Highland.
Our current project, Highland Street, is a total reimagination of a classic late 19th century Victorian farmhouse. Retaining the well-proportioned and attractive main 1897 house, we will remove a 1960s-era wing and replace it with larger and more appropriate living spaces in the New England farmhouse vernacular. The detached vintage garage/barn will be removed and a new three-car garage with living space above will be added. The shallow rubble-wall basement will be excavated and finished to provide additional living space and improve the home’s efficiency.
The house will be modernized using best-practice building science principals to include a super-insulated exterior envelope, high-efficiency heating, air-conditioning, and hot water systems, a mechanical ventilation system, low-consumption water fixtures, and high-performance windows and doors. Careful landscape design with natural and adapted plants will reduce irrigation demand and maintenance.
This project is registered for LEED® certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. A home can achieve LEED certification under the LEED for Homes program after undergoing a technically rigorous process, including the incorporation of green strategies to achieve efficiency and healthy indoor environments. The sound design and operation of the home is tested and measured using tools like a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections.
In addition, this project has been designed to meet the strict standards of the EPA ENERGY STAR® Program, the EPA Indoor airPLUS Program, and the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program, and will be submitted for certification in each program upon completion.
