Sugar Cube 1469

Plan Overview

This two-bedroom daylight basement home was designed for a narrow lot that was facing almost 45 degrees from the north-south axis. Instead of getting expensive with an unusual roof plan, we elected to use a hipped roof, with the largest side facing southwest. This allows PV panels to be installed on both the southeast and southwest faces of the roof.  Because of the morning fog common in this area, very little solar production is lost with this configuration. With just 4.4 KW of PV, this home is now below net-zero-energy. There is room on the roof for an additional 1.8KW, which would power an electric car for about 7,000 miles per year!

The daylight basement features ICF construction, with a workshop and one-car garage. Depending on your location, these areas could become extra living space, boosting this home up to almost 2,000 square feet, and adding up to two more bedrooms. This home earned a 2012 Silver level Energy Value Housing Award from the US Department of Energy and the NAHB Research center for its outstanding energy efficiency. In it’s first year of operation, it has out-performed its HERS rating by more than twenty points. Our Sugar Cube 1469  home has now earned the distinction of a Positive NRG™ Home!