Case Study: A New Norris HouseBackgroundThe New Norris House was conceived through the original Norris House, begun in 1933 by the Tennessee Valley Authority. It originated in one of the first planned communities in the United States. TVA built a model community in Norris, Tennessee, as part of the Norris Dam construction project. It was there that the Norris House originated. The house was the basis for economical and efficient housing through the incorporation of new technologies in those times. TVA tested new materials and new technologies in municipal electricity, water, and sanitation. The New Norris House is a modern take on the idea of ​​what the original Norris House tried to accomplish in its day. New Norris House takes on the challenge of creating a sustainable and affordable building approach to housing. Ideally, they took on the small scale of the family residence. Through similar guidelines to those followed by the original design, the New Norris House uses paths and roads to connect to schools, amenities and a central municipality. It also incorporates the green belt which still exists for attractiveness and to preserve some of the natural aspects of the site. “The process required the team to address and solve not just technological or scientific challenges; but also legal, social and aesthetic issues that currently limit green construction. “HeatingLoad minimization occurs through the orientation of the building site and the R-values ​​of the materials used. Although the site is constrained by the historic pattern of the street and homes currently present, the building is still able to maintain the internal temperature in... middle of paper... the sun is not that high in the sky. Large open spaces and a covered mezzanine promote fireplace ventilation which also further increases the comfort zone. A mud room/corridor also serves as an airlock during months of extreme temperatures. For the rest of the heating load, the addition of active systems is sufficient. A solar hot water panel is placed on the roof which has access to solar gain. A small electric tankless water heater raises the temperature of stored hot water when needed. The ultimate goal is simply to reduce energy consumption to half that used by the average household. The equipment chosen is an Eemax electric tankless water heater. A solar hot water panel mounted on the dormer window heats the water through glycol exchange. An electric tankless water heater 1) boosts stored water heated by the sun if it is below the desired temperature and 2) provides backup water heating during cloudy periods.