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Cost Effective Energy Efficiency

At the Showcase Home in Shady Cove, Oregon

The Showcase Home in Shady Cove, OR provides an excellent example of how to build a cost effective, energy efficient home.  Alternative and affordable construction techniques used in the Showcase Home will save the future homeowner money and increase the comfort of the home.   

The builder used advanced framing techniques of: 24” on center studs, insulated headers and raised heel trusses all of which significantly increased the insulation levels of the thermal envelope.  This strategy not only saves energy but it reduced cost of materials by using less wood.

Another cost effective energy saving strategy used in the Showcase home is locating the HVAC ductwork inside the conditioned space.  Inverted soffits were constructed up into the ceiling to allow for an insulated, air sealed space in which the ductwork is installed.  Bringing the duct work inside the thermal envelope saves a significant amount of energy because the ducts are protected from the high temperature differences of the attic or crawlspace where they are traditionally located.

Air sealing techniques have been employed meticulously though out the construction process to insure minimal movement occurs within or through the building shell.  Air movement through insulation significantly degrades its ability to function.  Installation of foam, caulk and ridged air barriers tightened the shell of the Showcase Home so it can perform to its peak potential, conserve energy and reduce the utility bills for the homeowner.

Finally, the walls were insulated with a blown in fiberglass insulation.  Blown in fiberglass insulation is yet another cost effective upgrade that saves energy and money in the long run.  The blown in insulation fills the entire wall cavity flowing around obstacles such as electrical boxes and plumbing pipes.   Achieving a grade 1, “perfect” installation is simple with blown in insulation.  With grade 1 insulation installed the walls will achieve their rated R-23 value and save energy over the entire lifespan of the home.   

Saving energy and money when building a new home does not require a huge cost upgrade.  There are numerous affordable and cost effective strategies that provide true return on investment in the form of lower utility bills and increased comfort for the homeowner.   

The Showcase Home located in Shady Cove will be certified Earth Advantage Platinum and Energy Star.

About the Author

John Spillman

As an outreach and technical specialist for Earth Advantage Institute in Southern Oregon, John Spillman performs field verifications of homes and Energy Performance Score modeling for Energy Trust of Oregon. He works with builders to help them understand the concepts of green building, certification, and energy efficiency. He is certified with the Building Performance Institute and performs Quality Assurance reviews for BPI. John has a degree in civil engineering from U.C. Davis.