LEED Strategies
LEED Platinum Home
Unity House, in Unity, Maine, pictured at left, earned the highest rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system.
Energy Star Rated Home
- Exceeds ENERGY STAR for Homes with a HERS rating of 24.
Insulation
- Whole wall R-value of 40 or greater
- Whole roof R-value of 60 or greater
- Under slab insulation with R-value of 20 or greater
High Performance Windows & Doors
- Optimize energy performance of glazing systems
- Whole window R-value of 5 or greater
- Triple-glazed Loewen windows.
Daylighting for Energy Efficiency
- Clerestory windows with high transmissivity
- Light on 2 sides of every living space
Cooling
- Operable windows and sliding doors with screens for cross ventilation
- Thermal mass in concrete slab keeps home cool in summer
Heating
- Passive solar heating
- Cold climate air source heat pump with electrical backup.
Water Heating
- Solar Domestic Hot Water
Refrigerant Management
- Non-ozone depleting refrigerant R410A
Mechanical System
The Unity Collection™ is heated with a Hallowell cold climate heat pump with COP of 2 or greater at -15F and 3.5 at 47F. This type of heat pump is chosen over a geothermal heat pump because of its affordability and adaptability to various site conditions and climates.
Lighting
High clerestory triple glazed windows were designed into the great room space to bring more daylight into this highly used area. 97% of the lights in Unity House are fluorescent or LED fixtures, using less than 25% of the energy that conventional incandescent lamps.
Appliances
All appliances that can be Energy Star are Energy Star rated and available on the mass market — no specialized out of the ordinary stuff — just high quality, efficient products.