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Shenandoah Circle

    • Mantell-Hecathorn Builders built this 3,841-square-foot home in Durango, Colorado, to the performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
    • The two-story home plus finished basement is expected to save its homeowners $5,500 a year in energy costs compared to a home built to the 2003 International Residential Code.
    • The home has ultra-efficient, triple-pane, aluminum-clad, wood-framed windows that have an advanced technology coating to minimize heat loss.
    • All of the home's appliances are ENERGY STAR rated for energy and water savings. To help ensure air quality, the home meets the criteria of the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program including cabinets, finishes, and paints certified low-VOC, no-added-urea-formaldehyde, and nontoxic glues and mastics. An energy recovery ventilator ducted separately from the furnace is operated continuously for a month prior to occupancy to help remove any residual contaminants from construction.
    • A hot water recirculation system with occupant controls speeds water from the high-efficiency storage water heater to faucets to reduce wasted water down the drain waiting for hot water and to improve the hot water heating efficiency.
    • All of the bathroom fixtures are EPA WaterSense rated for water savings.
    • A vapor barrier separates the footing from the insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation walls to keep unwanted ground moisture from entering the home.
    • ICF blocks stack and stay in place, creating the insulating “form” for the poured concrete below-grade foundation walls and wrapping the basement in a continuous blanket of R-22 insulation.
    • Under the 4-inch poured concrete slab, the builders installed 8 inches of crushed rock into which a perforated passive radon venting pipe had been installed. Over the rock, they laid a 15-mil vapor barrier and 4 inches (R-20) of rigid foam to prevent cold floors in winter.
    • The home incorporates lumber-saving advanced framing techniques that allow more space in the walls for the blown fiberglass insulation and eliminate wasted wood. Techniques include 2-by-6 studs placed 24-inch rather than 16-inch on center, 2-stud rather than 3-stud corners, and ladder blocking that provides space for insulation at intersecting walls.

      Shenandoah Circle

      Project Address

      Durango, CO

      Conditioned Square Footage
      3,841 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      4 Beds
      Number of Bathrooms
      4.0 Baths
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      2 Floors Above Grade
      Home Type
      Custom
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Cold
      Climate Zone Humidity
      Dry

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      21HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $140Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $5,500Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $307,00030 Year Savings (PV)

      Mantell-Hecathorn Builders Inc.

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Winner
      HIA Category
      Housing Innovation Award

      Learn More

      Key Features

      Key Features
      Energy / Heat recovery ventilator Electric Vehicle Charger Installed or Wired for Charger Insulated concrete form (ICF) walls and/or foundation Photovoltaics Raised-heel trusses Triple-pane windows ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25 Double Walls Hot Water Recirculation Pump

      Additional Details

      Additional Details
      Basement

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      Testimonials

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      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      We wanted to have a very well-built, energy-efficient home for our new residence in the mountains of Durango, Colorado. Our electric bills have been zero (we actually have a net credit due to our photovoltaic system). The cost of propane to heat the house … has only been about $350 from July through May! Pretty remarkable for a 3,800-square-foot home in this climate!
      Testimony Citation
      Homeowner

      Additional Media

      Finished Elevations

        Finished Interiors

          Under Construction

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            Other Images

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              Floor Plan