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Princeton High Performance Home

    • Kirsten Thoft Architect built this 2,884-square-foot custom home in Princeton, New Jersey, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
    • The solar-ready home is expected to save homeowners $2,300 per year compared to a home built to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code.
    • ENERGY STAR appliances, LED lighting, and water-saving plumbing fixtures add to energy and water savings in the efficient home.
    • VOC-free paints and floor finishes and formaldehyde-free cabinetry are among the EPA Indoor airPLUS features that contribute to cleaner air in the home, along with a continuously operating energy recovery ventilation system.
    • Hot water is supplied by a 96% efficient tankless gas water heater that is centrally located in a second-floor utility closet to reduce wait times for hot water. EPA WaterSense-labeled fixtures further reduce water usage.
    • All of the home's light fixtures are equipped with LED bulbs including the ENERGY STAR-rated ceiling fan.
    • The double-paned, argon-filled, fiberglass- and wood-framed windows have low-emissivity coatings that slow heat transmission but allow in sunlight for daylighting in nearly every room in the house.
    • Two 96% efficient gas-fired furnaces and a 16 SEER air conditioner condition the three-floor home. All of the ductwork is in conditioned space.
    • The unvented attic is insulated along the underside of the roof deck with 7 inches (R-49) of closed-cell spray foam, providing vaulted ceilings and a conditioned knee wall space for ducting. The advance framed 2-by-6, 24-inch on-center framed walls are filled with 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam plus 3.5 inches of fiberglass batt for an R-27 total.
    • The home is sheathed with a coated OSB product. When the seams are taped, this sheathing takes the place of house wrap to serve as a weather-resistant barrier and air barrier.

      Princeton High Performance Home

      Project Address

      Princeton, NJ

      Conditioned Square Footage
      2,884 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      5 Beds
      Number of Bathrooms
      4.5 Baths
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      3 Floors Above Grade
      Home Type
      Custom
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Cold
      Climate Zone Humidity
      Humid

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      50HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $160Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $2,350Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $115,90030 Year Savings (PV)

      Kirsten Thoft Architect

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Honorable Mention

      Learn More

      Key Features

      Key Features
      Compact (core) plumbing design Energy / Heat recovery ventilator Electric Vehicle Charger Installed or Wired for Charger Unvented insulated attic ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25

      Testimonials

      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      Another measure [of success] which is critical for my business is reputation, and by that criteria, the project was a tremendous success. I [now] have the reputation of producing high-quality, high-performance projects for a reasonable budget. It's hard to beat that.
      Testimony Citation
      Kirsten Thoft, Architect

      Additional Media

      Finished Elevations

        Finished Interiors

          Under Construction

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            Floor Plan