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Floor Plans: Green, Smart and Environmentally Sound
Chaleff House: Chaleff & Rogers Architects
Bill Chaleff, of Chaleff & Rogers Architects in Water Mill, N.Y., designed and built his house after his first house burned down several years ago. As he does for most of his clients, Chaleff designed this new house using the most sustainable and energy-efficient practices available.
Chaleff’s home is built with structural insulated panels (SIPs) and as many recycled and composite materials as possible; many passive solar engineering principles integrated into its design; and a smart in-floor heating system. The result is a home that is highly efficient, comfortable and uses minimal energy. In fact, with two photovoltaic solar panels on the roof to reduce his electric bills, Chaleff’s electric meter actually runs backwards when his home produces more electricity than it requires.
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The view from the bedroom, overlooking the great room. |
SIPs, Engineered Beams and Steel
Chaleff chose to build his house using SIPs because of their insulating properties, air infiltration resistance and recyclability — all traits that match his environmental sensitivities.
He used engineered beams and trusses from a company that shuns toxic formaldehyde resins in the manufacturing process. And he used floor joists and wall studs made of light gauge steel because they were less expensive than wood and don’t warp, shrink or expand.
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Two sets of solar panels make maximum use of the home's southern exposure. |
Solar Panels Provide Most of the Energy
Two sets of solar panels provide most of the energy needed to run the house. In addition, Chaleff has integrated passive solar engineering principles into his home’s design. Most of his home’s southern façade is double-paned glass with a low-E coating of argon gas fill to minimize heat loss and take full advantage of the sun during daylight hours.
Chaleff has installed a radiant heating system, but it uses heated air instead of water to deliver heat.
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Chaleff used engineered beams from a manufacturer that does not use toxic formaldehyde resins. |
Using Highly-Renewable, Highly-Recycled Materials
Chaleff built the home using as many renewable and recycled materials as possible. He used fiber-cement siding, for example, because it is ecologically friendly — concrete is highly renewable and the wood fiber in the siding is from fast-growing trees farmed specifically for that purpose.
On the roof, Chaleff used asphalt-impregnated cellulose, which has a high-recycled content.
The house has an open feel, very much in keeping with its environmentally-sensitive use of materials.
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The dining room. |
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Click for larger image. |
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Click for larger image. |
Photos courtesy Phillip Jensen-Carter
The home is featured in “Prefabulous — the House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh From the Factory,” by Sheri Koones.
Designed by Bill Chaleff: Chaleff & Rogers Architects, Water Mill, N.Y.
Floor plans illustrations © The Taunton Press
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