03 22 18 home

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The cube house

Women on the job

The new owners of this unusually shaped passive solar home discovered that there was a lot more to like about it than just the location.

Page 2C.

Some in the building industry are showing why more women architects would be better for everyone. A Middlebury firm offers one example.

Page 6C.

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent • Thursday, March 22, 2018

PAGE 2C — Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018

The south and west walls of Andrew Gardner and Caroline Damon’s home in downtown Middlebury showcase large windows that help let in plenty of sun to their passive solar house.

Shades that project horizontally from the south end shade some of the light during the hottest times of the day when the sun is directly overhead.

Independent Photo/Trent Campbell

Lively activity in a passive house

By CHRISTY LYNN MIDDLEBURY — A year ago, Andrew Gardner and Caroline Damon were living a life that many would call the Vermont dream. They had a quiet old house deep in the woods of Ripton, surrounded by dirt roads and hillsides with dark nights filled only with sounds of the barred owls calling out into the void.

Many people long for solitude like this, far away from the lights and bustle of city living and believe

that’s what it means to “make it” in Vermont.

But Gardner and Damon were feeling torn.

Both worked in Middlebury and grappled with the 40 minutes they spent daily on the round-trip commute. They struggled with the carbon footprint associated with keeping up a house that was over 100 years old and suffered the leaks and wasted space typical of homes from that vintage.

On the other hand, both are avid outdoor enthusiasts and loved living close to the Rikert Nordic Center and

the Snow Bowl. They were also somewhat uncertain about how they wanted to raise their son, Sam, and in what environment. In many ways they loved the idea of Sam being able to run around unattended in the woods behind their house, but on the other hand they liked the idea of him being able to walk to school and live within a neighborhood.

So they started considering a move into town and a lifestyle where they commuted to play rather than commuting to work. They had their eyes on

the market for over a year, flopping one way or the other and trying to weigh the possibilities of updating their Ripton home to bring it to higher performance standards, versus finding something newer and more modern in town.

Then, on a Monday late last spring, a house popped up on the market. It was located within an easy walking distance to downtown Middlebury and had a simple, modern cube-like design (See Passive solar, Page 3C)

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Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018 — PAGE 3C

The main living area in “the cube” is a long and open room, which Caroline Damon and Andrew Gardner have designated into three distinct spaces using rugs, furniture and plants. A central staircase features a blackboard wall where the family can write notes, draw pictures and keep track of schedules.

Independent Photo/Trent Campbel

Passive solar (Continued from Page 2C) featuring wide windows, horizontal wood siding and raw metal details.

Damon and Gardner were immediately drawn to the architecture of the house, which was admittedly quite different from the traditional Vermont vernacular.

Upon further research, the couple learned that the dwelling was a certified passive solar house, relying on solar absorption, retention and distribution from the sun without the use of any mechanical or electrical devices.

Passive solar construction uses modern insulating and air sealing systems as well as careful site analysis to maximize the benefits of the sun to warm the structure. The architect is careful to align window and door openings as well as shading blinds and solid walls relative to the solar paths and climate in that particular zone. This engineering enables the house to make use of heat during seasons and times of the day when the home needs to be warmed, while sheltering the home from the sun during the summer or late in the day when the home risks becoming too hot.

Techniques to achieve perfect air sealing mitigates air circulation through convection (a.k.a. leaks) and advanced methods for insulating reduce heat transfer through radiation. This “tight” building envelope controls the influence of external conditions like

temperature and sun exposure inside, enabling the designers and engineers to let in precise amounts of sunlight only when it’s needed.

As a result of this heavily controlled climate, air filtration systems aid in the ventilation and exchange of air from outdoors to indoors and across the home, evening and distributing clean and comfortable air.

Damon and Gardner were not specifically on the market for a passive solar house. However, when they saw it they were immediately intrigued. Unlike their Ripton home, “the cube” (as it had become known) was a simple and concise layout with highly usable space.

“The difference was pretty spectacular between the two houses,” recalls Gardner, “but we knew it was the right fit.”

They made an offer on Thursday and signed the papers Saturday. The cube was theirs.

PASSIVE SOLAR LIFESTYLE In June of 2017 the family moved off the mountain and began to establish new patterns in their passive house and central location.

