Located in the foothills of Henderson, Nev., The New American Home (TNAH) 2016 boasts 6,185 square feet of contemporary, well-appointed entertaining and living space. The home was designed and built by Element Design Build of Las Vegas, with the help of an experienced team that included landscape architect Sage Design Studios Inc. of Las Vegas, housing technology by Home Innovation Research Labs of Upper Marlboro, Md., and green build consultant Two Trails Inc. of Sarasota, Fla.
Energy Certifications
The New American Home 2016 has achieved Emerald status – the highest of the four levels of green building achievement recognized by the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). In addition, this home has achieved LEED Platinum status – the highest of four levels recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED). The home features photovoltaic (solar) panels, tankless water heaters, hydronic air handlers, intelligent fireplaces, sustainable building materials and a weather-sensitive irrigation system that automatically adjusts usage according to the immediate climate.
Key Energy Features
TNAH demonstrates how systems engineering can make energy efficiency and innovation available at all price points. In designing the home, Element Design Build worked with industry partners to select costeffective strategies for improving home performance and reduce the amount of material used. The home achieved remarkable air tightness (2.69 air changes per hour) without the use of spray foam insulation, which can be more expensive than other insulation options. Rigid exterior wall insulation was combined with blownin fiberglass wall and roof system insulation to achieve optimal thermal performance.
Due to the conscientious design and construction planning, TNAH 2016 achieved net-zero energy, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on site. In fact, while a typical code-built new home would garner a rating between 50 and 100 on the RESNET HERS Index, TNAH 2016 boasts a (to be confirmed) HERS Index of better than net zero at -17! A 19.215KW Photovoltaic (PV) system will power a portion of the home’s electrical systems, space conditioning, and hot water systems. Taking advantage of solar energy should result in approximately ,100 in annual energy savings compared to a typical home. TNAH 2016 also features both natural gas and electric car charging stations in the garage.