Bethel architect Stuart Crocker was both behind the 1970s energy crisis and ahead of today’s energy-efficiency trends when he built the
Crocker Pond House in 1993. With a nod to
A Pattern Language by
Christopher Alexander, which has influenced his design thinking since first published in 1977, he offers some time-tested, inexpensive, and common sense planning elements that anyone can use to build a smarter home.
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| Crocker Pond House in winter. Photo courtesy Stuart Crocker. |
Siting
- Orient buildings on 45th parallel at +/- 12 degrees east of south to maximize solar gain and favor morning sun.
- Use shading and vegetation on west and north sides to protect from prevailing winds and stronger afternoon sun.
- Place screen porch on northeast side for coolest location for afternoon and evening use.
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| Crocker Pond House in summer. Photo courtesy Stuart Crocker. |
Floor Plan
- Design a long thin house with high windows to allow sun to penetrate deeper into rooms.
- Place common rooms and bedrooms on south side for solar gain, and service spaces, bathrooms, and hallways on north side.
- Create higher ceilings in south and lower in north to maximize incoming light and add contrast.
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| Living room. Photo courtesy Stuart Crocker. |
Envelope
- Use double-wall construction or dense-pack cellulose and spray foam insulation.
- Put stairways and chimneys in central location to bring heat upstairs in winter.
- Make use of stack effect by opening low downstairs windows and upstairs skylights to allow cooler air in and hot air to rise up and out.
- Place windows on two sides in each room and closer to corners so light reflects off walls for more uniform light.
- Add overhanging dormers and sunshades to keep out higher summer sun.
- Use smaller windows on the north side to minimize heat loss and offer picture-frame views.
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| Loft. Photo courtesy Stuart Crocker. |
Learn more at
Crocker Pond House.