They started biking to work and Sam became known as the kid who showed up to pre-school in a bicycle chariot. They were able to walk to the store and, perhaps ironically, spent more time on mountain biking trails in Middlebury’s downtown than they ever had access to in the woods of Ripton.

(See Lifestyle, Page 4C)

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The untreated wood siding and raw materials used on the Middlebury passive house on Thomas Street were designed specifically with the intent of having a minimal effect on the environment as well as little to no maintenance required. The windows on this east-facing wall look into the kitchen and small bathroom on the ground floor, the stairwell at mid-level and one of the upstairs bedrooms. Small vents for the Zehnder air exchange system circulate fresh air constantly in the home.

Independent Photos/Trent Campbel

Lifstyle (Continued from Page 3C) “It’s amazing what we can do with those 40 minutes that we used to waste in the car each day,” Damon said. “And it’s also amazing how much more we recognize and appreciate the beauty of that drive when we do it. It went from a heads-down task to be completed each day to an intentional choice that leads us to activities we love.”

In terms of living in the cube, most of the time it’s just like living in any house. Except for a few notable differences.

Gardner suffers from mild allergies to dust and mold. In the Ripton house, they flared up constantly. Now, they are gone.

“More than anything else on a day-to-day, I notice the air quality,” Gardner says.

The cube is outfitted with a Zehnder air filtration system, which constantly works to keep

clean air flowing throughout the filter once per month.

Two heat pumps offer the house. With the aid of a climate monitor that helps them supplemental heat during the coldest and grayest days of pay attention winter, but the couple to temperature and humidity “It was challenging says it’s infrequent inside, Damon at first to figure out to need them, even through the winter. and Gardner have how to configure “During that extra built routines to cold snap in February maximize the our furniture and this year, it was still benefits of this orient our lifestyle really sunny, so we left system. patterns in such a the blinds fully open Following their different space, but one day and came morning showers home to our house at or while cooking, we just lived with 78 degrees,” Damon they kick the it pretty open for said. “I guess we’ll system onto the a while and then from that!” higher settings. slowly learned how learn COST OF HEATING If they’re headed In terms of their out of town for an to define the space.” extended period — Caroline Damon energy bills, it’s a welcome relief to of time, they can be able to reallocate program it to lower settings. Most of the time, it that $2,000 a year that Damon and defaults to medium and requires Gardner used to spend on heating nothing more than vacuuming oil, not to mention the two cords of wood they burned in their woodstove for supplemental heat.

They say their electrical bills are comparable in their new home to what they had been in Ripton, despite the demands from the Zehnder and heat pumps. They are also considering a rooftop solar array that would further help offset that bill and push them further toward a net zero energy impact.

And in terms of the lifestyle change required to transition from an old home with many small rooms, countless nooks and crannies and expansive woodland gardens to their small lot at the edge of Buttolph Acres and a stones throw from Route 7, the couple says it was easier than one might think.

“We were both drawn to the modern, European aesthetic and openness of this house,” Gardner recalls. “It was challenging at first to figure out how to configure our furniture and orient our lifestyle patterns in such a different space, but we just lived with it pretty open for a while and then slowly learned how to define the space.”

When you walk into the cube, a small entry mudroom with closet space and a small bathroom opens into a long and uncluttered great room with a huge picture window taking up the full wall on one short end of the room facing south and a glass door that leads to a small side porch against the long wall to the west.

Despite having no physical dividers within this space, the couple has effectively delineated three separate rooms using furniture, plants, area rugs and shelving. A play space for Sam is under the big (See Heating costs, Page 5C)

Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018 — PAGE 5C

The north and east faces of the passive house on the edge of Buttolph Acres in Middlebury have the fewest window and no doors, to limit the exposure to the cooler sides of the home and keep the building envelope as “tight” as possible. The house is perched just above a natural creek and despite its central location — easily walkable to downtown Middlebury — is a house that many people have never noticed on this tucked-away lot.

Independent Photo/Trent Campbel

Heating costs (Continued from Page 4C) window, flowing into a classic living room area with a bright teal couch and modern yellow chair. The dining room table is on the north end of the room, with the kitchen curving around to the east from there. A set of stairs brings you upstairs to three bedrooms and a second bathroom, all arranged in an efficient “U” format around the stairwell. In total, the house is about 2,300 square feet.

