Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Zero Energy Building Residence Alliance (ZEBRA) Homes
Building Area: ~2800 s.f. each
Date of Completion: 2010
Type: New Construction
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Budget: N/A
Challenge: Team with Schaad Companies, Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Department of Energy on a combination research project & education campaign to design 4 homes that will be used to test various bleeding-edge energy-saving technologies and design strategies.
Solution: The homes incorporate high efficiency lighting and appliances, water-to-air & water-to-water heat pumps. Ground-source heat exchange systems are used to reduce heating and cooling loads. Plumbing and mechanical uses are grouped around a central wall, minimizing energy loss within the houses. Energy is also reclaimed from gray water and exhaust air streams.
Each home uses a different envelope system strategy:
1: Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS)
2: Advanced Framing
3: Dynamic Insulation
4: Exterior Insulation
Featured: February 2009 GreenBuilder Magazine
