LEED Facts »
| Certified December 2009 | |
| Gold for Homes | 92.5/136 |
| Sustainable Sites | 16.5/22 |
| Water Efficiency | 12/15 |
| Energy & Atmosphere | 21.5/36 |
| Materials & Resources | 12.5/16 |
| Indoor Environ. Quality | 13/21 |
| Innovation & Design | 9/11 |
Architect: Laura D. Krekorian
Structural Engineer: Coastal Engineering
Builders: Merchant Construction, Smith Ingram
Custom Millwork: Pearson Woodworking
Landscape Architect: John Carter & Co
LEED Consultant: Conservation Services Group
Systems Integrator: Jeff Mitchell, Robert Saglio A/V
Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer: Reddy Piping
Geothermal Systems Design: Newport Geothermal
Marketing/PR: Caster Communications, Inc.
Owners: Joseph and Kimberly Hageman
Photographs courtesy of Ashley Daigneault
Project Background
Designed by local architect Laura D. Krekorian, the Green Life Smart Life project is an expression of one family’s aspiration to show that green living and technology could co-exist. The home reflects their desire to capture the incredible views of Narragansett Bay and the Newport Bridge, their dedication to integrated sustainable design that included durability measures to handle the harsh weather elements of New England, and their insistence on smart home technology that enabled them to live in a high-tech, high-touch, entertainment-driven environment.
Quest for LEED®
The homeowners were dedicated to achieving LEED for Homes certification and despite the home’s impressive 4,529 sq/ft of living space, the home was awarded 92.5 points. From energy management to water conservation and from high performance building techniques to a comprehensive waste management plan, the builders and subcontractors worked together every step of the way to bring Gold certification to the home.
Strategies and Results
The home was stick built and framed using FSC sourced lumber whenever it was available; FSC-certified white cedar shingles flanked the home’s exterior, with Versatex specified for all eaves, trim and moldings for their long life in the salt ridden air. Building in a 120 mph coastal wind zone, the homeowners selected Pella’s Hurricaneshield windows for both their impact resistence and ENERGY STAR® ratings. With soy-based spray foam insultation filling the building envelope, the home received a HERS rating of 58 to make it ENERGY STAR.
After extensive research, the homeowners selected a five-zone geothermal HVAC system including a dedicated heat pump for the wine cellar. Also included in the system were dual water tanks for holding hot water, two Environmental Recovery Ventilators and a water pump for diverting water from the well to the 5000 gallon rainwater harvesting system should there not be enough rainfall during irrigation season.
Interior finishes include 200 year old reclaimed barnwood floors, a wine cellar with racks made from reclaimed Point Judith Country Club deck wood, recycled countertops, sinks and tile, low-flow plumbing fixtures including 1.0 gpf toilets, 1.75 gpm showerheads and 1.5 gpm faucets. The home also features FSC cabinetry and zero VOC paints and finishes. A unique part of the project was the complete integration of smart home technology to monitor and control all subsystems in the home – including the use of Control4 for integrated management of HVAC, irrigation, Lutron lighting control, security and state-of-the-art entertainment. Combining innovative technologies with an energy management system, the home maintains a connected lifestyle while still conserving energy whenever possible.
About Green Life Smart Life
The Nantucket style home with its beautiful built-ins and soft sea-glass colors started its design more than three years ago and in 2008 became the first non pilot registered LEED for Homes project in the state – and the first to receive Gold certification. The finished home is an eloquent marriage of technology and sustainable design that reflects one family’s lifestyle but shares the vision for any home – to be safe, comfortable, sustainable, healthy and connected.