“Because it’s a box, we use every corner of the space in this house, which we love,” Damon says. “In contrast to the Ripton house, where we had rooms that we barely spent any time in at all, there isn’t a single room in this house that we don’t use every day.”

For Gardner, who owns Press Forward PR, living in a house that is well-designed and

Carefully positioned solar shades on a passive house work to reduce the impact of the hot sun during the warmest parts of the day and the warmest times of the year.

Photo: Susan Teare

efficient feels consistent with many of the goals that he works with clients to achieve.

“It makes me think more carefully about design and being intentional about every move that you make,” he said.

Having the home life that fits with a business working primarily with outdoor brands and with a strong commitment to the environment, Gardner appreciates the opportunity to “walk the walk” and not just talk the talk of environmental responsibility.

Gardner and Damon say reactions to the cube are widely varied. They say many likeminded friends find their home very cool and perhaps even gain some inspiration from it. Others just find it weird or question its unusual form.

For them, it’s home and it’s wonderful.

A word from the architect natural, avoid toxins and require less maintenance.

Gregor Masefield of Studio III Architecture in Bristol is one The site at 2 Thomas St. in Middlebury had been on and off the of the architects who designed Andrew Gardner and Caroline market for years, so when it became available we Damon’s Passive House in Middlebury. Masefield jumped on it. It seemed like a perfect opportunity spoke with the Independent’s Christy Lynn about to make great use out of an affordable, centrally this cutting edge project.

“One of the joys located lot and offered an opportunity to site a house THE INSPIRATION AND SITE that was considerate and sensitive to the site and I grew up in a stone farmhouse built in 1782, of this whole environment we were working within. and I was the littlest one in the family so I was he discipline is that Mid-way through the project there were some who was lowered into the crawlspace with a torch function and design stumbling blocks with the Agency of Natural to thaw the frozen pipes in the winter. I think that don’t ever totally Resources, which exposed an issue with the nearby started my interest in more efficient houses. wetland, but rather than fight we chose to rise to the But seriously, I had been thinking and talking agree. That’s our challenge and remediate the issue with amended site about ideas for affordable, energy-efficient, single- job to figure out.” family homes for quite some time when the person — Gregor Masefield design to incorporate a sensitive building with very low impact on the site. who I collaborated with on this project (who wished We wanted the project to address some of the to be left anonymous) first approached me. We social, socio-economic and environmental issues our society started talking about building a house that could act as a prototype is grappling with and we gained inspiration from a number in an urban infill environment that was otherwise going to be of different sources. One of those was a book called “Design wasted space for the neighbor’s brush pile. We wanted to create Like You Give A Damn” by Cameron Sinclair. Another was a project that inspired more natural and sustainable communities (See Inspiration, Page 9C) and did anything we could to reduce waste, leave materials

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PAGE 6C — Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018

THE FIRM VERMONT Integrated Architecture, PC, intentionally hires and supports women, which the owners think is good for business and for the profession. Shown outside their Middlebury offices, Jean Terwilliger, Gwen Nagy-Benson, Andrea Murray, Dee Pearce and Megan Nedzinski comprise half of the firm’s 10 employees.

A woman’s place:

Is at the drawing table and on the job site

By ANDREA MURRAY when the centerfold pinup on the wall and I MIDDLEBURY — On the first morning of were the only two women in the construction Efficiency Vermont’s recent Better Buildings job trailer. I have been in meetings when

by Design conference, I was energized by the answers to my questions were directed not back enthusiastic chatter in the exhibit hall. After to me but to Ashar, my male business partner. a few minutes I realized that the baritone I have even been cornered in a trailer by a hum was coming from an almost client’s representative and asked exclusively male presence, and it inappropriate questions about reminded me that a woman in the Of VIA’s 10 my personal life. Increasingly, architecture and construction field employees, half are though, I work with many men is still somewhat of an oddity and women, including who genuinely respect my definitely a minority. As “Me Too” three of our four contributions to the planning, has become part of our national licensed architects. design and construction of a conversation, I couldn’t help but We are intentional building project. And catcalls think about my own experience as on a job site seem to be a thing about our collective of the past. a woman and as an architect.

