wonderful qualities of the design of Robert M. Cain, Architect of Atlanta. Robert Soens, Jr. of Pinnacle Custom Builders said, “It was truly a privilege to work on this project with this superb design team, these wonderful owners and our LEED provider, Southface Institute”.

Certified in April 2009, the RainShine House will be featured in the popular Modern Atlanta Home Tour on May 16-17 so everyone can visit the home. This is the last time this exceptional residence will be open to the general public. The members of Modern Atlanta, a nonprofit promoting modern design in Atlanta, were invited to view the eco-friendly systems earlier this year for a pre-drywall tour showcasing the home’s systems and construction. Nearly 100 individuals came to view the five 500-gallon rainharvest cisterns in the basement, waterbased insulation materials, geothermal heat pump, desuperheaters, energy recovery ventilator, LED lighting system and the net-metered, roof-mounted 3.1 kilowatt photovoltaic system. RainShine will also be featured in the Decatur, Georgia GREENFEST tour of homes this year during the weekend of May 2. This home is so energy efficient that it is anticipated it will consume only 43% of the energy consumed by a similar home built to the standards of the International Energy Conservation Code.

RainShine’s most stunning feature is the soaring butterfly roof designed to facilitate collection of rain water for the rainharvest system. To accommodate the long spans of the butterfly roof, the roof of the home is framed in 100% recycled-content steel from local sources; this material was also chosen because it is easily recycled and mold, mildew and termite resistant. Cain says, “The minimal construction waste generated in the local fabrication of our steel components was immediately recycled versus the less certain future of waste generated in the use of off-the-shelf glue laminated beams or factory wastes generated in the manufacture of custom wood trusses. The roof of our structure covers 3,037 square feet---including eaves and overhangs---and the steel framing supports 2,834 square feet or 93% of the roof structure.”

The dramatic drilling of the four wells for the geothermal system was featured in the March 11, 2008 segment of the Discovery Channel’s Planet Green series that focuses on architecture “in synch with the planet”, Renovation Nation, with Emmy Award-winning host, Steve Thomas, formerly of This Old House.

LEED for Homes is an initiative designed to actively promote the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices. LEED for Homes is targeting the top 25% of new homes with best practice environmental features and is a collaborative initiative that actively works with all sectors of the home building industry. This home’s performance in regard to sustainable practices was measured in eight different resource categories:

1. Innovation and Design Process
2. Location and Linkages
3. Sustainable Sites
4. Water Efficiency
5. Improved Energy and Atmosphere
6. Use of environmentally preferable Materials and Resources
7. Indoor Environmental Quality
8. Public Awareness and Education.

The LEED for Homes rating system works by awarding credits for different aspects of environmental and energy efficient design in each of the above categories. The level of performance achieved in the above categories is separated into four performance tiers. LEED for Homes rates homes at one of the following levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Levels are awarded according to how many points the home achieves in the Rating System, with Platinum projects being the most exemplary environmentally/energy efficient structures on the planet. The Southface Institute, which served as LEED provider on this project, facilitates certification for all projects in Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Washington DC, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi. There are only four residential projects total in these states that have achieved the Platinum level --- with the RainShine House being the very first contemporary/modernist home.

The “green” aspects of this home extend to the landscaped site as well, designed by Lynn Saussy, RLA. New deciduous plantings will assist in shading the house in summer and allow sun to penetrate in winter. All new plantings on the site are exclusively native shrubs and grasses. Carefully placed rain gardens will collect site runoff while the delicately floating butterfly roof collects the rain for the rain harvest system. As the owners, and many of their visitors, are avid bicyclists, a bike rack was a necessary part of the site furniture. The grand Deodora Cedar on the site serves to shade the home from the western sun and planting two native Parsley Hawthorns will shade the southern sun but not the solar panels on the roof. [Editor: For a full description of the landscape strategies and plantings, visit the blog and click on Landscape http://rainshinehouseatlanta.blogspot.com ]

It’s hard to get greener than a house with glass curtain walls, re-purposed flooring and nontoxic paints, as well as carpet tiles and countertops made from recycled materials. To that, add super energy-efficient appliances; natural ventilation; the extensive use of natural daylight; water-conserving fixtures; a solar power-generating system; and much more. The home is nearly 100% non-toxic. When you walked into the house during construction all you could smell was the reclaimed heart-pine wood included in the design. One of the most important credits given this home by the LEED Program was for extraordinary performance in the selection of homeowner- and environment-friendly materials. To mention a few, all of the interior paints, stains, floor finishes, adhesives and sealants are either low-VOC or zero-VOC; the custom millwork is constructed of no-formaldehyde, 100% recycled-content MDF; the solar shades are zero-VOC; the concrete/glass countertops are 70% recycled; the wall insulation is formaldehyde-free; and, on the exterior, paints are also low-VOC, as is the siding; even the foundation waterproofing qualifies with a M.E.R.I.T. [Materials with Environmentally-Reduced Impact]-Certified Green system. As one of the owners is highly sensitive to toxins, the products used to clean the house after construction were Green Seal certified low-VOC.

