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Blue jeans aren’t just kept in the closet at architect Matt Pearson’s home – they’re kept in the interior walls. Used as insulation, the recycled material is just one of the many reasons the Siloam Springs residence earned Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Silver certification. Pearson, who’s also the Associate Professor of Construction Management at John Brown University, designed the sustainable 2,580-square-foot house not only for his family, but also to make a broader statement to his Architectural Design students, industry peers and the Northwest Arkansas community: “good design is green design.”

The Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) agreed, awarding Pearson the AIA Arkansas Merit Award in October 2010. “Green practice grows out of the importance of place (adapting to and caring for a specific location), livability (enhancing the value of everyday life), quality (in design and construction), conservation (of physical and financial resources) and abundance (revealing the creative line of God in our lives),” Pearson said.

Down-to-Earth

A number of strategically used construction maneuvers and materials work behind the scenes to save the Pearsons more than $100 each month in utilities. First, the home site is poised perfectly within the plot to glean the most from the surrounding vegetation – shade, protection from weather, and, of course, a striking view. Thus, Äkta Linjen, the Swedish moniker meaning “authentic lines” that Pearson gave his home, sits on the high edge of a 20-foot grade change.

“Positioning the house under large trees gives an immediate sense of permanence and welcomes their protection,” he said. When need be, the trees’ shade is supplemented with a 3-ton air source heat pump with an energy recovery ventilator to heat and cool the house. Most homes use a 5-ton unit. “The energy recovery ventilator pre-warms the incoming exterior fresh air by bypassing the interior exhaust air,” Pearson said. “This reduces the load on the heating and cooling system.”

But syncing the natural surroundings with home appliances was just Pearson’s starting point. Many other environmentally savvy supplies were employed from blueprint to build-out. Among them: Corn-based spray foam insulation in exterior walls, a 99-percent efficient water heater, Energy Star appliances and windows, bamboo floors, compact fluorescent lights, recycled paper countertops, cedar siding dipped twice in stain to protect against weathering and dual-flush toilets, which save 50 percent of toilet water usage.

These features are part of the reason why the abode is 35 percent more efficient than the average home. The Pearson family’s utility bills hovered around $250 each month before the move to Äkta Linjen, but, “for the 26 months we have been in our home, our average total utility bill has been $139 per month. This includes electricity, water, sewer and trash pick-up,” Pearson said. “Our average electricity bill (lighting, house power, heating and cooling) for that time has been $81 per month based on an average of 1,235 kilowatt-hours per month usage … for the 2,580-square-foot house.”

Third-party testing for “tightness” (the heat gain/loss potential) and to understand construction specifics (like how much insulation was used) garnered Äkta Linjen a Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) of 65. The base score is 100. A sealed and conditioned crawl space, insulated hot water pipes and caulked framing joints to stop infiltration contribute to the tighter-than-most building envelope.

The Blueprint

For some, the boxy shape and varied roof overhangs evoke a contemporary aesthetic; however, Pearson achieved this look via some retro architecture techniques, and more importantly, for the purpose of energy conservation and “responsiveness to solar orientation.”

The broad overhangs protect siding, limit summer solar heat gain in the rooms they shelter and help capture warmth in the winter. It’s impossible to calculate the related savings, Pearson said, as the overhangs aid not only in energy conservation, but also in the reduction of weathering, thereby saving money on repairs and maintenance. Meanwhile, situating limited-access rooms – ones in which little time is spent, like closets, stairways and bathrooms – on the north side of the house creates a thermal buffer during the winter. Strategically located windows enable cross ventilation, contribute to solar-day lighting, and allow for the capture of exterior breezes, thereby reducing the need for air conditioning on certain days.

Pearson also implemented an open floor plan to improve temperature balance throughout the house; utilized an ample amount of natural light to reduce the need for artificial lighting; used 2-foot grid guides for efficient material usage; chose low-maintenance trimmings like a stained concrete hearth and mantle, fiber cement panels, and Galvalume® metal trim, all of which account for considerable energy savings and conservation of construction materials.

The features conserve energy and money, no doubt, but Pearson’s holistic construction methods are at the root of his home’s greenness. “The most important attribute of sustainable design is creating spaces we want to live and work in – spaces that are pleasant to be in,” he said. “Sustainability ultimately addresses whether we want to inhabit a place – to understand and nurture it. This includes both the aesthetic and technical. When we enjoy a space, we are more likely to take care of it, thereby increasing its usefulness and life.”