Eco Architecture

Today we’re going to take a look at a sustainable green home being completed on Brown’s Island between Charleston and Beaufort, SC.

The Crosby Residence is a contemporary dogtrot with a large outdoor living space and a pool.

 

Frederick + Frederick Architects had the objectives in designing this variation of a Southern style home into a contemporary “Dog Trot” home. (According to Wikipedia, “A dogtrot house historically consisted of two log cabins with a breezeway or dogtrot between them under a common roof. “)

Green Strategies Some of the Crosby’s Green Strategies include, sun angles and prevailing breezes. An overhang on the south side blocks the noon sun from March until September and lets the sun warm the interior the cooler months. This strategy takes advantage of the solar rhythm which saves heating and cooling costs and more importantly connects the Crosby’s to the great view.

The north side has windows and dormers to allow cross ventilation and glare free daylight to pour in year around.

The open center dogtrot is naturally cooled and on hot days when there seems to be no breeze this space is comfortable without mechanical air conditioners. In this house the foyer is a dogtrot and doubles as a living space overlooking the pool. The interior living areas are one room wide which gives them great cross ventilation and plenty electricity saving daylight.

By sealing and conditioning the attics and crawl spaces, they have an energy savings of about 30%. Mold is a common lowcountry indoor air contaminate, which is often caused by condensation where plumbing pipes and ductwork penetrate from hot humid crawl spaces and attics to dehumidified cool inside air.  Additional methods to improve the air quality included no VOC paint, formaldehyde free cabinetry, and a fresh air supply unit incorporated into the heating and air conditioning system.

All the hot water is generated as it is needed with L.P. gas instantaneous heaters. Traditional tanks would have wasted energy by keeping water hot 24/7 as well as increasing the cooling load for the AC units. A reflective “cool roof” paint using soft brown tones is used on the metal roof to save energy.

 

Combing high tech air conditioning, lighting, construction methods and local indigenous building materials create a healthy environment that will connect the Crosbys to the wonderful lowcountry environment.

Coordinates:

Frederick & Frederick Architects 

 

  

Comments

[Home Inspector Tampa FL]

Good work indeed...arkitechture should be done in such a way that the house is saved from molds and other problems.

[Nyc Mold Inspections]

Great job...there are people preaching about the co friendly environment etc...good that you have put tat to work.

[Outdoor Garden Lighting]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing designs.I like it.these are such a wonderful design.I am very much appreciate with the use of the solar power,it will save the money and the electricity.

[Christian Louboutin Platforms]

Um. I find your first declaration a bit.. not as friendly as we've come to know you. I am trusting that the revised site will be just as exciting as, if not more than, the existing one.

[Richard Boles]

Great points about the sealing the crawl points in attics. In addition, attic ventilation also helps protect your roofing structure, along with your roof shingles.