No cute recycled accessories in this house, the very structure itself consists of major
recycled components such as the local concrete for the foundation which contains 30% fly ash, the reclaimed heart-pine flooring which is from the old Atlanta stables that were demolished and secured by Legacy Wood Products out of Watkinsville, Georgia. The massive exterior doors were custom-built from locally-salvaged Heart Pine. The beautiful concrete/glass countertops are 70% recycled content as is the colorful recycled glass backsplash. All tile flooring is 40% recycled content tiles [LEED gives a bonus half-point for no carpet in the home]. The exterior decking is manufactured from post-consumer recycled plastic and waste wood. The construction waste was recycled so the impact on the landfills was minimized, and as many construction materials as possible were extracted and manufactured locally, minimizing ozone depletion from heavy-truck transport to the site.

The owners wanted a “light-filled” home and their wishes were granted with walls of lowsolar- heat-gain coefficient glass. The owners wanted a “cheery” color scheme and so the architect-designed millwork is delicately colored in transparent blues, greens and yellows and the walls painted in soft sunshine yellows and light tree greens. Architect Cain said, “The owners were committed to a home that sits lightly on the earth and they have been 100% involved in this project throughout and bore a great deal of the burden in documenting the project for LEED qualification. I could not have asked for more positively involved clients.”

The design team, contractor and owners are celebrating Platinum at a dinner together. As anyone who has ever participated in a new home construction or home renovation will know, this happy gathering will be an uncharacteristic event.

LEED for Homes Platinum Scorecard

2009-04-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

Below is the official LEED for Homes Pilot Program Scorecard for the RainShine house.

LEED Facts

The RainShine house

Decatur, Georgia

LEED for Homes Pilot Program

Certification awarded April 15, 2009

Platinum 108

Sustainable Sites 20/21

Location and Linkages 8/10

Water Efficiency 14/15

Energy and Atmosphere 29/38

Materials and Resources 11.5/14

Indoor Environmental Quality 14/20

Innovation and Design 9/9

Awareness and Education 2/3

*Out of a possible 130

FLOR recycled Carpet Tiles

2009-04-16T11:34:00.006-04:00

Area rugs made of Flor modular carpet tiles are used to define spaces and reiterate color choices throughout the house. The Flor products contain a high amount recycled content and allow completely customizable and designed rugs, making it the perfect choice for our LEED program house. The carpets are now installed, and the furniture is beginning to be moved into the house and arranged.

The Custom Built-In bed is Complete

2009-04-14T14:03:00.002-04:00

Exterior Images March '09

2009-03-24T17:32:00.003-04:00

Nighttime shots were taken now that the exterior is complete and the interior lighting is installed.

Interior March '09

2009-03-24T16:16:00.005-04:00

The floors have the final coating, the appliances are all in, the stairs are complete, the millwork is complete, and the end is in sight!!

Upcoming Tour

2009-03-16T14:55:00.005-04:00

Join us May 2nd, 2009 for the Decatur Greenfest. Greenfest is a festival recognizing local "green" and organic products and services. The RainShine house is just blocks away from the Decatur Courthouse and will be featured during the festival for its LEED and environmentally-conscious components. The house will be open to the public, and the design team will be present to answer any questions about the house, the systems, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or any other aspects of the house. Please email the office of Robert M. Cain, Architect for directions and specifics. We will see you there!

Reclaimed Heart Pine Built-in Bed '09

2009-03-11T17:31:00.007-04:00

Recycled Glass Countertops

2009-02-27T17:42:00.005-05:00

The countertops and back-splash combined contribute to 1 full point in the MR2B section of the LEED pilot program. They are considered EPP (Environmentally Preferable Products) and are sourced within 500 miles from the house. The recycled content of both is greater than 50% post-consumer products!

Interior Construction Images

2009-02-27T17:31:00.002-05:00

Nighttime Kitchen Shots

2009-02-27T17:23:00.003-05:00

The LED lights are in, the counter top and appliance, and the millwork is almost complete!

Exterior Construction Images

2009-02-25T11:07:00.007-05:00

The exterior of the house is nearly finished.

Blower Door Test

2009-02-25T10:45:00.004-05:00

Rain Gardens

2009-02-09T17:04:00.009-05:00

The rain gardens are being planted. The rain water run-off not contained by the rain harvest system will be collected in these areas that are designed to irrigate specific plants; all impermeable surfaces in the landscape drain to the rain gardens. Along with the rain harvest system and permanent erosion control features, the rain gardens contribute to a plan that allows complete surface water management for the site. The LEED program recognizes this by awarding 4 LEED points for Surface Water Management.

Salvaged Site Material

2009-02-09T16:55:00.005-05:00

The existing driveway from the original demolished house was removed, crushed and placed around the new house as landscaping site fill. This contributes to the Materials and Resources LEED points for repurposing existing site materials for the construction of the house.

February Construction

2009-02-09T16:37:00.003-05:00

The TPO roof is trimmed, the flashing and edging is all installed and the exterior paint is nearly complete.

Millwork Construction Photos

2009-01-14T15:24:00.005-05:00

The glues, stains, etc. are low VOC, and the MDF is 100% recycled content, each being 1/2 LEED point. Therefore, the MDF contributes one whole point toward the RainShine LEED certification.

