Prefab homes are often associated with cookie-cutter design and cheap construction. Bensonwood Homes, however, is a shining example of how prefab, factory made homes can be both original and sustainable. Check it out!
Bensonwood Homes has been designing and building energy-efficient and high-performance structures for over thirty years. While they provide a plethora of construction and design services, one of their specialties is the sustainably constructed, prefab timberframe home. The home seen here, recently featured in Eco Home magazine, is an example of the timberframe model.
The prefab nature of the construction is geared to achieve maximum energy efficiency, as the home is designed for airtight status and features sustainable elements, such as "a Renewaire ERV for fresh indoor air, dual-flush WaterSense-certified toilets, and an Energy Star-rated Voltex hybrid electric heat pump hot water heater."
What's interesting about Bensonwood's approach is that, while the base of the home is centered upon a factory-built structure, the construction process is still dynamic in that homeowners are able to customize a model's design and layout, taking the cookie-cutter aspect out of the prefab equation.
In the case of this Weston, Connecticut home, the owners wanted the feel of a traditional New England barn, so rustic materials, such as exposed Douglas fir timber and vertical barnboard siding were used.
According to the Bensonwood site, their homes are comparably priced to "other high quality construction" in a given geographical area. They are also able to complete construction of their homes typically in 12-16 weeks and build throughout the U.S.
As a side note, I love the fact that they show how sustainable architecture and design are not for the elite few (a common misconception) but can be a viable option for many home owners.
Read More:
• Read more about the construction of this timberframe home on Eco Home.
MORE BENSONWOOD HOMES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• LEED Platinum Prefab is Home to College President
• Building Green's Top 10 Products for 2010
(Images:Bensonwood Homes via Eco Home magazine)
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Gorgeous house!
Beautiful home, but I'm not sold on the green credentials. It's 4000 sq ft, which almost anywhere would be considered McMansion sized. I don't think a wood burning fireplace is particularly green. The house is plumbed for gas (at least considering the stove), so why not put in a high efficiency gas furnace? If you want a fireplace for the coziness, I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but I wouldn't try to justify it as a green choice.
Thumbs up on MacBride's comments.
Separately, it would show better empty - not a fan of the furniture.
I think they were going for something more Jackson Hole,
but ended up with Grand Rapids.
Love this place amazing what you can do taking rather old building styles and mashing them up with modern luxury. Regarding the fire place... seems to me a great green solution not only is it centered in the building (minimizing heat loss) but its surrounded with soap stone creating a thermal mass that will radiate heat well after the fire burns out.
Regarding the fireplace in the first picture... it reminds me of a crematorium, sorry ! :-/
Fireplace looks like a masonry heater: burns extremely hot, clean, and efficiently. The heat is stored in the mass of stone and radiated into home for hours (sometimes all night) after the fire is out. Old technology that blows fossil fuels away in the green and comfort factor.
Oooh, bring a sweater, preferably wool. Even an energy efficient furnace would take it 2 weeks to warm up and then there's the part time job to pay the bill. Give me rooms with doors.
P.S. It is pleasing to the eye.
That's likely a Tulikivi soapstone stove, which FYI is very energy efficient and can likely heat this entire home.
As to those commenting that this is too big to have "green cred", if you study Bensonwood's site you'll learn that they build with a very energy efficient wall system, a design that has won Green Awards. Its likely that this house uses much less energy than smaller homes built to code. Look a little deeper.