The Northview Farmhouse by Dust. Development LLC

The Northview Farmhouse demonstrates that a high-performance home can be beautiful, healthy, resilient, and attainable without depending on custom technologies or luxury-only solutions. DUST designed the home as an integrated system in which the enclosure, mechanical equipment, ventilation, and materials work together to reduce energy consumption and protect the family living inside.

Resiliency carries special meaning at Northview because the previous house on this lot burned down. Rebuilding created an opportunity—and a responsibility—to build differently. The exterior Green Cork product was selected as part of a more fire-resilient exterior strategy. In addition to its natural appearance and connection to the earth, the cork adds another protective layer to the building while supporting DUST’s commitment to using healthier, lower-carbon materials.

Behind the exterior finish is one inch of Atlas EnergyShield continuous exterior insulation. This layer reduces thermal bridging through the framing and helps maintain more consistent interior temperatures during Arizona’s extreme summer heat. A Tyvek water-resistive barrier provides drainage-plane and weather protection, while careful detailing and aerosolized AeroBarrier air sealing helped the home achieve 1.4 ACH50. Together, these systems create a durable, efficient enclosure that reduces cooling demand and helps the home remain comfortable longer during power interruptions.

The Northview Farmhouse achieved a projected HERS Index Score of 41 without onsite solar generation. Its estimated annual energy use is only 37.9 MMBtu, with projected savings of $3,163 per year compared with an average U.S. home. The home also meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR Versions 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 criteria.

The all-electric mechanical design eliminates onsite fossil-fuel combustion for space conditioning and water heating. A high-efficiency Lennox air-source heat pump provides heating and cooling, while a Rheem heat pump water heater rated at 4.05 UEF further reduces energy demand. This approach creates a direct pathway to future net-zero operation as renewable electricity is added to the home or the utility grid.

Healthy indoor air is delivered intentionally through a Panasonic energy-recovery ventilator. The ERV supplies balanced, filtered outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air and recovering energy that would otherwise be lost. The tight enclosure limits uncontrolled infiltration of dust, smoke, pollutants, and extreme outdoor air. Ductwork located within the conditioned enclosure, along with zero measured duct leakage to the outside, further improves comfort, efficiency, and indoor-air quality.

The window glass package reinforces the project’s commitment to attainability. Rather than using an exotic or builder-exclusive product, DUST developed an off-the-shelf glass combination that can be ordered by any builder who requests it. This proves that meaningful performance improvements can be repeatable and scalable.

The Northview Farmhouse deserves recognition because it transforms the tragedy of a fire into a model for safer, healthier, all-electric, and more resilient housing. It embodies DUST’s mission: Built Different. Built Efficient. Built with Love. Built for Everyone. ♥&? B w/ U