Landscape Innovatives

2009-01-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

The first innovative choice we made for the landscape was for a bicycle parking space. Our clients are avid bike riders and purposely only have one car between them. When designing for homeowners, we always have to accommodate for the automobile. So why not provide the RainShine house with bicycle parking spaces to accommodate our clients’ lifestyle? We are proposing to use recycled granite curbs that the City has stockpiled as posts to support the bikes. The posts will have a hole drilled in them to receive a chain for securing the bike.

The other credits we hope to receive involves using 30% or greater fly ash and slag in our large entry concrete stepping stones. We also are using recycled granite curbs for steps off the deck and locally crushed slate chips as landings between the granite steps and entry stepping stones.

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Energy and Atmosphere

2009-01-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

We met the lighting requirement by placing, in the garden entry, four wireless photovoltaic exterior light fixtures.

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Surface Water Management and Water Efficiency

2009-01-06T09:43:00.002-05:00

Another new experience for me was designing rain gardens for rain harvesting. This is how we decided to handle storm water runoff from the impervious surfaces we proposed. We have one rain garden in between the recycled brick driveway strips and two larger rain gardens located downhill from the house before the storm water reaches the stream. All are planted with drought tolerant native species. To be water efficient and eliminate an irrigation system, any new tree and shrub plantings will be watered by a hose connected to the rain barrels.

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Shading of Hardscapes

2009-01-06T09:42:00.002-05:00

On this site, the only hardscape to shade was the house and the driveway. Our grand Deodora Cedar served to shade the home from the western sun and we are planting two native Parsley Hawthorns to shade the southern sun (we chose these native trees because they will only grow + 20' height which will not shade the solar panels on the roof). We only had 20 linear feet of driveway to shade and we accomplished that with a Native Dogwood.

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Sustainable Sites

2009-01-06T09:41:00.002-05:00

After reading through the LEED manual, it was apparent we needed to eliminate all turf and use all drought tolerant native grasses and perennials. We could 'build' a meadow! How 'green' is that?

First inspiration was drawn from Oehme van Sweden's 'designed meadow' style and the cost of installing a meadow was researched. When presented at our next team meeting this solution proved to be too expensive. In order to have a successful meadow, you must plant the grasses and perennials quite close to keep the invasive species from germinating and overpowering the native species. Invasives choke out the native species since they grow faster and larger. The quantity of materials needed blew the budget. A disappointment for everyone.

So back to the drawing board.....what would be more cost efficient? Ah ha! What if we let the site go back to its natural state - a woodland/forest? There are plenty of dormant seeds in the soil as well as ones delivered by the wind and birds. This would take patience to develop and constant maintenance to control the invasives that geminated but it is an inexpensive and progressive solution. When presented to the team, everyone agreed it is a perfect solution for this project.

And as it turns out, the woodland/forest is one of the owners' favorite landscapes.

The original plant communities of this area are of two types: Midslope Forest and Mesic Forest.

The species in the first type are dominated by White Oak, Post Oak, Southern Red Oak, Pignut Hickory with understory trees such as Dogwood, Sourwood, Blackgum, and American Holly. The shrubs include low various blueberries, dwarf Paw Paw and Strawberry bush.

The second type, Mesic Forest, has many of the same canopy species but the notable presence of the American Beech, Tulip Poplar and Northern Red Oak dominate. The shrub layer includes Wild Hydrangea, Piedmont Azaleas and Musclewood.

Now how to get there?? Our first step to re-create the woodland/forest is to build a rich organic soil 'floor'. We will accomplish this by simply covering the bare areas with clean wood chips, leave it for a year or two and remove the invasives as they appear. The only plantings we are specifying now are going to cover any of the steep slopes to prevent erosion and use only native shrubs and grasses.

First piece of the puzzle solved! On to the next ones......

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Landscape Introduction

2009-01-06T09:38:00.003-05:00

To begin this project, I met the team (architect, owners, builder) on site. The footprint of the new home was already determined by the City's setbacks as well as the stream buffer required. The notable plants left on the site were a triple trunked 174" circumference Deodora Cedar and a majestic Sycamore, growing by the stream. Otherwise, the site was bare earth with only invasive English Ivy, Chinese Privet and Bamboo growing along the west property line.

At our meeting we discussed the client's program and budget. It was simple: meet all the LEED specifications for the landscape and the budget was minimal.

This was a first for me. How was I going to create a landscape that meets the specifications for a sustainable site (what does that mean?) with very little money?

Going through the LEED for Homes Program Rating System turned out to be quite an educational experience.

The relevant sections in the LEED work book for landscaping and the program for the project are listed below and I will offer further blog posts how we accomplished them:
• Sustainable Sites-Landscaping,
• Shading of Hardscapes,
• Surface Water Management,
• Water Efficiency and
• Energy and Atmosphere.

- Lynn Saussy, Landscape Architect

Xeriscape landscaping

2009-01-06T09:20:00.014-05:00

The following are native plants and trees to be used on the site and in the rain garden. A xeriscaping strategy will be used in the RainShine landscaping, making the most of the water from the rain-water-collection system.

