Case Study

Click below for other views: Exterior Rendering Window View Waterfront view Rooftop Flowerbed Deconstruction 1 Deconstruction 2 Roof Removal Spray In Insulation 1 Spray In Insulation 2 Exterior 1 Exterior 2

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“Going Green at the Beach”

This month’s featured project is also a green building tour event. “Going Green at the Beach,” the brainchild of Dave Porter, a green building lender from Countrywide Home Loans, and his wife Anna, is a unique exploration of the possibilities open to all of us to make meaningful changes in how we live and the choices we make. Located in Snohomish County, the project is expected to receive Built Green’s 5-star certification rating. The project is aiming to meet the requirement of all the residential green building certification programs, including Energy Star® Home, and the American Lung Association Health House.

The project converts a 100-year-old house into an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible home while providing a beautiful, comfortable living space that would meet the family’s current and future needs.

To help others benefit from their experience, the project is a demonstration home for green design, systems and materials, documenting options, choices and decisions, as well as the ongoing performance of the home. Through the website, www.goinggreenatthebeach.com, tours, presentations, media coverage and other educational tools, the Porters will share much more than just the look of their “deep green” home. You’ll learn the opportunities and obstacles they faced, understand why they made the choices they did and see first-hand how a green home is built.

Project Vision

The rebuilt home demonstrates the latest in green building standards and green living “best practices.” Features will range from available and affordable components that anyone can embrace to deep green ideas meant to challenge and inspire.  

Some of the many green features include:

Efficient Use of Space

• Rebuilt on original footprint
• Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)

Reused Materials

• Deconstruction of original structure (80 percent of material diverted)
• Salvage and reuse of doors, cabinets and other items from original structure

Low Impact Site Development and Landscaping

• Use of compost for stormwater management
• Vegetated “green” roof segments for energy and stormwater management
• Pervious paving material

Water Conservation

• Dual flush toilets
• Rainwater collection system
• Tankless hot water with recirculation system

Energy-Efficiency

• Geothermal heat
• High efficiency windows
• Advanced framing

Healthy Indoor Air

• No carpet
• Low toxic finishes
• Formaldehyde-free cabinets

Sustainably Produced and Durable Materials

• FSC certified wood products
• Recycled glass tile
• Cork flooring
• 40-year metal roof

Educational and Outreach Goals

“Going Green at the Beach” is not just about rebuilding a home: it’s about using the home, the process of building it and its subsequent performance as an educational tool for the building industry and the public.

Plans underway to accomplish this include:

• Extensive photographic and written documentation during the design and construction process
• Public tours and private tours of the home during three weekends in October and early November of 2007
• Publicly available post-occupancy reports documenting the home’s utility bills, water usage and performance of the green features, along with reflections on green living
• Compilation of a resource guide to products, services and other sources of information
• Educational signage throughout the home using different shades of green to identify options ranging from “light green” (easy to adopt with minimal if any additional cost) all the way to “dark green” (cutting-edge technology).

Still Images

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