The goal was to raise sustainability but not costs

The owners of this traditional Rhode Island home wanted to better express their eclectic taste when upgrading their cramped porch to a sunroom addition. A better view of the river was a side benefit.

Although the plans didn't specifically focus on green building, Joseph Cracco, of Modern Yankee Builders, challenged himself to raise the project's level of sustainability without raising the cost. The result is a bright and airy family room, an expanded second-floor office, and a new basement that performs better than the family had imagined possible.

Low-impact is multifaceted

You could say that the motto of Joe's team is to tread lightly. Almost 19 tons of concrete were reclaimed by grinding the old foundation into gravel for road beds. The rest of the construction debris was hauled to New England Recycling, in Taunton, Massachusetts, where typically 82 percent of waste is separated for reuse.

After the original porch was deconstructed, the new work shared as much of the original footprint as possible. Site disturbance was kept to a minimum — existing bushes were temporarily moved, then replanted; turf was quickly re-established in some areas and replaced with planting beds in others; the new gas line was even tunneled rather than trenched in the front yard.

Sustainability extends to efficient operation

The addition doesn't just tread lightly, it uses fewer sticks. The structure is built with advanced-framing techniques on top of a thoroughly waterproofed Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) basement. To allow for the decorative rafters and sheathing inside the new space, and to create a good thermal break, XPS insulation was installed outside of the roof deck.

The whole exterior got a well-sealed drainage plane and air barrier. After that, a self-adhesive water shield, sleepers, CDX, and 30-year asphalt shingles created a fully vented roof surface while hard-wearing FSC-certified cedar shingles wrapped the walls. Joe's dedication and attention to detail paid off. The homeowners got a place they can be proud of for years to come, with little added burden on the budget or the environment.

Lessons Learned

Modern Yankee's trek to the 2007 International Builders' Show left its principals pleasantly surprised at how sustainable their standard practices already were. They still logged plenty of hours of research for this addition. This not only made the results better than the clients had asked for, but further integrated green concepts into Modern Yankee's "business as usual," proving that quality, affordability, and sustainability can all go hand in hand.