Pink Muhly Grass

American Holly

Bald Cypress

Hypericum

Native Hydrangea

Dogwood

Wild Indigo - native wildflower

Virginia Sweetspire

Bottlebrush Buckeye

Exterior Construction Images

2008-12-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

The house is painted and exterior trim is being constructed.

Interior Construction Images

2008-12-27T09:56:00.000-05:00

On-Site Recycling, Waste Management

2008-12-18T13:43:00.007-05:00

The RainShine House received 18 points toward the LEED certification under the LEED MR3.2 and Earthcraft waste management guidelines. These guidelines require a waste management plan to be implemented on the site during construction. Strategies include chipping and recycling formwork, drywall, etc. as seen in the photos below. One requirement states that the plan must be clearly labeled on site, as seen on the containment area in the photo below. For more information on Earthcraft requirements, please visit their website.

Nighttime Images

2008-12-18T10:10:00.003-05:00

Upcoming Tour

2008-12-16T10:36:00.009-05:00

Come and see the geothermal system, the ERV, the solar-power net zero meter, the many recycled and recycled-content materials or anything else about sustainable design and modern homes that may have caught your interest. To fulfill a LEED requirement that encourages public awareness of the LEED program and its homes, Modern Atlanta will be hosting an open house in early May. The house will be completely furnishes and open to the public. Please keep it on your calendar and email us for specific information!

RainShine House Atlanta Introduction

2008-12-15T18:04:00.000-05:00

The RainShine house is a two-story, 2800-square foot, three-bedroom, 3 ½ bath home located in Decatur, Georgia on a 1/3 acre infill lot and currently under construction. Homes in the surrounding single-family neighborhood are of mixed vintage ranging primarily from the 1920’s to post war. Located 1 1/2 blocks from downtown Decatur, RainShine is in a very walkable neighborhood convenient to shopping, great restaurants, excellent transportation options, many other community resources and a remarkable diversity of cultural opportunities.

The project site was specifically selected to allow the owners to pursue their preferred lifestyle of walking, biking and using mass transit in their day-to-day lives. For them, minimizing their dependency on personal automobiles will result in fewer car trips and thus contribute to less pollution, congestion, less use of imported oil, and a healthier, more community-oriented lifestyle. RainShine, however, does occupy a challenging 1/3 acre site. Although the property is within sight of the subcontinental divide, buildable area is constrained by a man made flood plain (resulting from poor municipal culvert design and a huge nearby asphalt church parking lot with inadequate runoff controls), a sewer easement transversing the site and the usual residential zoning setbacks. These factors result in a trapezoidal shaped 3,778 square foot area available for building. The house, porches and decks of the home are tightly defined within these limitations.

RainShine is contemporary in design and is named for key design features. The living room, dining, kitchen and guest bedrooms are sheltered by a unique butterfly roof structured with steel beams spanned by exposed 1 ½” tongue-and-groove wood decking. The roof floats above continuous clerestories allowing light to flood into the interior. Light shelves around the clerestory sills bounce and diffuse natural light throughout the interior. The butterfly roof is designed to capture rainfall (Rain) for a rainharvest system located in the basement and is oriented to maximize southern exposure for a roof mounted photovoltaic system (Shine). The butterfly design, with it’s inverted gable, simplifies rainwater collection, eliminates extensive gutter and downspout systems and the associated maintenance headaches common in conventional gabled or hip roofed homes.

Occupying the front of the lot is the entrance foyer and a two-story living room overlooked by a sleeping loft and two guest bedrooms. Dining room and kitchen flow in an open manner to the living room. The single-level master suite with his and hers baths extends to the more private rear of the lot and shares with the living area a large, covered south-facing deck. A screened porch cantilevers off the living room, engages the street and in conjunction with the living room serve to screen the private rear portion of the site. There is a full semi-conditioned utility basement containing all systems. A drive consisting of wheel strips of site salvaged brick borders the north property line. Since automotive accomodations are not a major consideration in the owner’s lives, no garage was required. However, a bike rack does terminate the drive.

The home features commercial-grade thermally broken aluminum storefront with large expanses of glass and operable windows strategically located for natural ventilation. Operable clerestory windows are remotely controlled and are designed to create a stack effect allowing extended natural ventilation periods during the spring and fall without reliance on hvac systems.

Interior spaces are visually demised and defined by “thick walls” containing storage, book shelves, niches, pass-throughs, closets, audio visual equipment, systems, etc. Except for certain utility areas, interior walls stop short of ceilings and are topped by glazing systems thus visually completing the floating roof effect and enhancing distribution of daylight refracting from the clerestory light shelves. Interior materials and finishes are VOC free and many were, in the spirit of reducing the home’s carbon footpring, selected for recycled content, local manufacture or were site or locally salvaged. For example, the wood floors, comprising over 90% of the floor area, are sawn from locally salvaged old growth heart pine. The nine foot high exterior doors are fabricated from the same material.

December '08

2008-12-12T14:47:00.003-05:00

The drywall is being installed and mudded, steel is being painted.

Photovoltaic System Layout

2008-12-09T18:00:00.003-05:00

The panels face south for optimal solar exposure.