At the 2016 American Institute support of women Of VIA’s 10 employees, half of Architects convention, four practitioners at all are women, including three of architects (who are women) levels in our firm. our four licensed architects. presented the case that increasing We are intentional about our the number of women in the collective support of women field would benefit the field as a whole. They practitioners at all levels in our firm. As highlighted some startling statistics: Though workplaces begin to meaningfully address nearly half (45 percent) of architecture graduates equity in pay and flexibility for family care are women, women make up only about 25 by both men and women, I predict that more percent of licensed architects. Even fewer (18 women will follow through with their passion percent) are principals or partners in a firm. The for architecture. I hope the 14 bright and panel noted that firms with three or more women attentive women in my current “Architecture on their board of directors tended to outperform and the Environment” course at Middlebury those with fewer or no women; clearly a broader College will be among them. Architecture range of skills and leadership styles is ultimately needs their point of view. more beneficial. So why the disconnect?

Andrea Murray is a principal architect Breaking through the barriers of a male- at Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C. in dominated field isn’t easy. There were times Middlebury.

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Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018 — PAGE 7C

The 2030 Challenge is taking shape Recognizing that the Building “Eliminating the built environSector is responsible for almost half ment’s negative contribution to cliof all greenhouse gas emissions mate change is not just a strategic annually, key leaders in this sector priority, it’s our collective responsihave banded together to confront bility to generations to come,” said the global warming crisis.

Rick Fedrizzi, founding chairman During the 2006 of USGBC. “Science Greenbuild Internatells us … urgent acQ. Does the 2030 Chal- tion is required.” tional Conference and Expo, a group lenge call for all new The 2030 Chalof industry leaders building and major reno- lenge, a global reached a consensus vations to be “net-zero en- initiative offion three critical is- ergy” building by 2030? cially launched A. No, the 2030 Chal- by Architecture sues facing the Building Sector as it works lenge advocates for “car- 2030 in January buildings 2006, to bring energy con- bon-neutral” called in 2030, which is not to for all new sumption and greenhouse gas emissions be confused with “net- buildings and in this sector under zero energy” buildings. A major renovacarbon-neutral building tions to reduce control: 1. The need for a is defined to be a build- their fossil-fuel ing that uses no fossil fuel greenhouse gascommon goal.

2. The definition of greenhouse-gas-emitting emitting energy energy to operate. In con- consumption by 50 this goal.

3. A baseline to trast a net-zero energy percent immediatemeasure progress building must produce as ly, increasing this remuch energy on site as it duction to 60 percent against.

In a show of soli- consumes. in 2010, 70 percent darity and commitin 2015, 80 percent ment, these leaders in 2020, 90 percent adopted “The 2030 Challenge” tar- in 2025, and finally, that all new gets. buildings would be carbon neutral These original signers of the 2030 by the year 2030.

Challenge included the American “The building industry is coming Institute of Architects (AIA); U.S. together around the common goal Green Building Council (USGBC); of Architecture 2030’s targets for American Society of Heating, Re- reductions in energy use. The orfrigerating and Air-Conditioning ganizations and individuals in this Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture meeting need to reach out to the en2030 and about 20 other influencers. tire industry, encouraging them all

to work together in achieving these targets.” said R.K. Stewart, a former president of AIA. THE 2030 CHALLENGE All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be carbon-neutral by 2030.

Buildings are the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases.

Slowing the growth rate of greenhouse gas emissions and then reversing it is the key to addressing climate

change and keeping global average temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

To accomplish this, Architecture 2030 issued the 2030 Challenge asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets: All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel greenhouse gasemitting energy consumption performance standard of 70 percent below the regional (or country) average/median for that building type.

At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel energy performance standard of 70 percent of the regional (or country) average/median for that building type.

The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations shall be increased to: • 80 percent in 2020.

• 90 percent in 2025.

• Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel greenhouse gas-emitting energy to operate).

These targets may be accomplished by implementing innovative sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable power and/or purchasing (20 percent maximum) renewable energy.

THE IMPACT OF THE 2030 CHALLENGE According to the initiative’s website (architecture2030.org), the targets set out in the 2030 Challenge have been adopted and are being implemented by 80 percent of the top 10 and 65 percent of the top 20 architecture, engineering and planning firms in the U.S. In addition, the AIA, ASHRAE, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the federal government, and many other organizations and state and local governments and agencies have adopted the 2030 Challenge. In Canada, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Ontario Association of Architects and cities such as Vancouver have also adopted the Challenge targets.

