Watertown SIP Twin Habitat Homes Watertown SD

Location: Watertown, SD

Project Information

Project Type: Residential, Multifamily
Manufacturer: Enercept
Builder: Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers, Students, Crestone Companies
Design Professional: Cashway Lumber
Year Built: 2021

Performance

High Performance: No
HERS/EUI Index Score:
ACH50 - Blower Test Results:
kBtu/sq.ft./year:
CO2 lbs./sq.ft./year:

Building use:
The Watertown Habitat for Humanity Twin Home is an affordable home for two families. The homes are being purchased, interest-free, from Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Watertown Area.

How did SIP construction help you get this job?
To qualify for a South Dakota Housing Development Authority grant, the twin home was required to meet specific energy-efficiency standards. These standards were easily met with SIP construction. Utilizing a limited number of untrained volunteers, ease and speed of construction were important. Enercept provided a payment-in-kind discount on the SIP panel package

SIP wall thickness: 6" walls with EPS insulation
SIP roof thickness: na

Benefits of using SIPs on this project. Did SIPs help save time, labor, construction costs, or energy?
The Habitat for Humanity site supervisor along with a hand-full of inexperienced volunteers were able to sort and set the first floor panels in three partial days. A professional crew from Crestone Companies, set the second floor panels in a single day.

Any innovative design elements:
The simple design did not require structural engineering

HVAC:
The twin homes are heated with Champion 96% AFUE natural gas, forced air heating systems.
The twin homes are cooled with Champion 13 SEER electric central air units.

Additional energy-saving materials used in the building envelope:
Gerkin vinyl windows with .30 U Factor were used throughout both units.
Spray foam insulation was used above the garage.
The roof assembly has 12" energy heel trusses insulated to 49 R-value with blown-in cellulose.
Rigid insulation and 6-mil vapor barrier installed under slab.
 

Additional energy-efficient products or design features:
LED Lighting, all Energy Star rated appliances (microwave, range, dishwasher, refrigerator) installed in every apartment, building and windows oriented on site for passive solar gains when possible, electric water heaters in each unit with .93 UEF Energy Star rating. All plumbing fixtures are WaterSense labeled.
Thermostats are digital and programmable.

Additional sustainable materials or design features not listed above, such as recycled materials, low-VOC finishes, landscaping, etc.:
Only low-VOC paints and stains were used in the homes. All casework is low-VOC.

Additdional comments:
Building a Habitat for Humanity Home during the Covid19 Pandemic created many challenges. The National Habitat for Humanity Organization cut off the use of volunteers for much of 2020, delaying the spring-planned build until late summer. During construction, the local Habitat site supervisor resigned his position and moved out of the state. This left the general contracting up to the Executive Director of the local organization. Finding volunteers proved to be difficult during these uncertain times. The group was greatly blessed when Lake Area Vocational College stepped forward and allowed the Habitat project to become the course of study for a group of Building Trades students. The guidance of the instructor and partnerships with local professionals helped to pull the project together.

Documents

Affiliated Members

Enercept, Inc.

Watertown, SD

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