Halcyon Ridge
A new-construction net-zero residence designed in collaboration with the architect from the structural phase — geothermal ground loops and PV-assisted heat pumps specified before the foundation was poured.
The site's shallow topsoil precluded vertical boring. We designed a horizontal closed-loop field beneath the north meadow — 1,800 linear feet of HDPE at 6-foot depth, providing the thermal mass for the entire heating and cooling load.
The mechanical room was designed alongside the architect's space plan — a collaborative approach that produced a room the owners use as a model when explaining net-zero operation to guests. Every component is labeled, accessible, and legible.
The polished concrete slab acts as the primary thermal mass element — heated by radiant tubing in winter and cooled by a chilled water loop in summer. Thermal lag in the slab reduces equipment cycling and improves overall system COP.