Since 2006, the landscape for low-carbon building has been transformed, and building with sustainability and high-performance in mind has become the standard approach. Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings have gone from being prototypes and experiments to being widely built and, in the case of California, being the standard that will be adopted for new residential buildings in 2020 and commercial buildings in 2030.

Of course, this entire shift is not only due to the 2030 Challenge, but it has been key in helping focus the industry’s attention on the problem, and suggested a path to solving it.

Transform your bathrooms with automatic faucets, high-tech toilets and music (MS) — Technology is infiltrating systems have become the norm, but every room of the house. Many new what tech improvements are availhomebuyers are millennials, and this able to make the powder room more tech-savvy demographic covets tech- in touch with today’s digital lifestyle? nological innovations.

According to the home A recent survey Self-cleaning improvement resource

by Better Homes & The Spruce, bathrooms Gardens Real Estate toilets help busy have the most potential indicates 77 percent professionals save of any rooms to be imof Generation X and time and are ideal proved with technolY homebuyers want ogy. The following are for those who their homes equipped just some of the bathwith the tech capabili- always want their room gadgets and gizties they have grown bowls as clean as mos no one should reaccustomed to. Many possible. sist before giving a try. of these involve smart • Automatic faucets: innovations, including Infrared sensors have those that can transform one of the been helping keep public restrooms most private rooms in the house — more hygienic for years. The same the bathroom. technology can be used in home Automated home theater rooms bathrooms to curtail water waste and and Wi-Fi-enabled home security keep faucets and sinks from becom-

ing infested with germs. In addition, faucets with built-in timers can be programmed to set tasks for brushing

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teeth or washing your face.

• Musical shower: Instead of having to blast the volume on the porta-

ble speaker you use in the bathroom, a wireless speaker is built into some showerheads. This enables those who like to sing in the shower or listen to podcasts while washing up to enjoy this luxury effortlessly.

• Smarter weight management: Bathroom scales have gone hightech as well, with various options enabling users to measure weight, BMI and body fat percentage before sending the data wirelessly to a phone, tablet or computer. This can put you in greater control of fitness goals.

• High-tech toilets: Borrowing ideas from bidets and trends around the world, modern toilets do not require hands or paper. These toilets have temperature-controlled water, spritzing wands and air dryers to clean and sanitize. Self-cleaning toilets help busy professionals save time

and are ideal for those who always want their bowls as clean as possible.

And if you desire extra comfort, toilet seat warmers are available, while LED lights can make nighttime restroom visits easier.

• Soaking tubs: As fast as standalone showers were introduced to the modern bathroom, tubless designs have been replaced with streamlined soaking tubs. Tubs come with different features, including chromatherapy, which employs colored lights to enhance mood. Air baths are controlled electronically and provide different levels of sensation for those who are skipping the hot tub.

Round out these innovations with automated lights, chilled medicine cabinets and aromatherapy, and your bathroom will indeed become a technological spa.

PAGE 8C — Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018

What’s a green Realtor?

Ask John Snyder-White MIDDLEBURY — Champlain Valley Properties Realtor John Snyder-White was recently awarded the National Association of Realtors Green Designation, recognizing him as a professional who is specifically trained to help buyers or sellers with transfers of “green” properties.

The Addison Independent’s Christy Lynn spoke with Snyder-White to find out a little more about what that designation means and how it may offer additional benefits to his clients.

Addy Indy: What does this designation mean and how do you qualify?

Snyder-White: The Green Designation is a certification given by the National Association of Realtors to agents who are interested in green building, energy efficiency, community development and being a source of knowledge for others in the field. I am able to help clients find building professionals who specialize in green design, energy efficiency work and modern technology upgrades that help cut usage.

However, it doesn’t just have to do with energy usage. Part of being “green” also involves a property’s walkability, its access to public transportation, integrated “smart” technology and also any renewable resources that may be part of the system.

The architectural forms of architect Gregor Masefield’s passive home in Lincoln, as well as the original house in Middlebury village, are inspired by functional use and needed space. Masefield and the design teams looked critically at how each space in the homes would be used and designed the form to fit the functions required within. The cube shape with a flat roof reduces unnecessary conditioned space, finding “economy in the truth” of what is required for a comfortable home.

