Green Projects
Built Green + Sustainable Case Studies
Green Dwelling in Cle Elum 2009
County: Kittitas
Builder: Merle Inc.
Type: 2400 square feet Single family craftsman with auxiliary living unit
This 4 star built Green and Energy Star Rated home sets a great example for builders and homeowners by proving that going green doesn’t have to break the bank. Demonstrations of cost effective energy and resource efficiencies are prevalent throughout this well designed contemporary craftsman built on an in-fill lot within a block of the business district of downtown Cle Elum, Washington.
The homeowners can walk to many basic services including grocery stores, restaurants, hardware store, and the post office. A separate living unit has been designed over the garage allowing an additional residence or office without impacting the family space in the main dwelling. Since the minimum average temperature in Cle Elum is below freezing for 6 months of the year and has an annual average snowfall of over 80 inches per year, this builder took great care to use state of the art energy efficient insulation and heating systems including closed cell foam insulation, hydronic radiant floor heat, heat recovery ventilation system and on-demand hot water heating. The builder of this home was also very resourceful in use of materials. Concrete floors were used throughout the main level but various finish techniques were applied.
The Healthy Home in the Valley 2009
Project Location: Mapleway, Selah
Project Owners: Brian and Tricia Smith
Builder: Steve Weise
Marketing & Technical Consultant: Brenda Nunes, Sustainability Foundation
Marketing & Certification: Carly Faul, Central Washington Built Green Association
Verification: Mark Hughey, Green Energy Management
Media Relations: Isen and Company
Builder: Steve Weise, Inc.
For the Case Study Click "Here"
The project aims to increase awareness of health and indoor-air quality. It will showcase products and systems that may help improve the air-quality of the home.
“We are looking to demonstrate how to build a home that implements safe, non-toxic alternatives to toxic building materials. Our hope is that our new home will provide a toxic free environment in which our children can thrive,” Tricia Smith, Homeowner.
The project will be thoroughly documented via a website (www.healthyhomeinthevalley.com), progression and finish photography, educational presentations and media outreach, culminating in public and industry tours and events when the home is completed in July, 2009. Design decisions, product choices, and construction methods will be explained and shown, with resources provided for individuals wanting to learn more. The project will be seeking certification through Central Washington Built Green®, ENERGY STAR Homes®, and NAHB Green Building Program
Selected Features
Site Development: Limited site disturbance, pervious pavers and drought-tolerant native vegetation.
Resource Efficiency: Healthy innovative, durable and recycled content or recyclable materials. Reclaimed timber beams.
Energy: JM Spyder Insulation, duct system performance testing, Energy Star® lighting and appliances. The second floor was designed with energy savings in mind. The custom floor trusses have been designed to house the HVAC trunk lines, minimizing heat lost during extreme temperature swings. Solar heated domestic hot water system. Infrastructure is in place for solar panels to heat the water for the Wirsbo whole house in floor radiant heat system.
Health and Air Quality: All indoor components of the home have been chosen to conform to ultra-low VOC levels. To help ensure that the indoor air is clean a whole house heat recovery ventilation system and a high quality electronic filtering systems have been added. To minimize urea-formaldehyde out-gassing no oriented strand board particle board or high density glue to wood products are used in any of the walls, sub-flooring or roof sheathing. Environmentally friendly: paints, caulking and sealants.
Construction Efficiencies: The foundation is constructed with the LEED approved ARXX ICU’s, coupled with Arxx’s bullet proof water proofing membrane and a geocomposite drain system.
Going Green at the Beach 2007
In 2006, the Porters vowed to transform their ramshackle 100-year-old beachfront house into an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible home that would meet the strictest green home guidelines while providing a beautiful, comfortable living space that would meet their family’s current and future needs. To help others benefit from their experience, they committed to making the project a demonstration home for green design, systems, and materials, and to document their options, choices, and decisions as well as the performance of the home.
The Built Green Home at Suncadia 2006
The Built Green™ Home at Suncadia is a custom, environmental-friendly mountain lodge-style home that highlights the fiscal benefits, as well as the environmental and health benefits, of utilizing "green" materials and building techniques. The Built Green™ Home at Suncadia demonstrates that a spectacular, custom-built home, complete with the finest craftsmanship, can provide value through sustainable, earth-friendly building.
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Built Green Home At Suncadia |
Home 3
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The Healthy Home |
Home 2
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Green Dwelling In Cle Elum |