Knickerbocker Cottage Homes

We have added a link, "Cottage Home Designs", with information on the four green Cottage Homes that were presented at the Energy Expo in April: Crow's Nest, Northwind, Sonne Ledge and Windance Farm. Our primary design goal for each Cottage Home is to blend the qualities of a classic Maine cottage with state-of-the-art technologies in order to achieve sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy homes that can also be affordably constructed. Our ultimate goal is to offer these plans for sale to the public, in an effort to take the guess-work out of a building an affordable green home and encourage more mainstream use of green construction techniques.

By using simple classic Maine forms and efficient construction techniques, the Cottage Homes are cost-effective to build while still offering the quality of construction that signifies a Knickerbocker home. Heating systems, air sealing and insulation techniques are considered in a “whole home” approach that minimizes energy usage and heat loss while maximizing healthy indoor air quality. While each of the four Cottage Home designs are unique, they all share the following features and benefits:

Advanced design techniques	Maximizes efficient space while minimizing circulation space Use of open floor plan with flexible spaces to support multiple uses
Advanced construction techniques	Efficient framing techniques (e.g., alignment of rafters/studs, trusses, 2-stud corners) Reduces amount of wood and improves energy efficiency Minimizes waste
Steeply pitched roof, no dormers	Traditional Maine architectural elements Maximizes solar panel efficiency Simple and efficient framing
Narrow home width set lengthwise on east-west axis	Best roof orientation for solar panels Maximizes southerly exposure and solar gain in living spaces Lends itself easily to modular construction Open plan and long views increase sense of spaciousness
Living spaces with large windows on south side	Abundant natural light in all living spaces Passive solar heating “Brise soleil” can be used to control winter/summer sun exposure Use of high performance glazing
Utility spaces with minimal glazing on north side	Physical separation between public spaces (street) and living spaces Appropriate usage of smaller and fewer windows on north side Windows promote natural interior air circulation by taking advantage of prevailing wind patterns
Masonry heater with granite/ soapstone surround	Super-efficient European style masonry heater Can heat a 1,500 - 2,000 s.f. home Heart of the home – thermal mass radiates heat from a central location
Super-tight, super-insulated building envelope	Use of technologically advanced air sealing and insulation techniques “Energy audit” testing assures that all homes meet ASHRAE standards
High efficiency primary and/or secondary heat sources	Propane or oil high efficiency boiler w/radiant heat as primary heat source Geothermal, active & passive solar &/or masonry heater as secondary heat source
Mechanical ventilation	Energy-efficient energy recovery ventilator (ERV) heats and humidifies fresh, ventilated air Ensures proper indoor air quality Balances air pressure in a tightly built home
Exterior finishes	Traditional Maine architectural elements: cedar shingles, board & batten, and cement board siding, metal roofing Locally harvested & milled lumber Environmentally friendly product choices
Interior finishes	Environmentally friendly product choices
Site / landscaping	Plan can be adapted to a variety of sites Thoughtful site selection minimizes impact of clearing and grading Use of native species and environmentally-friendly products in landscape gardens
Reuse / Recycle	Use of reclaimed lumber from site as columns or other architectural features Recycle at least 75% of waste Gray water system for water conservation

We will continue to add new information and details as the Cottage Home designs progress. Please feel free to share your comments or suggestions!

Midcoast Sustainable Energy Expo

As a follow-up to all of you who attended the Midcoast Sustainable Energy Expo, we wanted to say thank you for stopping by our booth and sharing your comments. We had wonderful conversations with so many of you and were pleased with all of the energy and excitement for the green home design concepts. These green homes are truly 'on the drawing board' and so it is very helpful to receive comments and suggestions at such an early stage so that the final product will be even better! We are hoping the design phase can continue to be interactive and we will send out periodic updates as we make progress or gain new information. Please feel free to post comments to this blog or email me directly if you have any questions at: dbetts@knickerbockergroup.com.

Thanks again for your interest and support!

Photographs from the Midcoast Sustainable Energy Expo at the Damariscotta YMCA, April 18 and 19, 2008:

b.green talk, April 8: Geothermal Energy

People are sometimes surprised to learn that geothermal or “ground heat” energy is available in Maine as a low cost energy source for heating and cooling. In fact, Maine’s subsurface rock structure is uniquely suited for very low cost heating from geothermal sources.

In Maine, the most convenient form of ground coupling uses a well, which may also be the well providing domestic water to the residence. This dual use of the same well significantly reduces the installation cost of the geothermal system. With existing domestic wells, both new construction and geothermal retrofits may have already paid for half of their heating systems, right there in their own back yards.

Geothermal systems also have much lower operating costs (as low as 1/4 to 1/8 the cost of traditional oil and propane heating sources, respectively), giving a quick payback on the investment. As the cost of fossil fuel will undoubtedly continue to rise, this payback time will decrease even further.

Please join us at the April 8th b.green talk to learn why new geothermal system deployment in Maine has been growing at a rate of over 30% per year. Dr. John Logan, Regional Director for Water Energy Distributors, Inc., will discuss the costs-benefits of a geothermal system as an environmentally-friendly energy recycling heat source for today’s homes.

Knickerbocker Group would like to invite homeowners, builders, architects, designers, mechanical contractors, and all others interested in learning more about geothermal energy systems. The event is free to the community and light snacks will be provided. The presentation will be held on Tuesday April 8th in the bar room at the Opera House, from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. followed by a social hour from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Please contact Danielle Betts at the Knickerbocker Group for more information: 633-6563 or dbetts@knickerbockergroup.com.

b.green talk, March 11: Emerging Trends in Green Building Products

Sifting through the latest green building products is not an easy task! The last few years have seen a tremendous rise in the availability, diversity and affordability of environmentally friendly products and materials. The challenge is narrowing that search to find sustainable products that have both excellent performance and reasonable, competitive prices.

Join us at the March b.green talk to learn about some of today’s most innovative and cost-effective building materials from one of Maine’s top green building suppliers. Don Skeffington, of Maine Green Building Supply, will present an overview of new products, from UltraTouch recycled cotton textile insulation, Paperstone (a recycled paper countertop material), to Apricus Solar Hot Water Systems and Hallowell Acadia All Climate heating and cooling systems. This will be a hands-on meeting with several products and mock-ups available for review and discussion. Don will also highlight the State and Federal Tax Incentive programs and provide a guide for easily accessing and applying for these incentives. This will be an open forum, with ample opportunity for questions and discussion.

Knickerbocker Group would like to invite homeowners, builders, architects, designers, mechanical contractors, and all others interested in learning more about sustainable building. The event is free to the community and light snacks will be provided. The presentation will be held on Tuesday March 11th in the bar room at the Opera House, from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. followed by a social hour from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Please contact Danielle Betts at the Knickerbocker Group for more information: 633-6563 or dbetts@knickerbockergroup.com