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Hedgewood Properties • Atlanta, GA

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About the Builder - Hedgewood Properties

Hedgewood Homes is one of metro Atlanta's fastest growing leading edge builders, selling more than 300 homes each year. In addition to home building and development business, they also operate a mortgage company, real estate agency and interior design store. 

Hedgewood Properties is a homebuilder with an environmental conscience and they stand apart in the crowded Atlanta builder marketplace. This means that they pay more attention to energy efficiency, waste conservation, and they use environmentally friendly products in constructing homes. To further enhance the quality of their products, they recently partnered with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to establish and implement the Earthcraft House program. This approach to new home construction incorporates both environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building techniques. The program encourages builders to utilize construction practices that conserve natural resources, reduce materials waste and result in homes that are more cost-efficient to maintain, healthier for the homeowner and the environment.  While buyers may expect to pay slightly more for an Earthcraft House, Hedgewood believes that the true cost of ownership will actually be considerably less than a conventionally built home. 

To help them on the energy efficiency side of the equation and to distinguish them-selves further in the Atlanta marketplace, Hedgewood approached IBACOS, a Building America Team member, in an effort to meet or exceed the Energy Star Homes criteria with every home they build. For them it was the perfect compliment to their existing corporate philosophy.

Design Philosophy and Application

Hedgewood was not satisfied with the quality and durability of homes typically offered to Atlanta customers. This led them to consider building in a more energy efficient and environmentally conscious manner, which led them to programs such as Building America and the Earthcraft House. Hedgewood is currently implementing the Earthcraft House construction standards in every community in which they build. For homeowners, the benefits range from better indoor air quality and climate control to lower energy and water costs.

Hedgewood Properties Home Features

Mechanical System Characteristics

• 81.4% AFUE furnaces, within conditioned space 
• 12 SEER air conditioners 
• Supply ventilation system, controlled distribution 
• All ducts within conditioned space

System Improvements

• Supply ventilation system, controlled distribution 
• Exterior air barrier system: airtight kneewalls, 3rd floor deck, sealed housewrap 
• Interior air barrier system: airtight drywall approach 
• Framing system utilized optimum value engineering techniques 
• High performance glazing 
• Unvented crawlspace 
• Sealed all penetrations in attic and exterior walls 
• Reduced number of furnace and A/C systems from 3 to 2 
• Reduced cooling capacity from 7.5 tons to 4 tons 
• Brought air handlers and ductwork into conditioned space

Envelope Characteristics 

• Floor area: 3,550 square feet 
• Foundation: R-13 insulation, unvented crawl-space 
• Wall System: Advanced framed, 2X4, 19.2" o.c. with R-13 fiberglass batts 
• Attic/Roof: Truss system with R-30 blown fiberglass insulation 
• Windows: Double glazed with Low-E coating U: 0.33, SHGC: 0.32

Measured Leakage Characteristics:

• 6.1 ACH at 50 Pa. 

• This is a 46% improvement compared to benchmark homes