Review for Blue Ridge Energy Systems
Blue Ridge Energy Systems not only designed my LEED certified, net zero carbon emission home, but with their vast knowledge of materials and building science, they are constructing a building that will be easy to maintain, low cost to operate, comfortable to live in, and durable for years long after I am gone.
The incredible modern architectural design of the sawtooth roof and butterfly roof was a direct response to my desire to have one-level living along with the benefits of passive solar and photovoltaics. The house sits on the north-south axis so that the south facing clerestory windows will provide daylight in every room as well as the passive solar heating during the winter. The butterfly roof on the north end of the home is also south facing and designed for 10kW of photovoltaics which will generate more electricity than the house will use.
Other energy/environmental features include: geothermal heating, heat pump water heater, heat recovery ventilator (HRV), triple pane windows, highly reflective standing seam metal roof, reduced number of windows on the east-west axis, retention pond for all stormwater catchment from roof and driveway,double insulated footings to prevent thermal bridging in concrete floors, low flow faucets and toilets, energy star appliances, and only LED and CFL lighting throughout the house.
BRES drew the blueprints (that's a huge cost savings when you don't have to hire an architect and a general contractor) and the BRES crew does all the work except for the stucco and the HVAC installation, This means very high quality control from start to finish and only one place to go for any problem solving. This one-stop shopping is very rare in today's fragmented building industry where subs do most of the work and the homeowner doesn't know who the workers are nor is certain that the general contractor is overseeing the work on any regularity.
BRES provides a written homeowners manual for operating the home. Would you buy a car without an owner's manual? How many times have you gotten a manual when you bought a home?! BRES is indeed FULL SERVICE from design, construction, and education for the homeowner.
We are still under construction so the photos I can submit are only those in process. I have included two photos of the scale model that BRES made. The project completion date is November, 2013. Please read my blog about the building process at
http://blueridgeenergysystems.com/bres-building-blog/
The incredible modern architectural design of the sawtooth roof and butterfly roof was a direct response to my desire to have one-level living along with the benefits of passive solar and photovoltaics. The house sits on the north-south axis so that the south facing clerestory windows will provide daylight in every room as well as the passive solar heating during the winter. The butterfly roof on the north end of the home is also south facing and designed for 10kW of photovoltaics which will generate more electricity than the house will use.
Other energy/environmental features include: geothermal heating, heat pump water heater, heat recovery ventilator (HRV), triple pane windows, highly reflective standing seam metal roof, reduced number of windows on the east-west axis, retention pond for all stormwater catchment from roof and driveway,double insulated footings to prevent thermal bridging in concrete floors, low flow faucets and toilets, energy star appliances, and only LED and CFL lighting throughout the house.
BRES drew the blueprints (that's a huge cost savings when you don't have to hire an architect and a general contractor) and the BRES crew does all the work except for the stucco and the HVAC installation, This means very high quality control from start to finish and only one place to go for any problem solving. This one-stop shopping is very rare in today's fragmented building industry where subs do most of the work and the homeowner doesn't know who the workers are nor is certain that the general contractor is overseeing the work on any regularity.
BRES provides a written homeowners manual for operating the home. Would you buy a car without an owner's manual? How many times have you gotten a manual when you bought a home?! BRES is indeed FULL SERVICE from design, construction, and education for the homeowner.
We are still under construction so the photos I can submit are only those in process. I have included two photos of the scale model that BRES made. The project completion date is November, 2013. Please read my blog about the building process at
http://blueridgeenergysystems.com/bres-building-blog/
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