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Bottom line: We buy
no oil, natural gas or electric heat. We have
radiators we choose not to use. This has saved us
many thousands of dollars. The utility bill includes
the electric hot water and appliances. The upfront
cost to super-insulate and build the HEB added about
20% to the cost of construction. We're proud to have
taken the chance and are very sad to leave this
great place. We're moving on to our next adventure,
nearly empty nesters, having raised 2 children here
it's someone else's turn to Go Green and Save Green.
In 1980 we stumbled on this crazy hilltop property
in Topsfield. It was a lone lot, with no perk test
or driveway in a lovely, then 20 year old,
neighborhood near it's town center, Boston, Danvers
and Ipswich beaches.
We researched heavily what was happening in energy
efficient new construction and isolated a design out
of upstate NY, Adirondack Alternate Energy. Bruce
Brownell had 150 houses built with this technology
and we were convinced after taking a trip to
Edinburg, NY, that we should do this. We worked
closely with Bruce & AAE designing the living space
and his Heat Energy Battery. His firm cut all
timbers for the post & beam design, shipped all
building materials required, including the R-36, 4"
of rigid board insulation, sheetrock, shingles,
windows, doors- EVERYTHING, except fixtures and
finish work.
He sent 2 experienced framers and off we went. Dave,
me and 1 other hired hand. We erected the frame up
to the very top in 5 days.
BUT before they arrived we had built the "Battery".
First layer down was crushed stone for drainage.
Then on top of that sits a 4 feet a sand bed (200
tons of mass) with a 12 & 16 inch round aluminum
pipe system that became the air handling system. We
tested for radon and poured a slab. Through the
concrete an air shaft was built that houses a fan
that runs all the time, pulling warm air from the
top of the house, down through the sand and up
through registers in the various floors and rooms.
This shaft has 2 wood stoves connected and runs as a
chimney in the house. It looks like a lovely brick
chimney. We are super-insulated, all 6 sides. We
call it a "forced warm air system".
The house requires wood heat after back-to-back
cloudy, freezing temp days. Sometimes I just cook
and run the laundry and that brings enough heat into
the house to satisfy for a day. The central mass is
solid and the house is tight. Nothing drafty here,
ever! Temp swings in winter can be 64-78. It's quite
lovely. I've been known to open windows a bit in
winter too. 50% relative humidity and you can leave
the place in mid-winter and NEVER have pipes freeze.
The house will never drop below 55. In an average
year we burn just 1 cord of wood that can be
harvested from the 2+ acre property.
In summer, it's nearly the reverse; the house stays
a bit cooler & less humid. The hilltop provides for
natural breezes and the house ventilates from all
sides and the roof. We do have occasional days when
we pull out the fans but they are few and evenings
usually cool the house down.
The secret is in the Forced Warm Air Energy Battery.
200 tons of mass takes on heat slowly and releases
it slowly. This is the first time the house will be
on the market. Usually everyone who comes in is so
taken by the unique design, the amazing environment,
and the views- especially in winter. Our kids have
had a great time learning about the technology of
the house and sharing it via science projects
throughout their schooling here in the Tri-town. The
site has offered a lot of privacy within a
cul-de-sac neighborhood environment. We peer out
over treetops, facing south towards Danvers/Beverly.
The large, wrap around deck is a great place for
hanging out, grilling and roasting marshmallows over
a pit fire.
The house itself is 2 1/2 floors. The lowest level,
ground level, has the master suite, walk-in closet,
laundry area, mud room, and access to garage and to
greenhouse, and another room for a study or kid's
room. The main floor is an open design kitchen,
dining, living room with cathedral ceiling. There is
1 more bedroom and a full bathroom too. The Upper
1/2 level, accessed by a beautiful custom spiral
stairway, has 2 large bedrooms.
The attached garage is roomy for 4 cars, lots of
workshop space and spacious storage above.
P.S. We have an in ground sprinkler, we don't use
much of anymore and a Water Treatment system, to
soften the well water. Appliances & people use much
less soap and skin stays soft in winter.
Roof is only 8 years young.
What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
We knew we wanted to
build an energy efficient house, Low Carbon
Footprint, though it wasn't called that back then.
We knew we could benefit from passive solar heating
on this beautiful south facing hilltop. This house
works because it's super insulated and has mass
(nearly 200 tons that you never see). It's a simple
principle engineered to perfection.
The fact that this house is super-insulated does
mean that we are careful about toxic & combustible
substances. We have no gas appliances. We've used
low VOC paints and as many natural cleaning products
as we can find that do the jobs.
Neighborhood Description
Topsfield is a
lovely, quiet but well connected town of 8,000.
Local elementary schools feed in to a Tri-town High
School with Boxford & Middleton. The town supports a
small downtown, growing slowly but with care. We are
surrounded by all the shopping one needs and more.
Even Trader Joe's & Whole Foods.
This home sits on 2+ acres, on a south facing
hilltop. It's a cul-de-sac street with 10 homes.
We're 2 streets off the main street, Haverhill Road,
which connects Rt 1 and Rt 95. Very handy! |
