Savannah, Ga., Residence Offers Sustainable Charms
Historic Savannah is slowly turning toward a more sustainable future. Located in the Victorian district of this Georgia port city, the nearly 2,000-sq-ft single-family residence known as 306 West Waldburg includes a 3-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array, plumbing fixtures that reduce water usage by 50%, EnergyStar appliances, LED lighting and other energy-efficient features. The residence aims to use roughly 70% less energy than a typical house.
The project—which attained LEED for Homes Platinum status—is striving for net-zero energy usage, with owners and builders still in the process of data collection. Additionally, 306 West Waldburg has the potential to become a "net positive" home in the future, with its design allowing for expanded solar capacity.
As part of the strategy to attain LEED for Homes Platinum, the project team developed a durability inspection checklist that detailed more than 25 specific measures to ensure construction quality and to address issues such as interior and exterior moisture, air infiltration and long-term house durability.
The project's owner and designer, Trident Sustainability Group, used open, multi-use living spaces on the first floor that integrate office, kitchen, living and dining areas in a modern urban style. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are located on the second floor. The home also features oversized window walls, a cantilevered deck and a custom-built wood staircase.
Due to the relatively unusual nature of the work, the owner made sure the local residential trades contractors were up to speed on the latest in sustainable systems.
A third-party green rater independently verified the project's sustainability measures, performed pre-drywall inspections for air sealing and insulation installation, and did final inspections to test the air tightness of the envelope and the home's duct system.
With a cost below $150 per sq ft, 306 West Waldburg proves that even LEED-Platinum-level sustainability can be affordable at a consumer level.
Key Players
Contractor R. Peacock Construction, Savannah
Owner/Designer Trident Sustainability Group, Savannah
Designer Trident Sustainability Group, Savannah
MEP Engineer Dulohery Weeks, Savannah