Photo: Susan Teare

Renovations can create healthier homes (MS) — Home renovation projects are done for several different reasons, whether to update styles, repair damaged or broken items or to achieve more living space. More than ever before, homeowners are choosing improvement projects geared toward making their homes healthier.

Establishing a healthy home means different things to different people.

For example, to an environmentalist, a healthy home may incorporate ecofriendly or green products. To those with young children or mobilityimpaired seniors, a healthy home may be one free from potential hazards. Others may view a healthy home as one that alleviates allergies.

The World Health Organizations says inadequate housing conditions, such as poor ventilation, radon, urban pollution, and moisture issues, can contribute to many preventable diseases and injuries — especially respiratory problems, nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air quality as a top five environmental risk to public health.

EPA studies have found that indoor air pollution levels were roughly two to five times greater than outdoor

pollution levels.

People interested in making their homes healthier can embrace these renovations and lifestyle changes.

BE AWARE OF FURNITURE MATERIALS Toxic PBDEs, which are chemicals used as flame retardants on furniture fabrics produced prior to 2006, can send toxins into the air. Some manufacturers may still use these flame retardants in new forms, but with similar risks. Before purchasing furniture, ask if a product is treated, and select naturally fire-resistant materials like wool and cotton.

LIGHTEN UP Lighting is often underappreciated but can have a dramatic impact on whether a home feels inviting, warm and/or uplifting. Experiment with different types of bulbs and lighting fixtures to turn drab and dreary environments into brighter places.

Lighting may improve mood and productivity.

LET THE SUN SHINE IN Modify window treatments to let more sunlight into the house. There is evidence that the sun, particularly UV light, is a potent bactericide. The Sunlight Institute advises that there’s no harm in letting natural sunlight do its work, as bacteria within eight

feet of low-intensity UV light can be killed in 10 minutes.

INSPECT AND SERVICE WOOD-BURNING APPLIANCES A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology has found regular inhalation of wood smoke limits immune activity and function, and anyone who burns wood indoors should be aware of these potential health risks. Ensuring proper ventilation of smoke and routinely cleaning the chimney can help cut down on particulate matter.

TURN TO NONTOXIC CLEANING PRODUCTS, PESTICIDES AND INSECTICIDES Always opt for nontoxic, natural products when cleaning in and around the house.

DECLUTTER THE HOME A cluttered, hectic space can affect emotions and mental state, never mind attracting dust and making a home harder to clean. Spending time in spaces that do not elicit stressful feelings is healthier and can help residents to rest and recharge.

Making a home healthier can be on the list of this year’s renovation plans.

Rain barrels help us conserve water (MS) — Rain barrels provide an eco-friendly opportunity to repurpose rainwater while helping homeowners conserve water and save money. But homeowners must exercise caution when using rain barrels in their lawns and gardens. Water collected by rainwater should never be used for drinking, cooking or bathing. Pet owners should know that water collected by rain barrels also should not be used to bathe pets.

Rain barrel lids should also be tightly secured to prevent mosquito infesta-

tions. Secure rain barrels to also protect children and pets from falling in. Overflow valves should always direct water away from structures to prevent water damage to homes or sheds. In addition, to reduce risk of falls and injury, homeowners should be certain that water is not directed toward sidewalks, driveways or other areas where foot traffic is common. Before the arrival of winter, homeowners should disconnect their rain barrels from downspouts to prevent the formation of ice.

Addy Indy: What particular training did you go through in order to achieve this designation and why was Champlain Valley Properties interested in having you designated?

Snyder-White: First, I am a Realtor and member of the National Association of Realtors, which is required in order to obtain this designation. I did also complete 12 hours of related coursework and have attended a number of conferences related to green and renewable energy. Mostly, I’m just interested in energy efficiency and think it’s an important factor to consider when purchasing a home, so I wanted to pursue this independently.

On my own I have attended different events and met builders and contractors and other professionals around the state who specialize in green building and energy efficiency. This database of resources helps me be able to recommend experts to clients who are looking to improve their property’s energy efficiency before or after a sale.

Having a Realtor on staff at Champlain Valley Properties with the Green Designation does have benefits as I can be a “source of the source” for other agents as well as clients who may not have as many of these contacts for service providers and resources.

Addy Indy: Do you have a special interest in “green” technology and “green” buildings?

Snyder-White: Yes. For me, considering the energy efficiency of a home does match my personal ethics, but I also just think it makes practical sense.

