Zero Energy Ready | Residential Design | Custom Homes & Buildings

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Whether it be a custom home building project, shop or garage project, a deck new construction or remodeling project or even a select commercial or tenant improvement project, our initial process is focused in much the same way. At Mountain Modern Design+Build, we strive to meet zero energy ready standards in our residential design and construction of custom homes & buildings. We believe in a collaborative design process that involves our clients every step of the way. From initial concept where we work with your goals, ideas and plans... to final close out of the construction process, we work closely with our clients to ensure their needs are met.

Our goal at Mountain Modern Design+Build is focused around a sustainable or energy efficiency focused design and building approach. This is zero energy ready.  This method is going to vary with each project based on what the project is. A custom shop or RV garage is very likely not going to have the same measured approach to zero energy ready as a custom home for example. But the detail that goes into plans and residential design, ensuring that the custom homes & buildings is something we consider and focus upon. And to Mountain Modern Design+Build a detailed plan and design, and utilization of best practice focused energy efficiency measures when the project is being constructed are equally important. See our information below and on information on additional pages describing additional building methods we utilize for the construction of Zero Energy Ready Custom Homes and building.

The construction process involving the bones of a building project can sometimes be the most challenging. Homes have been framed out of wood for years, but often not to meet higher energy efficiency focused requirements. Here in Idaho and the northwest wood framed homes are still the primary method of constructing the homes that residents of southern Idaho live in.

Our goal here utilizing advanced framing and super insulated wall systems involves primarily the exterior building shell and how it is constructed. Utilizing 2x6 at 24" on center stud layouts where applicable and ensuring the bearing of truss systems is directly transferred to the wall stud below is one method. Utilization of alternate wall framing materials including laminated veneer lumber (LVL) wall framing is another. Another example would be specifying insulated wall panel systems such as Zip System™ R-Sheathing wall panel systems and air barrier sealing processes and open or closed cell spray foam insulation systems in out walls and roof systems. Our goals with advanced framing and super insulated wall systems is to create a strong set of bones, while minimizing both the thermal breaks in the building envelope and the loss of expensive conditioned indoor air...and minimizing the costs that will need to be recouped in energy savings as well. When we build our zero energy ready custom homes & buildings, at a minimum some specific items included in our plans and residential design and items we strive to utilize in our advanced framing and super insulated wall systems are as follows:

• Fully insulated wall system conditioned space from below the frost line (typically at least 24" or the depth of the common foundation system), to the peak of the roof. We typically focus on creating conditioned crawl spaces and attic spaces.

• 2x6 wall systems framed at 24" on center where applicable with direct bearing of truss systems, with Zip System™ R-Sheathing R-3 insulated wall sheathing.

• Air barrier sealing systems and open or closed  cell spray foam insulation of other spray applied seamless spray applied insulation system. 

• Energy heel truss system or other methods to minimize the thermal break and ensure a generally continuous insulation system from wall transition to the underside of the roof deck.