Skyview

We were approached in 2005 about designing a net-zero home for these clients, which sounded like an incredible opportunity and challenge. Skyview was our first of now many net-zero projects. We were new to building science and still learning, as was the building industry. The understanding of how to make a house air tight and ventilated right at this time was unknown and we were relying heavily on extra insulation and extra solar panels to achieve net-zero. This home features a Trombe wall with wood stove fuel sources instead of the traditional solar Trombe wall design for added heat in the winter months. We spent a lot of time looking at passive solar design strategies to make sure we were shaded in the summer and solar-heated in the winter. Our clients used convection cooling in the summer to cool the house, opening windows upstairs to draw warm air out of the house, and one of their favorite technologies, a convection cooktop – which at the time was a cutting edge technology. The home was such a success and the number of grandkids have grown so much that they are building the same design (with some additions, including a basement) close by and again going for net-zero. Stay tuned for Skyview 2 in the portfolio in the future.