LemonDrop Addition
The original “LemonDrop” house was expanded from 720sf to 1550sf to provide a master bedroom and bath, dining space, family lounge, and home office, as well as front and back porches and a roof deck. Use of energy efficient building design and change to higher efficiency water heating has lowered the total utility bills by an average of $40 per month (even with more than twice the space). The expanded home is also brighter and more thermally comfortable. With a tight budget, the design focused on affordable green building strategies, such as:
- Passive solar shading to allow winter sun to warm the house, but block summer sun
- Stained concrete floor to provide thermal mass to modulate temperature swings
- Well-placed windows and a double-height space to encourage cross ventilation
- Green (vegetated) roof to provide insulation, natural stormwater management, acoustic buffering, and bird habitat
- Space-efficient floor plan to maximize use of space
- Energy-efficient walls and windows help to maintain a comfortable inside temperature
- Hard surface floors, such as natural linoleum, concrete, and wood, to provide an easily cleanable home to avoid allergy and asthma
- Non-toxic paints, stains, sealers, caulks, and adhesives to create a healthy indoor air quality
- New wood cabinetry constructed locally with no added formaldehyde and with non-toxic adhesives and finishes
- Salvaged slate chalkboards used for countertops
- “Micro-rehab” of the kitchen retained cabinets and appliances, updating the look of the kitchen with new flooring, countertops, sink, and hardware for approximately $500