Many buyers are conscious about spending and energy bills can be very high. Having a clear understanding of the energy usage of a home before you buy or sell can help set expectations or plans for upgrades and maintenance going forward.

I also really like tech and find it very interesting to help people understand how modern technology and tools can help reduce energy usage and cost without a lot of effort. Things like smart thermostats and lights can help older housing stock perform to higher and more modern standards of efficiency.

I love how technology is constantly changing and there are always new tools to help clients understand and utilize that make their homes more efficient. A “smart home” may seem intimidating to a buyer, so it can be helpful to have an agent guide that person along the way, starting slowly and introducing new technology once they’re ready to take on something new. That can help make it feel more reasonable to consider purchasing an older home and working through a renovation project to upgrade the insulation and performance and introduce some more modern technology to help it perform at a reasonable level.

Addy Indy: Do you think the real estate industry is appropriately responding to new green developments in the building trades? Are house prices and values reflecting the energy demands and efficiency standards of the property?

Snyder-White: Yes, I think the real estate market has done a lot of work to stay in touch with new developments in energy efficiency. The local MLS (multiple listing service) has done a lot to re-evaluate properties with efficient designs and has offered new search criteria to help limit results to those that

meet certain “green” standards.

There are some parts of the equation that are a little slow to recalibrate for these highperforming homes.

For example, some of the banks and appraisers just don’t h a v e t h e John Snyder-White comparables yet to be able to understand how a net zero house should be appraised or what differences in the lending profile can be expected considering the low or non-existing utility bills for those homeowners.

But it’s getting better and better and hopefully as more properties upgrade and are bought and sold the capacity to perform an appropriate CMA (or comparable market analysis) will come with it.

Addy Indy: How much do you see current buyers paying attention to the energy efficiency of a property and how do those features stack up to other things on their list?

Snyder-White: Buyers are definitely looking at cost, so energy usage and projected costs are definitely important. People are starting to really understand that a home with greater energy efficiency, better insulation and newer tech features might cost more upfront because those building materials are expensive, but they see that their bills going forward could be much lower than a cheaper home that leaks and will cost a lot to heat and maintain.

That’s encouraging because it means people are willing to look at the cost of a home over a longer period of time, considering the ongoing costs as well as the upfront costs. Green homes cost a lot less to heat and operate, which often equalizes over 10 or 20 years, even if the upfront cost is significantly higher.

Having this longer-term vision can also encourage buyers looking at older homes to consider renovation projects along with the purchase of the house.

Even if they just plan to chip away at those projects one-by-one over a long period of time, each one will help them gain more efficiency.

I think it’s really neat that people can do something really active to affect the operation and functionality of their home. New tech allows people to get more involved in how their home is performing and you can get apps and devices that help control temperature, humidity and pressure of the climate as well as do things like turn on outside lights before you’re going to come home in the dark of winter.

That’s pretty cool and I like being able to introduce these things to people.

Addy Indy: Are you seeing more people interested in moving into town centers and living in tighter communities, or are is there still a great value placed on the 5-acre private lot in the country?

Snyder-White: Certainly there are still a lot of people who want the privacy and space of their own.

That’s especially common among people who are moving to Vermont from more urban areas and are trying to get out of the bustle of a condensed life.

However, we are seeing a lot of people who want the ease and enjoy the practical benefits of living in town centers. There’s a growing population that values the walkability and “green” nature of living where you don’t have to commute.

Addy Indy: What kind of home do you live in? If you could buy a home, what would you look for?

Snyder-White: I am currently renting an old and somewhat drafty house, but I have done what I can with LED lights and a smart light in the bedroom.

If I could buy a home I would look for an older home with great character and I would try to add insulation to get the heating bills very low and rehab it as much as possible to bring it up to higher energy standards. I would want smart thermostats and would consider a solar installation.

Walkability is very important to me because I like having access to the community without having to rely on my own transportation.

That said, I recently went down to look at the Vermods and while I’m not sure they’re for me, they are pretty cool too.

Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018 — PAGE 9C

Inspiration It’s about calculating the specific (Continued from Page 5C) the Quakers, who designed with heating, cooling, insulating and an utterly practical, purposeful circulation capacities of every aesthetic. Rather than design single material and pairing them a home to look a certain way, together for maximum gain. It’s the Quakers designed spaces to an extremely rigorous protocol function in the ways they needed to make the scientific side of a and wanted to live. In this process Passive House work.

