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FHB House is energy-smart, connected, healthy and durable. It's small and sensible. Most of all, it’s the industry's most powerful home for educating designers and builders who aspire to create high-performance houses that are exceptional in their quality, comfort and style.

Join us for California 2018

Follow along as Mela Breen and David Good of Atmosphere Design Build build a net-zero energy, high-performance house that will meet the goals of the California 2020 initiative and comply with the most progressing energy code in the country.

California 2018 Videos

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FHB House Video: The Building Envelope

To build this resilient, durable, high-performance house, the team began with a unique foundation and a framing plan optimized for insulation.
FHB House Video: Introducing California 2018

The 2018 Fine Homebuilding House takes on some of the country’s most demanding zero-net-energy codes.
FHB House 2017: Design

The modified Cape / Farmhouse look fits the neighborhood, appealing to scale-downers and young families.

California 2018 Features

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FHB House Foundation in pictures

A distinctive, elevated foundation combines a metal pan deck and a traditionally formed and poured basement.
Framing the First Floor Over the Pan Deck

The penalty for a durable elevated slab is a time-consuming framed floor assembly
On the Way to Net Zero

Renewables are part of the strategy, but conservation comes first

Framing With Engineered Lumber

Second-floor framing and the kitchen and living-room lid.
Framing Shear Walls on the Slab

A mix of sole plate heights and wall heights adds some complexity.
Forming the Elevated Slab and Curbs

How can we form a monolithic slab with stem walls?