» The De La Pena’s Home SUST 5301: Sustainability is not an option, it is THE option!

Posted in January 9th, 2012

Later that evening, we went to the address of 718 N. Bailey, Fort Worth, TX. The new home is approximately 1740 square feet, three bedrooms, and two baths. The owners Charlotte and Thomas De la Pena built their dream home from the ground up. The lot of land that was purchased cost the De La Pena’s $115,000 according to Mr. De La Pena. The cost per square foot was $150 x 1,730 square foot, giving them a total of $259,500. The grand total would’ve been $374,500 but according to the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD), the value as of 2011 was $316,500. If the De La Pena’s want to sell their home then they should get it appraised but if decide against selling the home, then leaving the price tag at $316,500 would be a great idea. The new home was built by Ferrier’s construction company. The cost of heating the home is a utility bill of around $65, the maximum amount per month that Mr. De La Pena saw was $90 and that was a rare incident. The family also added a Direct Vent Gas Fireplace, which keeps the air inside the house from venting or leaving through the fireplace. Another device that was added to keep fresh air in the house is the Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). This device even with cold air, brings in fresh air from outside and releases it into the house at room temperature. The ERV can bring in about 30-40 cubic feet per minute. The family also added Ductless Mini-Split AC unit as oppose to investing in a traditional HVAC. The cost of the Mini-Split AC is included in the final cost of the house. Spray Foam was used through-out the house during construction. Also, a Smart meter called The Energy Detective (TED), gives constant output of how much energy is being used and projects how much a bill will cost the occupant. Overall, the house is a great investment for the family and helps them reduce their carbon footprint.