Description

The Woods at Monticello is the first affordable housing development in Nashville specifically with energy-efficiency requirements.

Project Profile

This home is part of Nashville’s first energy-efficient, green neighborhood for low-income families called the Woods at Monticello. These homes integrate various energy-efficient products, including ICFs, to bring the average utility bill to under $50 per month. The water heater installed is the new GE GeoSpring hybrid water heater, the windows are extremely energy-efficient SeriousWindows with an average U-Value of .15, low-wattage Cree LED lighting was utilized, and closed-cell spray foam insulation lines the attic. To allow the homeowner maximum control over air flow, an energy recovery vent was also installed.

The two-story craftsman-style home features a bright, open downstairs floor plan with hardwood flooring and an attached one-car garage. The covered porch is accented with a stone wall. Contemporary fixtures highlight the granite countertops and tile flooring in its two-and-a-half bathrooms.

A neighborhood specifically designated for low-income families by the Metropolitan Department of Housing Agency (MDHA), the lots are fairly small to maximize livable area. Especially narrow at the front, the lot dimensions limited the shape and layout of the homes. With a goal of three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open floor plan, also taking into consideration the ICF wall thickness, it was decided that the best floor plan would include a second story. Over ten years of experience exclusively building ICF structures ensured that our labor costs would not increase significantly by adding a second story, keeping us within the required budget.