[Sustainability Criteria]

     LaHouse will be a home and landscape resource center of the LSU AgCenter located on university property in Baton Rouge, La.  It will showcase and teach a range of practical concepts of sustainable living and residential home and landscape design that address national and Louisiana challenges.  Its goal is to stimulate consumer demand and industry adoption of these concepts and practices. 

      The fully developed site is envisioned to include a showcase house, environmental landscapes with trails, porous “green” parking, an outdoor pavilion, and a future exhibition hall with larger meeting space– all with explanatory signage.  Each will showcase a variety of advantageous products, systems, and technologies – not just one way to achieve the LaHouse criteria.

Basic Spatial Program for House

• Average size house – approx. 2100 sq. ft. living area downstairs, expandable to 2500 sq. ft with upstairs living area included

• Partial two- story (over a segment of house)

• 1^st story – for public touring:

• 2 BR, 2 baths

• open planning, great room (living, dining)

• dual-cook kitchen w/ island or peninsula; largely open to great room

• laundry room

• home “telecommuting” office (to be used as resource center)

• 2^nd story:

• Upstairs “bedrooms, etc.” to serve as office space for 3 staff

• Walk-in storage space for publications, etc.

• Exhibit area to show cutaways, wall sections, etc.

• No level changes on first story (between rooms, sections, porches, etc.)

• House layout in definable sections, using different building & elevated foundation systems

• Detached “garage” (classroom), connected to house by covered breezeway

• Different building system, slab on grade (fill to raise grade to base flood elevation)

• Generous 2-car capacity, plus integrated “storeroom” exterior appearance; interior conditioned (different HVAC) and equipped for:

• classroom

• men’s & women’s public restrooms (interior)

• storage space and refreshment space

• Barrier-free access to house and between house and garage/classroom

• Main entry and interior layout can accommodate flow of tour groups

• Screened porch and shaded rear porch or deck

• Front exterior access storage (for package delivery and storm preparedness)

Target Market

• Mainstream move-up market

• Average household size (4 people)

• Adaptable for both urban and rural markets

• Range of features (some for custom, spec home, and remodeling markets)

Architectural Style

• Timeless (not trendy)

• Reflects LSU architectural flavor

• Appealing and attractive to various income levels, but not exclusionary

• Features for custom, spec home, and remodeling markets

• Reflects climate zone

• Consistent with all LaHouse criteria (does not violate any criteria)

Sustainability Criteria and Features To Be Integrated

Resource-efficient

• Energy-efficient design and construction  (EnergyStar certified)

• Passive solar orientation and features (front facing N or S) for BR climate zone

• Minimized solar heat gain (shading, solar reflectance, etc.) is first priority

• Winter efficiency and natural ventilation for mild seasons

• Tight construction, controlled ventilation with efficient dehumidification

• Insulation systems with good “whole wall” R-values

• High efficiency HVAC in conditioned space or in unvented, insulated attic

• Zoned heating/cooling for day and night zones

• Low life-cycle cost equipment and lighting:

• high color fluorescents, controlled daylighting, high efficiency appliances, etc

• Water-conserving systems, equipment

• Cistern(s), blending into house design; appropriate roofing

• Grey water for underground irrigation

• No oversized whirlpool tubs; low-flow fixtures

• Waste management systems and features

• Modular planning (minimizing construction/material waste)

• Suitable recycled and recyclable materials

• Adaptable spaces

• Recycling, sorting center (for home trash)

• Pollution prevention and ecosystem protection

• Water quality protection:

• Sanitary sewer system alternatives

• Stormwater management/ runoff reduction

• Paving alternatives, cistern with appropriate roof design, etc.

• Shift toward renewable resources (as cost-effective)

• Use of locally produced resources (minimize transportation inputs)

• Suitable ozone friendly materials

• Minimized use of toxic substances

Durable

• Multi-hazard resistance

• Elevated above flood hazard

• House elevated to BFE +1.6  (adjust grade to BFE –1.0)

• Garage at BFE, slab on grade;  use of dry floodproofing to BFE +2

• Parts of house elevated via:

• slab cap on back-fill within perimeter foundation wall

• pier foundation

• stem wall crawl space with required openings (NFIP regulations)

• Wet-floodproofing demo areas (use of flood-resistant materials and installations, elevated equipment, etc.)

• Hurricane and tornado resistant

• hip and reinforced gable roof segments (hip on house, gable on shed)

• engineered overhangs (no cantilevers)

• hurricane straps and clips

• storm shutters on some windows, some laminated glass

• Safe-room for severe weather

• Freeze-resistant (water heater on ground floor, plumbing within insulated perimeter)

• Fire-resistant construction and multi-hazard warning system

• Hail damage-resistant materials

• Pest resistant materials and construction

• Design and detailed for ease of inspection and detection; no wood left in ground, etc.

• No untreated structural wood (use borate-treated wood and foam insulation, alternative materials)

• Decay-resistant materials and construction

• Continuous drainage plane in walls, capillary breaks

• Overhangs, proper flashings, simple roof design, decay resistant materials

• Long-lasting materials, equipment 

Healthy

• Universal design

  • Safe, functional throughout lifecycle, but does not look institutional

  • Easily adaptable to changing needs

  • “Visitable” - wheelchair accessible clearances, thresholds, master bath

  • ADA ramp at entry; integrated into design

• Good indoor air quality
• Controlled ventilation with efficient dehumidification (maintain 40%-60% RH)

• Building systems that prevent hidden mold

• No unvented combustion

• Detached garage

• Low VOC/irritant materials, as practical; limited use of wall-to-wall carpeting

• Integrated pest management (control with minimum use of pesticides)

Practical

• Cost-effective materials, technologies, systems (or soon to be)

• Life-cycle cost basis

• Considers risk management benefits (natural hazards, future energy prices, etc.)

• Locally available materials and services (“off the shelf”) as much as possible

• Considers labor availability, skills, learning curve or reduces construction time

• Marketable to mainstream Louisiana consumers
• Appearance, safety, proper use, etc. not a deterrent to adoption in the marketplace
• Good resale potential

• Family friendly and functional floorplan
• Efficient workflows, traffic paths (kitchen, laundry, etc.)
• Ample, adaptable and convenient storage space
• Low maintenance, outside and inside
• Advanced wiring, for information technology
• Networking and integration; home office equipped for telecommuting
• Ready for smart appliances, automation, etc.
• Security and system management
• Adaptable spaces and systems for changing user needs