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California 2018

The 2018 FHB House is a net-zero energy, high-performance home in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills designed to meet the goals of the California 2020 initiative and comply with the most progressive energy code in the country. The project combines a very tight, well-insulated envelope, cutting-edge mechanical systems, and unique material choices, all wrapped up in a one-of-a-kind modern design.

Design

Fine Homebuilding House 2018 Coming Soon!

This net-zero energy, high-performance house will meet the goals of the California 2020 initiative and comply with the most progressive energy code in the country.

By Sean Groom

Online coverage of the Fine Homebuilding House 2018 begins at the end of April. Previously called the ProHome, the Fine Homebuilding House series covers the best practices of design and construction by offering an in-depth look at the build process of a custom, high-performance house.

The 2018 project weds high design with high performance in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills. Follow along as our project partners, Mela Breen and David Good of Atmosphere Design Build, make this photo-realistic rendering reality.

Their net-zero energy, high-performance house will meet the goals of the California 2020 initiative and comply with the most progressive energy code in the country. To do this, they are building a very tight, well-insulated envelope. And while the house is high performance, their construction methods are straightforward. Mela and David’s article and blog coverage of the build, will show a wall assembly with interior and exterior insulation that reduces thermal bridging, limits air infiltration, and is vapor open. This arrangement of elements works in any orientation, so they’re able to replicate the same assembly on the roof and for the floor with only slight modification. This structure isn’t just about energy performance, though. Along the way, you’ll see how the house has been engineered to resist seismic forces and how the exterior details have been selected to resist the wildfires common to the region.

Mela and David will also be discussing their design approach to creating a stylish and comfortable modern house. Details include the creation of an outdoor living space to take advantage of the warm sunny months and their strategy to place a 2,400-sq.-ft. house lightly on a steeply sloped lot without distracting from the views of the surrounding landscape. If the countless articles, blog posts, and images coming out of the project aren’t enough to satisfy our instructional needs, be sure to keep an eye out for Fine Homebuilding video episodes teaching you the “what” and the “why” behind every phase of the project.

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California 2018 Videos

Navigate the Build

  • Introduction
  • Foundation
  • Framing
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  • Roof
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View Comments

  1. Andy_S | May 14, 2018 12:43pm | #1

    With all due respect ChristineJTucker, ...Duh. Of course occupant behavior will impact energy use but building a more efficient environment mitigates the impact of even frivolous behavior. Leave the lights on all night? Compare the impact of leaving a few LEDs on vs halogens or incandescents.
    Want to heat the home to 80 all winter? Compare the impact of a tight well insulated home to a leaky 2x4 wall house.
    The whole point of building these efficient homes is that we can still get the freedom to live as we want without squandering what's left of our resources.

  2. User avater
    AliceGPopa | May 23, 2018 05:44am | #2

    Excellent work you done here!

  3. User avater
    WilliamAHeenan | Jun 22, 2018 05:40am | #3

    Thanks for sharing this. Well done!!

  4. User avater
    AllisonJMurray | Jun 26, 2018 06:28am | #4

    Keep it up. Really like this.

  5. User avater
    AllisonJMurray | Jun 26, 2018 06:29am | #5

    Keep it up!! Thanks for sharing this.

  6. User avater
    KeliDSims | Jul 02, 2018 02:48am | #6

    Beautiful House.

  7. RussMill | Jul 05, 2018 10:39am | #7

    Why no updates, july now...??

  8. User avater
    LucyRHarmon | Jul 06, 2018 06:55am | #8

    Good work. keep it up!

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More California 2018

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