SunTerra Homes are designed for the colder climates where home
heating is the primary requirement for comfort. A house is a system
of interconnected
elements. SunTerra strives to combine all the parts with careful emphasis
on economics, durability, maintenance, comfort and health. If you we
canot build a home for you in our local area you can share SunTerra’s
experience in designing and building energy-efficient homes by purchasing
a SunTerra
plan.
Each
plan includes
the SunTerra Conservation Guide, which includes information you need
to build the optimal home on your site.
 SunTerra's success in designing and building homes depends upon
understanding of the physical forces that create a tug of war between
the outside and inside environments. A SunTerra home applies the
principles of building science in both design and construction. It
balances many building elements to achieve superior performance with
an affordable investment in insulation, good quality windows, efficient
heating systems, airtight construction, controlled ventilation and
solar orientation. These features make a SunTerra Home, the most
comfortable home you'll ever live in:
Sunterra Homes uses only as much wood framing as is structurally
necessary, leaving more room for insulation. This construction
method eliminates structurally unnecessary wood members and replaces
them with insulation. Advanced framing conserves wood, reduces
heat loss and saves money without compromising the structural strength
of the building. SunTerra has developed a cost-effective exterior
wall that performs 50 percent better than a standard insulated
2 x 6 wall without increasing the wall thickness. All of our plans
illustrate this option. More information is available in our Conservation
Guide.
Eaves receive special attention
to address a common source of heat loss and potential water damage.
Roof framing often affects energy use. Many
homes use trusses I.L.D. rafters that rest directly on exterior
walls. This leaves little space for insulation. Not only does this
waste energy dollars, but heat loss melts snow which then refreezes
forming ice dams that can cause extensive moisture damage. SunTerra
homes use a variety of methods to ensure adequate insulation. One
method is the "raised heel truss", which raises the roof
framing to allow the full layer of insulation to extend over the
exterior wall.
Careful selection of windows balances heat loss and solar heat gain.
Both type and construction of windows needs to be considered. Not
all windows need to open. Fixed windows allow no air leakage at
all. For situations where windows need to open, casement and awning
windows provide the best long-term air tightness.
 Double pane "Low-E" glass, which
provides an insulation value of around R-3, is the minimum window
glazing recommended for
cold climates. By blocking radiant heat loss, low-e glass also inhibits
passive solar gain. In passive solar homes, the glazing should be
selected for each side of the building in order to optimize internal
heat loss and solar heat gain. The SunTerra Conservation Guide describes
these issues in detail.
Because of superior insulation and air tightness in the roof and
walls, it is not uncommon for more than 50 percent of the heat loss
in a SunTerra home to occur through the windows. Choosing window
coverings with a high insulating value can reduce heating cost and
further improve comfort. If you choose a window covering that has
an R-3 insulation value, you could reduce the heat loss of your home
by 25 percent when coverings are drawn.
Hydronic radiant floor heat offers superior comfort and energy efficiency.
When the first SunTerra Homes were developed in the mid-1980s,
radiant floor heating was chosen because of its compatibility with
alternative energy systems, its efficient heat distribution properties,
and the fact that it reduces the heat loss of a building.
After installing several floor-heating systems in SunTerra Homes,
customers began to identify other benefits:
 "... the most comfortable heating
system I have ever experienced."
" ... no visible floor registers that I need to decorate around."
" Our house stays cleaner."
" It's very quiet in our home without those big blowers going on
and off."
Over 95 percent of SunTerra's customers have chosen hot-water,
radiant floor heating over the past 15 years of construction in
Central Oregon.
Solar energy brightens every day, and it's free.  Passive solar should
be considered for every home design. It can provide more than a
quarter of a home's heating and still maintain good interior comfort
levels.
Sun spaces brighten a home's interior and can be incorporated
in many areas of a home. They bring outdoor beauty inside with
the warmth of the sun.
By adding a thermostat and fan to distribute solar-heated air,
the heating effectiveness and comfort within the home are enhanced.
This same blower can be used to force ventilate and cool your
home in the summer.
Controlled ventilation maintains indoor health and comfort.  Air quality
in homes has become poor as builders strive to make homes tighter.
SunTerra Homes realized it is not practical to try to build a home
so it leaks just enough but not too much. The SunTerra approach
is to build as tight as economically possible and include controlled,
heat-recovery ventilation. This assures healthy air quality, reduces
heat loss, and keeps homes cleaner and more comfortable.
Heat stays in and drafts stay out with SunTerra's unique insulation
package. When evaluating insulation, look for more than R-value.
Thermal performance is important but so is air infiltration and
moisture control. While several types of insulation can  reduce
heat loss, air infiltration, and moisture condensation within the
exterior shell of a home, SunTerra has evolved toward a cost-effective
hybrid approach that combines spray-foam and batt insulation. Another
option is the strapped wall, which adds horizontal furring strips
to add depth to a standard 2 x 6 wall. Both approaches are illustrated
in the SunTerra Conservation Guide.
Cutting-edge equipment and careful installation combine for high-efficiency.
SunTerra Homes has incorporated several types of high-performance
heating and cooling systems to further reduce annual energy expenses.
These include: geothermal heat pumps, air-to-water heat pumps,
active solar and night flush cooling.
These systems are designed to lower electrical
heating and cooling costs by an additional 50 to 70 percent.
Most SunTerra clients choose hydronic radiant floor
heating for comfort and efficiency. This system can also be used
for cooling,
but the capacity is limited by the potential for condensation on
the floor surface. When cooling needs exceed the capacity of the
hydronic floor, an additional air distribution system is best.
Most SunTerra house plans incorporate alternative
energy systems to some degree. The Conservation Guide helps you choose
the most
cost-effective heating and cooling system for your home.
Alternative heating systems, including solar and waste heat recovery,
capture free energy for your home. Your home’s hot water
needs can also be reduced by the use of the high-performance energy
systems installed in most SunTerra homes. If you choose a heat
pump for space heating, a desuperheater can be added to reduce
your water heating cost by more than 50 percent. Active solar in
many areas is a good choice for preheating your hot water. It can
contribute up to 80 percent of the energy needed.
 Because some high-performance systems require a substantial initial
expenditure when compared to conventional equipment, the expense
of a system and its savings potential are extremely important considerations.
The availability of solar energy, cost of utilities, the siting
of your home, equipment and installation costs, energy savings,
etc. must all be carefully evaluated. The Conservation Guide helps
you sort through all these issues.
Many states and utility companies offer financial rebates and
tax credits for the use of alternative energy systems to help offset
the additional installation expense.
Energy conservation, superior indoor environmental quality and
resource efficiency make SunTerra a leader in sustainability.
Sunterra Homes
incorporates a number of sustainable features, including high levels
of energy efficiency, healthy indoor air and resource efficiency.
Many SunTerra designs are characterized by small, efficient floor
plans which limit resource consumption. Good site integration and
passive solar features offer cozy comfort and free energy.
 SunTerra
also recommends materials that promote health and reduce natural
resource requirements. These include: Forest Stewardship Council
certified lumber, recycled content building materials, fluoresent
lighting, low-VOC paints and finishes and high-efficiency appliances
to name a few.
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