Case Studies

Damon Roby with True Design Studios in Jacksonville, Fla., set out to win the 2010 APA Carbon Challenge Florida Design competition, which called for Florida designers and architects to design a house with the lowest carbon footprint. Participants had to create a single-family home design suitable for construction in northern Florida, located in the International Energy Conservation Code Climate Zone 2. Roby's design incorporated a wood roof system with a radiant barrier, forgoing the use of spray foam in favor of a vented attic with R-30 blown cellulose insulation in the attic and raised heel trusses. Roby also used 20-inch-deep deep floor trusses, allowing him to locate the ductwork into the floor system, a conditioned space. Additionally, the design included 2x6 in-line framing, R-19 blown cellulose wall insulation and thin film PV solar shingles, helping his design achieve the lowest CO2 emissions and win the challenge.