Interior Images

2008-12-09T17:21:00.011-05:00

Exterior Images

2008-12-09T11:56:00.010-05:00

Natural Ventilation

2008-12-08T17:49:00.005-05:00

The house has been designed to be comfortable at certain times of the year without heating or air conditioning. The owners prefer to use HVAC as little as possible, and, in this climate, with proper ventilation, none is required for extended periods in the spring and fall. The house is made comfortable without air conditioning via cross-ventilation, incorporation of the chimney effect in higher spaces, ceiling fans, and excellent insulation. Additionally, a screened porch off of the Living Room has been incorporated into the design of the house. The screen porch is a traditional southern house feature that allows for mosquito-free outdoor comfort and privacy much of the year.

The house itself has been designed for natural ventilation with strategically placed operable windows with screens. Remotely operated windows in the clerestories create the chimney effect.

Documentation and Verification: In the primary living areas natural ventilation is achieved as follows:

• Over 12% in operable window area/conditioned floor area in the Master Bedroom in addition to a pair of screened French doors to a covered deck.

• Over 12% operable area/conditioned floor area in the remaining primary living areas (Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Bed Rooms). Operable area achieved through inclusion of one door from the Living Area to the Screened Porch.

• At least two windows in each habitable room are on opposite or adjacent walls.

• Insect screens installed on all operable windows.

• Ceiling fans in all primary living areas.

Quantifying the contribution of natural ventilation:

• There are physical principles that control the flow of air in a house that is referred to as natural ventilation. Our discussion can focus on “Stack driven ventilation”. Wikipedia has a good discussion under “Natural Ventilation” and refers to an equation in ASHRAE. We have verified that our ASHRAE Fundamentals are the same equation. This equation (see attached) estimates the stack flow in cfs (cubic feet per second) as a function of parameters. Inside and outside temperatures are two controlling variables. If the inside temperature equals the outside temperature the delta T goes to zero and there is no stack flow. The temperature contribution is expressed as ((Ti- To)/ Ti) where temperature is expressed as Absolute Temperatures (Deg R) i.e. (460 + degrees F).

• To have a stack flow the T inside must be greater than the outside temperature. A comfortable inside temperature range is, say, 70º to 85º F. To have a stack flow the outside temperature must be lower than these temperatures, say, 65º to 80º F. The weather bin temperatures tell us historically the hours per year that Atlanta can expect to have outside temperatures in this range. These hours are expressed in five-degree F bands as follows for the following temperature: (Note: our earlier Equipment Performance Bins reports show these same values.)

Energy Recovery Ventilator

2008-12-08T17:04:00.002-05:00

RainShine is equipped with an energy recovery ventilator that draws air from areas of the house typically exhausted to the exterior, efficiently recovers heat from the exhaust stream during cold weather and pre-cools and dehumidifies incoming air during hot, muggy weather. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is improved and the risk of moisture related damage to the house is reduced.  RainShine’s exterior envelope is airtight to reduce air and moisture infiltration. The ERV thus provides a controlled method of moving fresh air into the house, dehumidification, removal of stale or contaminated air and reclamation of energy invested in exhausted conditioned air.

The ERV operates through a dedicated ducting system, replacing bathroom exhaust fans as well as Laundry exhaust. Outdoor air is warmed close to room temperature with heat that would otherwise be lost with the exhaust air. Water vapor transfer moderates extremes in humidity levels which helps prevent moisture damage or over-drying of the house.

GeoThermal Heat Pump

2008-12-08T16:32:00.008-05:00

RainShine’s ground source heat pump system takes advantage of the steady state temperature of the earth for heating and cooling. In winter heat is extracted from the earth and delivered to the house. In summer heat is removed from the house and absorbed by the earth. Through the heat pump system the earth’s stored energy is accessed with minimal energy expenditure.

Well system: Because of the RainShine limited site area a closed vertical loop system was employed to access steady state temperatures. For the vertical system, 5 wells (approximately four inches in diameter) were drilled approximately 200 feet deep. Two high-density polyethylene pipes were installed in each of the holes and are connected at the bottom with a U-bend to form a loop. The vertical loops are connected with horizontal pipe (via a manifold), placed in trenches, connected to the heat pump in the basement and filled with an environmentally friendly antifreeze/water solution that acts as a heat exchanger. All joints were heat-fused and pressure-tested before and after installation. The majority of the depth of

RainShine’s wells were drilled through solid granite, an excellent conductor of heat thus positively impacting the efficiency of the system. The bores around the vertical loops in the wells were filled with bentonite clay.

Heating: In heating mode, the geothermal system uses the closed loop well system to extract heat from the ground. The heat pump takes heat from the loop and distributes warmed air through a conventional duct system.

Cooling: In cooling mode, ducted air is cooled by reversing the heating process. Instead of removing heat from the ground, the heat pump extracts heat from air flowing through the ducts and dumps it in the heat sink of the loop wells.

Hot Water: Desuperheaters transfer excess heat from the geothermal heat pump’s compressor to a hot water tank. In the summer cooling period, the heat that is taken from the house is used to heat the water for little cost. In the winter, water heating costs are reduced by about half.

