When selecting products for the new Idea House, the architect and design team for This Old House wanted to use building materials that were not only eco-friendly and energy-efficient, but also products that were attractive and eye-catching. So when the Copper Development Association (CDA) offered to provide the copper roofing for the porch and contribute to the copper gutters and downspouts, it was an easy choice.
This Old House recently unveiled its 2016 Idea House, the Farmhouse at Emerson Green in Devens, Massachusetts. The home is part of an innovative community, consisting of 124 single-family homes, duplexes and multifamily apartments on a decommissioned Army base just northwest of Boston.  Working with NOW Communities, Union Studio Architecture & Community Design and Denise Enright Interior Design, This Old House built the farmhouse with the goal of making net-zero living possible in this mixed-use development. Using high-quality and low-maintenance building products, the 3-bedroom, 1900-square-foot home will average less than half the energy use for a typical house of its size.  Products featured in the house include solar panels that provide approximately half of the home?s energy needs; energy-efficient triple-pane windows and a high-performance hybrid hot water heater; an air-sourced high-efficiency, multi-zone heating and cooling system supplemented with radiant electric heat; smart home automation and security; and durable, long-lasting materials that c...