California Architect Uses Bellaforte to Help Achieve LEED Qualification
When Anthony Demattei, AIA, LEED AP and principal partner at Demattei Wong Architecture decided to transform his 1960s ranch-style house, he pledged to create a home that would pass the most stringent criteria for LEED for Home Platinum Certification. The exhaustive renovation of the 4,000-square foot structure is nearing completion.
Creating a Sustainable Home
“Our goal was to create a new family home that demonstrated our dedication and commitment to the advancement of smart, sustainable design and our belief that good design is inherently sustainable,” says Demattei. “The careful selection of building materials and systems became paramount to achieving the highest level of energy efficiency possible.”
The home, which is located in the High Fire Hazard Zone in San Mateo County of Calif., had to meet the requirement that the entire exterior of the building be constructed of fire-resistive materials. “The demands on the roofing material not only had to complement the architectural style of the house and contribute to the energy efficiency goals, but also had to meet a Class-A fire-resistive rating,” says Demattei.
Architect’s Viewpoint
“Creating an efficient building envelope for this house was a critical starting point for us,” says Philip Anasovich, AIA, an associate architect with the Burlingame, Calif. based firm. “We worked from the top down in determining the products to specify. Our team searched for a roofing product that would have a minimum lifespan of 50 years, feature tiles that could be recycled, and provide a strong, positive look to the house. Our research led us to the Bellaforté® polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes®.”
Installed on the San Mateo, Calif. home in April of 2011, the Bellaforté tiles compliment the overall architectural design and contribute significantly to the energy efficiency of the home and met fire-resistive requirements. “This is a beautiful tile product that was a cost-effective way to replicate the look of real slate,” says Anasovich. “We specified the Castle Gray color to help reflect sunlight and heat away from the home, leading to a greater reduction in the cooling load on the home. This, in turn, helps reduce energy costs and increases the overall energy efficiency of the home.”
The Building Envelope
To further create an efficient building envelope, the architectural team specified Low-E windows, high R-value insulation, solar-reflective roof sheathing and extended overhangs. As a result, the building envelope surpasses California Title-24 requirements by 58.9 percent.
“There are many ‘green’ products and strategies that contribute to making this one of the most sustainable homes in the country,” says Anasovich. “This house is expected to surpass the current LEED for Homes Platinum standards and achieve high ratings when we seek out qualification as an ENERGY STAR rated home, Indoor Air Package certification and green point rated.”
The Demattei family is expected to move into their new home in September of this year. When they do, they’ll have a photovoltaic system that reduces off-site energy demand during peak-use hours and an on-site 4,500-gallon water collection system that utilizes rain water for irrigation at the home. Unlike asphalt tiles, DaVinci roof tiles are ideal for rain-water harvesting because they do not let off residue into the collected water.
Energy Efficient Building Envelope
“There are many energy production and conservation aspects designed for this home, along with water harvesting systems —- but it all really starts with the creation of an energy-efficient building envelope,” says Anasovich. “We believe the Bellaforté roofing tiles exemplify our dedication to the advancement of smart, sustainable architectural design.”
Backed by a lifetime limited materials warranty, the patented snap-fit, self-locating Bellaforté roofing tiles installed on the Demattei home feature an integrated rain gutter, leading edge tab and rain dam. The polymer Bellaforté tiles resist insects, fungus, algae, mold, cracking, fading and curling.
Bellaforté roofing tiles use twenty percent less material than traditional synthetic and natural slate shingles, saving resources and reducing the tile weight. A square of Bellaforté roofing tile weighs just 185 pounds, helping reduce both installation time and landfill load due to reduced construction waste.