Energy efficient windows designed to keep out noon sun in the summer but allow in sun in the winter are installed in GreenSpaces’ first NextGen home on the North Shore on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Public tours of the home begin Jan. 22.NextGen home specifications
Floors: Locally sourced red oak.Solar panels: 4.75kw solar array with micro-inverters from Tennessee Solar Solutions.Framing and envelope (outside walls, roof, foundation): Bigger studs that are farther apart (results in more insulation). Icynene Greenguard-certified open-cell spray foam in walls. Closed-cell spray foam at foundation, wrapped with Vaproshield (which is like Gore-Tex for a house: waterproof and windproof, but breathable to handle humidity). General Shale Endurance Brick and poured-core CMU. Standing seam metal roof.Windows and Doors: Aluminum-clad casement windows and doors, by Sun Windows & Doors.Heating and Air: Mitsubishi Hyper Heat Ductless Mini Split, designed and installed by Conditionaire.Lighting/Electrical: Schneider Electric Vehicle Chargers, WiserAir Thermostats, and ElectricDistribution. LED Fixtures and Lutron Caseta smart-home controls from Sesco Electric Supply.Appliances: Energy Star GE Geospring Heat Pump Hot Water Heate. Siano Appliances providing Whirlpool Energy Star Heat Pump Dryer, Washer and Microwave. Jenn-Air Energy Star Dishwasher, Refrigerator and Induction Range/Oven.Finishes: Crossville Tile provided by Louisville Tile. Caesarstone Countertops, Tile and Countertop Installation by Stonesource. Whitacre Greer Pavers.Paint and stains: No VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) and nontoxic paints, wood floor stain and construction adhesives, provided by Green’s Eco Build and Design.Certifications: Energy Star 3.0 Certification and SmartBuild Certification from EPB (both are free for all builders). Appraisal Institute’s Green and Energy Efficient Addendum (for financing the home).Source: GreenSpaces
When to see the NextGen home
GreenSpaces will offer tours of the NextGen home as construction gets completed. Ultimately, four homes will be constructed side by side, all for sale. The first has already sold and is the subject of the tour.What: Tour of NextGen homeWhere: 631 Hamilton Ave., ChattanoogaWhen: Feb 12, 26 and March 12, 2-4 p.m.
NextGen homes team
Design: GreenSpaces and Workshop ArchitectureNative landscape design: W.M. Whitaker & AssociatesGeneral contractor: Collier ConstructionConsultants: Conditionaire, SK Collaborative (Atlanta, GA), Vandemusser Design (Asheville, NC)Source: GreenSpaces
Chris Wilson and Jill McKay weren’t on the hunt for an eco-friendly home, but they wound up buying one that takes the concept even further.
GreenSpaces’s “NextGen” home, which the couple purchased for $364,000, has been several years in the making. The point of the project was to show that building a home centered on sustainability can be as financially feasible as building a typical home, according to GreenSpaces, a nonprofit organization whose mission is guiding the greater Chattanooga area toward ways to live, work and build more sustainably, while raising the overall quality of life.