Geothermal heat pumps save money in operating and maintenance costs. While the initial purchase price of a residential GHP system is often higher than that of a comparable gas-fired furnace and central air-conditioning system, it is more efficient, thereby saving money every month.

Unlike standard heat pump compressors that can only operate at full capacity, RainShine’s two-stage scroll compressors operate close to the heating or cooling capacity that is needed at any particular moment. This saves large amounts of electrical energy and reduces compressor wear. Two-stage heat pumps work well with RainShine’s zone control systems using automatic dampers to allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures. RainShine’s heat pumps are equipped with variable-speed motors on their fans (blowers). The variable-speed controls for these fans keep air moving at a comfortable velocity, minimizing cool drafts and maximizing electrical savings. It also minimizes the noise from the blower running at full speed.

Rainshine’s geothermal system is eligible for a $2,000 state tax credit and a $2,000 federal tax credit.

Please see the simple diagram below taken from this informative website.

Ground-source (geothermal) eat pump in cooling mode.

Ground-source (geothermal) eat pump in heating mode.

Lighting System

2008-12-08T16:17:00.006-05:00

100% of the light fixtures, lighted vanities, bulbs and ceiling fans selected for interior and exterior use in this project have an Energy Star Label or qualified equivalent energy consumption (through use of LED light fixtures and bulbs). This exceeds code requirements as well as the requirements of the Energy Star Advanced Lighting Package (ALP), which is 60% Energy Star qualified hard-wired fixtures and 100% qualified fans. Additionally, other benefits are:

A. The projected life of the LED bulbs is 50,000 hours to 60% lumen maintenance compared to 7,000 hours for CFL bulbs.

B. Total wattage and thus energy consumption is less for the LED fixtures in this project than comparable fluorescent fixtures (see attached spread sheet).

C. LED bulb components contain no toxic materials and are more easily recycled than CFL bulbs.

D. Reduction in installed wattage reduces cost of installed electrical infrastructure (service size, panel size, number of circuits, wiring size, control devices).

E. LED bulbs and fixtures provide more manageable tools for lighting applications. For example, the Cree XRE par 30 bulb is available with controlled beam spreads of 15, 25, 40, 60, 80 and 120 degrees providing more control and thus, in this application, fewer fixtures required to achieve lighting goals.

A similar code compliant house using conventional incandescent fixtures can expect annual lighting costs of $1,479. Rainshine’s lighting system projects annual lighting costs of $295. The spreadsheet below demonstrates the savings.

Sustainability for LEED

2008-12-08T16:14:00.001-05:00

Sustainable features include:

• Concrete foundation walls with high fly ash and slag content substantially reducing requirement for high-energy investment Portland cement. 100% recycled content paperboard forms were used. Capillary breaks between all footings and foundation walls.

• Cement-free natural hydraulic lime stucco foundation wall finish.

• Foundation drains and vertical drainage system manufactured from 100% post-industrial recycled content. Low VOC cold applied water-based foundation waterproofing. Post industrial recycled content foundation protection board. Low VOC form release agent.

• Steel beams, columns and reinforcing bars manufactured locally from 100% recycled content.

• Wood floors and interior trim from local, salvaged heart pine.

• Cabinets and built in storage millwork manufactured from zero-VOC 100% recycled content particle board.

• Recycled steel industrial utility cabinets.

• Cabinet countertops manufactured with high post consumer recycled material content.

• All ceramic and glass tile manufactured from salvaged or recycled materials.

• Zero VOC interior and exterior paints, stains, and floor finishes.

• Zero VOC adhesives, sealants and form-release agents.

• PVC free, recyclable solar shades.

• Interior area rugs manufactured from post consumer recycled carpet.

• Low VOC wood sub-flooring and sheathing.

• Highly reflective and recyclable TPO roofing.

• Low VOC rigid roof and basement insulation.

• High efficiency, HCFC- and formaldehyde-free Icynene® wall insulation.

• Locally sourced, high durability, low VOC fiber cement siding.

• High durability cellular PVC exterior trim.

• Locally sourced exterior decking manufactured from post consumer reclaimed plastic and waste wood.

• Driveway wheel strips from re-purposed brick salvaged during site demolition.

• Landscape strips, walks and borders from site demolition salvaged and crushed concrete and locally sourced salvaged crushed slate roofing.

• Bicycle rack and casual stepping stones constructed from locally sourced recycled granite curbs.

• Landscape rain garden swales planted with plants tolerant to submersion designed to manage rainwater runoff.

• Impermeable surfaces, including roofs, totaling less than 10% of site area.

• Full site xeriscaping with native, drought tolerant, non-invasive plants, no turf and no irrigation system.

• Extensive use of nontoxic pest control systems.

Energy Consumption for LEED

2008-12-08T16:13:00.002-05:00

Active techniques to reduce consumption of energy include:

1. Two two-stage zoned ground-source heat pumps provide heating and cooling. The heat pumps provide air distribution that will adjust to the variation in loads throughout the areas of the house throughout the day and will provide both temperature and dehumidification control.

