See the LEED scorecard here.

The new Stewards Cottage at A Studio in the Woods will serve as a model for future development on the Gulf Coast in both its conception and implementation. Designed to provide residence for an onsite caretaker for the 9 acre bottomland hardwood forest and artists’ retreat, the house will be a demonstration of sustainable principles put into practice in a beautiful but unforgiving environment.

In 2006 ASITW authored its “Guiding Principles for New Construction” in which 6 fundamental principles were established:

1. Learning – The highest priority of the studio is as a place of investigation and discovery. The building has been designed by Tulane School of Architecture students under the guidance of Professor Eean McNaughton. It represents one of Tulane School of Architecture’s early efforts at design/build, in the model of Auburn’s Rural Studio, and is the School’s first effort at addressing sustainable design.

2. Respect for our Site – The building will respect and enhance the microenvironment of bottomland hardwood forest, especially in light of the changes to the regional natural and built environment wrought by hurricane Katrina. The building slips quietly into the woods, taking advantage of a previously disturbed area of the site, and helps to define a future entry court to the studio enclave.

3. Sustainability of the Highest Order – The Steward’s Cottage will be a “net zero energy use” structure. Solar photovoltaic panels on the roof will generate power, and net metering through Entergy Corp will allow for excess energy produced to be “sold” back to the utility company. The geothermal heat pump system will minimize energy use for heating and cooling. The passive solar design of the house will also minimize the energy required. The project is the first in the region to participate in the US Green Building Council, LEED for Homes Pilot Program, aiming to achieve a Platinum rating.

4. Hurricane Resistance and Survivability - The same features that make the house energy efficient will also help in the aftermath of another serious hurricane. The Solar PV system will provide power post-storm, a “diesel free” generator if you will. Orientation, cross ventilation, shading of the glass and generous screened outdoor spaces will allow comfortable occupancy of the house without air conditioning. The raised structure will elevate living spaces above potential flooding.

5. Organic and Artful Design. Like all buildings on the site, art and nature will become integral to the building design. Sympathetic to the existing structures, the designers have imagined multiple opportunities for art to engage the structure, both formally and casually.

6. Respect the Functional Requirements of the Project. The simple, straightforward architecture of the building allows for conventional construction techniques to be employed. A wood frame building on timber pilings will be built with minimal disturbance to the surrounding woods. Interior spaces are modesty sized and designed for future flexibility and maximum functionality.

ASITW has been working hard, and giving a great deal of thought to this project in order to take the project from ordinary to extraordinary. The project is modest, quiet and simple, but the principles embodied in it are powerful, poignant and timely to a region in need of conceptual realignment.

The Steward’s Residence will incorporate many green features into its design. The following is a brief description of some of those features.

1. The site for the residence is near the existing development on the site, in a previously disturbed part of the woods. The location will reduce the required amount of new infrastructure, and minimize disturbance of the woods and potential site erosion.

2. Highly reflective metal roofing and shaded roof surfaces will help to lower the buildup of heat on site.

3. Low level, well designed interior and exterior lighting will minimize light trespass from the building, reduce sky-glow and improve nighttime visibility on site and to the heavens.

4. Because the site is in an existing wooded area, new landscaping will be minimized, native planting will be used where necessary, and the use of potable water for landscape irrigation will be eliminated by installing rainwater cisterns.

5. The same rainwater, collected from the roof into cisterns, will also be used to flush toilets, wash cars, and other non-potable uses.

6. High efficiency water fixtures will be used throughout the house.

7. The house will be designed to meet Energy Star standards, using high efficiency equipment, lighting and appliances.

8. A solar photovoltaic array will be installed, utilizing net metering techniques that will provide 100% of the power needs for the house.

9. A geothermal, ground source heat pump will be installed, using the earth’s constant cool temperature to provide heat exchange, minimizing the energy required to run the HVAC system.

10. Hot water will be provided by a tankless, on-demand water heating system. Hot water piping will be insulated, minimizing heat loss.

11. Structural Insulated Panels will be used to form the building envelope. These panels are tight fitting and well insulated, minimizing heating and cooling losses through floors, walls and ceilings. In addition, the panels use less material overall than conventionally framed houses, without sacrificing structural strength.

12. The use of recycled and reclaimed materials throughout the house will minimize the impact of construction on our natural resources. In addition construction waste will be recycled and reused whenever possible.

13. The house is designed to maximize cross ventilation through the use of operable windows and movable walls, minimizing or eliminating the need for air conditioning for most of the year. The surrounding woods provide shade, minimizing heat gain.

14. Energy efficient, tight fitting doors, windows and movable walls will also minimize heat gain from solar radiation and help to keep conditioned air inside the building envelope. High performance double pane, low-E glass will be utilized.

15. Careful design of the HVAC system and the use of healthy, low VOC indoor materials, paints and adhesives will ensure optimal indoor air quality. Tight fitting HVAC ductwork and proper filtering will also serve to foster a healthy indoor environment.

16. A large south facing screened porch will serve to shade the building interior from direct heat gain and promote an atmosphere of living in and with nature.

17. Local materials will be used where possible, minimizing shipping energy costs and their impact on the environment.

18. Every space in the house will have ample, well shaded window areas providing natural light, reducing or eliminating the need for artificial lighting.