Of course, as the we attempted to architect, I wanted find economies through the truth “When the realities to make the aesthetic and honesty about of the global energy and environmental side work as well. how we need to market come to One of the joys of function. We didn’t roost, we’re going this whole discipline design the space like is that function and the Quakers, but we to inevitably turn design don’t ever thought like they to these types of totally agree. That’s thought about the properties and our job to figure out. design. be glad for the We went cubic PASSIVE HOUSE in form to see if Passive House examples that they there was economy was kind of new to offer. The days to be found in the me when I started of 2x4s and pink truth of the true this, but I really demands on the jumped in and insulation need to space. The envelope have become a real be behind us.” advocate. I went — Gregor Masefield of the house was so robust that we and got certified could rely on a as a Passive House consultant and started learning small mechanical space that was about some of the really technical situated with the stairwell in the components of design and center of the house. The main materials. A lot of the people living spaces each have two who are doing this are really windows for cross ventilation. engineers who LOVE the science We didn’t go for lavish master of building materials and how bedrooms and master baths, to maximize their performance. but chose a modest layout for

modest needs. The aesthetic was largely driven by commitments to honesty about what we need to achieve maximum functionality.

The flat roof is a good example as a way to eliminate wasted space and drive the performance of each zone while saving on cost at the same time.

One of the most critical elements to a Passive House design is solar access. This site was slightly tricky because there is some obstruction to the solar path, but we were able to site it in a way that would capture the most sunlight during critical times. Windows and doors are also important components, as they break the thermal envelope of the house and require careful detailing and the most innovative designs available. Unfortunately U.S. manufacturers don’t offer windows and doors that are high enough performance for Passive House, so we worked with a company out of Lithuania and there are some inherent challenges with that. However, the R-value of glass is about 11, which is much higher than it is in a typical window (single pane windows have an R-value of about 1; double pane are typically around 2; triple pane windows are typically around 3).

The interior of architect Gregor Masefield’s passive solar home in Lincoln features a modern and uncluttered open layout and exposed materials. Masefield’s family has been living in their passive solar home for nearly two years and he and his family say they have “no regrets” about the lifestyle transition.

Photo: Susan Teare

The ERV (energy ventilation) system humidity to keep

recovery manages relative

Masefield’s home was inspired by the passive house prototype he completed in the fall of 2016 in downtown Middlebury. Having grown up in a stone farmhouse and being an architect who has worked on many different types of homes, Masefield’s choice to construct and move his family into a passive solar home in Lincoln speaks to his belief in the resiliency inherent in this building style.

Photo: Susan Teare

humidity in the 40s, and prevents condensation from forming. That in turn keeps comfort way higher in a Passive House and issues with mold and mildew from becoming a factor.

SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT I believe the success of this project will continue to be exposed indefinitely. I know the high performance home program at Efficiency Vermont is growing leaps and bounds. Nationally and statewide there are a lot of goals for high performance and net zero. Building codes and high performance standards globally are looking to Passive House for standards. But right now it’s a little hard to see. There’s a big resistance to this type of building stock because it challenges everything else on the market and the ways people are used to living. These properties are resilient and independent of the reliance upon gas and oil and other market-based commodities.

There is really a global trend toward this, but you may not know it in the U.S. because there’s such

high subsidies for energy. When the realities of the global energy market come to roost, we’re going to inevitably turn to these types of properties and be glad for the examples that they offer. The days of 2x4s and pink insulation need to be behind us. What you have to recognize when you buy the existing housing stock, is that you’re buying an agreement to deal with the outdated, rotten, toxic, leaky and deferred issues. With new and modern homes like this there’s a durability and resiliency that is hard to achieve with old homes.

THE SECOND TAKE My wife and I were enamored enough with this project that we built a second cousin to the Middlebury Passive House in Lincoln and moved in almost two years ago. We don’t have any regrets.

I believe that what we need to promote is a new way of thinking and an openness that will breathe life into our ways of living. Passive house and net zero and high performance homes are definitely on the road to getting there.

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PAGE 10C — Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018

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Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018 — PAGE 11C

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PAGE 12C — Home • Addison Independent, Thursday, March 22, 2018

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