2. A desuperheater is coupled to each of the two geothermal heat pumps and heats water with energy that would otherwise be given up to the heat sink of the closed loop wells. When the heat pumps are operating, hot water is virtually free. Hot water is stored in high efficiency hot water heaters that serve as backup hot water generators when the geothermal heat pump system is not in operation.

2. An energy recovery ventilator provides balanced introduction of fresh filter/conditioned air and reclamation of invested energy from air typically exhausted from bathrooms, kitchen and laundry.

3. Lower capacity high efficiency two-stage zoned geothermal heat pumps will provide the necessary heating and cooling with controlled airflow to the zones that require conditioned air which can be as low as a few hundred cfm per zone. For most of the year 1200 cfm provides required conditioning, 2000 cfm on the very hottest or coldest days compared to 3,600 cfm required in code compliant designs.

4. A net-metered roof mounted 3.1 kilowatt photovoltaic system. The system, consisting of 18 high-efficiency monocrystalline photovoltaic modules, is mounted on the south-facing portion of the butterfly roof. Through the Georgia Power Net Metering System, all power generated from the photovoltaic system is independently metered and made available to Georgia Power for it’s Green Energy program. Georgia Power pays 17.4 cents per kilowatt hour for power generated by the system. Energy consumed by the house is obtained from the grid at 8.64 cents per kilowatt hour and is monitored by a separate meter. As incentive, this system has received a $10,500 state tax credit and is eligible for a $2,000 federal tax credit.
The system was installed and activated shortly after completion of framing and roofing. It generated and sold power during the remainder of the construction period.

5. Energy Star appliances.

6. All light fixtures employ LEDs or are fluorescent Energy Star rated and, in total, consume 1/10 of the power of a similar code compliant house using conventional fixtures.

Passive Solar Techniques

2008-12-08T14:47:00.002-05:00

Passive solar techniques used include:

1. Exterior bearing walls are constructed of 6” wood studs compared to more conventional 4” wood studs. The wall cavity is filled with Icynene®, a water-based. highly efficient foam insulation and sealing system that contains no formaldehyde, CFCs or HCFCs.

2. Eaves overhang all walls and glazing of the structure. Eaves are more extensive on the south façade, less extensive on the east and west where microclimate tree canopy effects take over early and late.

3. Roofed porches and screened porches shade the house and glazing on portions of the south, east and west walls.

4. Solar “eyebrows” shade south facing glass at the Living Room. Interior light shelves bounce light into the interior reducing light fixture dependency.

5. Interior roller solar shades screen east-, west- and south-facing glass where not protected by eaves, eyebrows or porch roofs.

6. Operable windows provide cross ventilation and, via remotely operated clerestory windows, create a stack effect thus allowing the occupants to enjoy the benefits of their mid spring/fall climate while reducing reliance on cooling systems.

7. Basement exterior walls are insulated and are not vented.

8. Significantly lower heating and cooling loads resulting from passive design reduce hvac airflow in the home thus reducing drafts and excessive temperature and humidity fluctuations.

9. New deciduous plantings will assist in shading the house in summer and allow sun to penetrate in winter.

10. Recognition in the formal design of the house of the site microclimate and morning/afternoon shading provided by the existing tree canopy.

11. High efficiency glazing - SHGC of 0.36 and winter/summer “u” value of 0.24/0.21

12. The design of the home results in significantly lower heating and cooling loads which reduce hvac airflow in the home and thus reduce drafts, excessive temperature and humidity fluctuations.

LEED for Homes

2008-12-08T14:44:00.001-05:00

RainShine is being constructed under the LEED for Homes Program Pilot Rating System. LEED for Homes is an initiative designed to actively promote the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices. LEED for Homes is targeting the top 25% of new homes with best practice environmental features and is a collaborative initiative that actively works with all sectors of the home building industry. This home’s performance in regard to sustainable practices will be measured in eight different resource categories:

1. Innovation and Design Process

2. Location and Linkages

3. Sustainable Sites

4. Water Efficiency

5. Improved Energy and Atmosphere

6. Use of environmentally preferable Materials and Resources

7. Indoor Environmental Quality

8. Public Awareness and Education.

The LEED for Homes rating system works by awarding credits for different aspects of environmental design in each of the above categories. The level of performance achieved in the above categories is separated into four performance tiers. LEED for Homes will rate this home at one of the following levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Levels are awarded according to how many points the home achieves in the Rating System. The goal of the RainShine house is to achieve the Platinum level. We anticipate that this house will consume less than 50% of the energy that would be consumed by a similar home built to the standards of the International Energy Conservation Code.

This residence employs many passive and associated active techniques designed to reduce consumption of energy. Additionally, the house employs an extensive list of environmentally preferable materials from salvaged, locally sourced, to recycled to those with low or no volatile organic compounds, each representing lower energy investments, lower contribution to off-gassing and environmental pollution, reduced energy investments in shipping, enhanced durability, etc. Furthermore, specific construction techniques and programs have been implemented to reduce on-site wastes, increase recycled construction waste and minimize the use of materials through efficient framing systems.

EPPs

2008-11-26T16:19:00.000-05:00

Environmentally Preferable Products are used throughout the project. Those that are earning LEED points toward the Pilot Program certification are shown in the spreadsheet below.

