HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
• 1st Series 012 Custom Universal Home™
• 1st Universal Home™ to have a integrated Media System
(IMS).
• Highest Performing Universal Home™
TYPE:
UNIVERSAL SERIES:
ARCHITECTURE STYLE:
EXTERIOR WALL SYSTEM:
LOCATION:
DATE OF DESIGN:
BUILDING STATISTICS
DESCRIPTION:
CLASSIFICATION:
DESIGN OCCUPANCY:
TOTAL LIVING SQUARE FOOTAGE:
STRATEGIES
CUSTOM
013
MONOLITHIC RANCH
MODERN ADOBE
JOURDANTON, TEXAS
MARCH 13, 2009
SINGLE FAMILY HOME
RESIDENTIAL
1-
2,700
FLOOR PLAN
2ND FLOOR PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
BACK ELEVATION
EAST ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
SECTION A
SECTION B
Pallet Staging for Compressed Earth Block (CEB) manufacturing. Each pallet can hold 72 blocks.
A loaded bucket of Lime stabilized earth. Typical block stabilization is about 7% by volume.
A worker removes a Compressed Earth Block (CEB) from the machine. The stabilized soil is compacted at 2,700 PSI and is automatically produced at a uniformed size of 31/2” x 10” x 14” and weighs between 35 and 40 pounds.
A pallet of Lime stabilized Compressed Earth blocks (CEB) stacked for curing. A pallet of block consist of 72 blocks and can weigh between 2,500 to 3,000 pounds. The blocks, once fully cured will have a compressive strength between 950 to 1,200 PSI (1/3 the strength of the concrete slab the blocks will be erected on).
Compressed Earth Block (CEB) pallets curing in the south Texas sun. Curing time can range between a few days to weeks and is dependent on environmental conditions and ambient temperature. Over 20,000 blocks were produced for the Jarvis House.
A view of the story boards and palletized Compressed Earth block (CEB) that will be utilized in the Jarvis House exterior wall construction.
A earth builder lays out the base course of Compressed Earth block (CEB).
A view of day 1 of Compressed Earth block (CEB) erection.
A builder uses a swifter to collect soil for the production of slurry. This process has been unchanged for more than 7,000 years.
A wheelbarrow of slurry.
A view of the exterior of the house showing the frame work bracing for windows and doors.
View of light frame construction interaction and tie in into Compressed Earth Block wall system. The Jarvis house is a hybrid Earth structure where the exterior wall system is composed of conditioned native Compressed Earth Block (CEB) and 2x4 (light Framed) interior walls.
Light Frame interior walls are simply mechanically fastened to the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) wall system.
Earth Builders stacked Compressed Earth Block (CEB) to allow full curing. Full curing of Lime stabilized block is achieved by exposing the blocks to morning moisture and carbon dioxide in the air. This reacts with the lime causing a chemical reaction that allows the Lime to harden.
A view of the front Compressed Earth Block (CEB) wall system. The wall is 14” thick and when fully erected to a height of 8 foot 4 inches will weight, on average, 950 pounds per linier foot. The wall system is impervious to mold, insect, fire and/or excessive ambient heat gain.
A view of the integration of a standard plumbing system and electrical system found in any home design embedded in the wall system. When the wall system is fully erected the area surrounding these system will simply be filled in with the same soil used in the block manufacturing (native soil) and plastered over.
A view of the garage area of the Jarvis house showing the full erection of the exterior and interior wall systems. Notice the mound of dirt in the foreground, these are discarded Compressed Earth blocks (CEB’s) that were broken or cut during the erection process. The soil will be reused as fill around the home. Thus the blocks produce no waste and can be 100% recycled back into the site.
A close view of cured Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB)
Earth builders erect Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) using the “wet stack method”. This method allows for the use of slurry to act as a mortar that will bond the blocks together in the wall system.
An exterior view of a fully erected Compressed Earth block (CEB) wall system.
A view of the Concrete Bond Beam. A 6” thick 3,000 PSI steel reinforced concrete bond beam is used to tie all of the exterior Compressed Earth Block (CEB) wall systems together. The Bond Beam was poured in place and encompasses window & door beams. During the pouring process, Window sills were also fabricated and placed.
Builders position 10” x 10” cedar columns that will make up the front and back porches.
A view of the Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) exterior wall system of the storm shelter. The ICF is a attackable concrete form that is used to form the exterior walls of the storm shelter. This is added protection against hurricane and tornadoes that frequent Texas.
A view of the entry storm door of the storm shelter. The entire storm shelter system can withstand the effects associated with a EF-
A view of the light frame structural system floor joists. Also pictured is the Storm Shelter (white in background).
A view of the back porch area of the Jarvis House showing the 2nd floor joist system above the concrete bond beam.