Products used include:

Duogard II Form Release Agent
Legacy Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring
Crossville recycled ceramic tile
Advantech OSB interior decking
Nichiha fiber-cement siding
Icynene building insulation

November '08

2008-11-09T16:14:00.003-05:00

Siding is complete, exterior trim and flashing is under construction, insulated panels are installed.

October '08

2008-10-10T09:12:00.000-04:00

The siding is going on the house.

September '08

2008-09-12T14:45:00.000-04:00

The clerestory windows are installed. Interior walls are framed.

Yearly Cost Projections

2008-08-29T12:00:00.006-04:00

Below is a spreadsheet using information calculated by RMCA, the engineers and the manufacturers projecting the yearly net and gross kWhs and billed costs. The rate is per the EIA rate chart.

Appliances' Energy Consumption

2008-08-18T11:44:00.006-04:00

Below is a spreadsheet showing projected annual energy consumption by appliances alone.

Appliances

2008-08-10T15:11:00.004-04:00

The major appliances in the house are Energy Star compliant. The selections are as follows:

Cook top: Electrolux Induction Cooktop E301C75FSS

Oven: Electrolux Single Oven EW30EW55GS

Microwave: Electrolux EI30MO45G

Dishwasher: ASKO D3251XLFI

Refrigerator: Frigidaire GHSC39ETJS

Washer: Frigidaire F/L ATF8000FS

Dryer: Frigidaire F/L AEQ8000ES

July '08

2008-07-09T17:07:00.001-04:00

House wrap is complete, roof decking is on.

May '08

2008-05-10T14:33:00.000-04:00

The sheathing is on the house.

May '08

2008-05-09T15:14:00.000-04:00

The sheathing is on the house.

March '08

2008-03-09T15:06:00.004-04:00

The steel framing for the butterfly roof is put in place with cranes. Exterior stud walls are beginning to be constructed.

Foundation System

2007-06-08T17:14:00.001-04:00

The effort to accomplish the design and construction of the foundation of RainShine represents an outstanding and easily repeatable model for residential foundations. Careful, rigorous attention to selection of products, design of details and decision regarding construction of this full height residential foundation resulted in substantial energy savings, reduced consumption and lower environmental impact.

Featuring a full basement, foundations are a substantial component of the subject house. Every material and product used in the construction of the foundation either reduces energy costs, is locally manufactured or reduces/eliminates VOC content or contributes to the durability of construction. The following list comprises the foundation features:

Concrete The mix design for all concrete in this project reduced Portland cement by 40% through incorporation of slag and fly ash. The result is a corresponding net 40% reduction in the CO2 emissions typically resulting from concrete production. The mix design was use for all footings, reinforced retaining walls, basement slab and concrete block retaining wall grout. Fly ash and slag used in the concrete mix are industrial by-products. Also, the cement, aggregate, sand, admixtures, fly ash and slag used in the concrete are locally manufactured or mined. Any surplus concrete was returned to the ready mixed concrete production facilities used for this project. 100% of returned material was diverted from landfill by collecting wash water and aggregate for reuse in concrete mixes in this and other projects.

Concrete block All concrete block in the project contains 10.25% locally produced fly ash. Fly ash is used in substitution for Portland cement resulting in a net reduction in the CO2 emissions required to produce the concrete block. The concrete block consists of locally mined or manufactured materials, including cement, fines and aggregate. Additionally all concrete block cells are filled with the above high slag and fly ash content concrete mix.

Steel reinforcing All steel reinforcing used in concrete footings, concrete retaining walls, concrete block retaining walls and concrete slabs are produced locally from 87% post-consumer and 17% post industrial recycled content.
Footing drains All footing drains are manufactured from 100% recycled postindustrial regrind.

Filter fabric Footing drain filter fabric is manufactured from 100% recycled postindustrial materials.

Waterproofing Foundation waterproofing is spray applied low VOC water based, anionic emulsion.

Vertical drainage All foundation walls are faced with a vertical drainage system manufactured from 100% recycled content.

Protection board All foundation protection board is manufactured from 100% recycled postindustrial materials.

Capillary break All footings are separated from their concrete or concrete block bearing walls with a polyethylene capillary break increasing building durability by preventing soil moisture migration into the building envelope.

Concrete forming Reusable concrete forms were employed to form all concrete foundation walls.

Concrete forming 100% recycled paperboard forms were employed to form all round piers supporting decks and porches.

Form release agent Form oil release agent used for the foundation walls is a biodegradable low VOC (55g/l) product composed of organic lubricants emulsified in water.

Vapor retarder All under-slab vapor retarder membranes are manufactured from 100% recycled post-industrial content.

Foundation finish Foundations are finished with natural hydraulic lime (NHL), a zero VOC, self-healing, integrally colored, recyclable stucco. Natural hydraulic lime has a high level of vapor exchange and its mineral composition breathes, eliminating entrapment of moisture and thereby resists dry rot and mold.

May '07

2007-05-10T09:46:00.000-04:00

The foundation and basement walls are poured.

April '07

2007-04-10T09:42:00.003-04:00

The foundation and basement walls are formed, steel reinforcement is in place.