A view of the front porch showing the interaction between the cedar column, wood frame, bond beam and Compressed Earth block (CEB).
A interior view of the living room area showing the Exterior Compressed Earth block (CEB) wall and interior 2x4 light wood frame system. Also pictured is the electrical system (installed next to the main entry door).
A framer installs 2x4 light frame system.
A framer installs roof joists on the second floor.
Earth Builders install a heat wall on the south side of the Jarvis house above the concrete bond beam under the back porch area.
A view of the 2nd floor area and thermal wall being erected under the back porch.
A view of the back porch area and curing Compressed Earth block (CEB) on the porch.
The most important material in natural lime plaster. Nopal Cactus when cut into 1” square pieces will produce a enzyme that can be used as a natural, flexible and semi permeable binder in earth plasters. The Nopal was harvested onsite and within 2 days of curing in the south Texas sun produced cactus water, a prime ingredient in natural earth plaster.
Earth Builders install Natural Earth Plaster on an exterior Compressed Earth block (CEB) wall system. The plaster is installed in 2 stages. Stage one, the scratch coat, is installed over the CEB (notice the scratches). Stage two, is a white lime plaster installed over the scratch coat. Both coats use Nopal cactus water as a binder.
Natural Lime plaster is made from the same material as the compressed Earth block and when fully cured on the wall system will become a permanent part of the CEB wall.
Earth Builders install natural Earth Plaster to the garage area of the Jarvis House.
A view of a earth builder installing the final coat of earth plaster.
A view of exterior natural earth plaster on the front porch area. The earth plaster will fully cure in 4 to 7 days. The plaster is semi permeable allowing moisture to be absorbed through the wall. This allows the Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) maintain a balanced equilibrium with the environment. This process of absorbing moisture, also allows heat to travel through the moisture and is called heat flux. One of the benefits of a earth structure allows for better balance to ambient temperature and humidity changes.
Interior Lime plaster installed in a interior room. Window and doors are simply framed and finished out as with a standard light frame constructed home.
Roofers install a Gavalume standing seam roof system. This roof system is selected for its reflectivity. When used in conjunction in a integrated way with other sustainable strategies the performance of the home is greatly enhanced.
The Jarvis House is equipped with a prototype integrated multimedia system (IMS) that is being developed to better enhance user interface and system diagnostic.
A view of the unfinished 2nd floor.
A view of the grey water containment tanks. Each tank is capable of collecting and storing 2,500 gallons of grey water and rain water harvested from the roof surface. The water can be utilized for irrigation purposes.
A view of a high performance HVAC system consisting of metal round duct that can be easily cleaned using a spider. This allows for greater control over contaminants. A standard home of this size would require over 7 tons of air conditioning. However, the Jarvis house can easily function efficiently with only 3 tons and no SEER rated system.
Exterior view of the Jarvis house shortly after finish out.
Finished view of the master bathroom showing the shower.
Finished view of the master bathroom showing the vanities.
Interior view showing the relationship between Compressed Earth Block (CEB) wall, Interior gypsum wall and wood trim packages.
Interior view of the 2nd floor stairway.
Interior View of the half bath.
Interior view showing Kitchen
Interior view showing the kitchen and pantry.
JARVIS HOUSE AVERAGE ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE (JANUARY 2013 -
Construction Type/ Series
Construction Date
Air Conditioned Space
Class
Exterior Wall System
Exterior Wall Insulation
Ceiling Installation
Roof System
Roof
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioner SEER Rating
Average Thermostat Setting
Electrical Performance Efficiency Average Monthly Electrical Bill
Operation cost Per Square Foot
CONTROL HOUSE
Wood Frame
2002
2,180 Square Feet
3 Bed/ 2 Bath/ 3 Car
2x4 with Brick exterior
Batt/ R-
Batt/ R-
Asphalt Shingle
16”
7 Tons
10 SEER
78° Per Year
Control
$330.15
$0.15
Wood Frame/ 003
2003
2,290 Square Feet
3 Bed/ 2 Bath/ 2 Car
2x6 with Brick exterior
Batt/ R-
Batt/ R-
Gavalume® Standing Seal
24”
7 tons
15 SEER
75° Per Year
18% Increase
$269.93
$0.12
JARVIS HOUSE
Earthen/ 012
2012
2,717 Square Feet
4 Bed/ 2 .5 Bath/ 2 Car
14” Compressed Earth Block
None
None
Gavalume® Standing Seal
24”
3 Tons
<6 SEER
68° Per Year
74% Increase
$146.77
$0.05
Earthen/ 010
2010
1,380 Square Feet
3 Bed/ 2 Bath/ 2 Car
14” Compressed Earth Block
None
None
Asphalt Shingle
24”
3 tons
15 SEER
74° Per Year
58% Increase
$92.44
$0.07
