Case Study

Vital Stats Location: Seattle, South Park Star Level: 4-Star Checklist: Single Family / Townhomes Average Square Feet: 892 Section Points Site and Water 114 Energy Efficiency 85 Indoor Air Quality 81 Material Efficiency 101 House Size Multiplier 1.14 Home Total Score 434

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Pb Elemental Architecture
Project: The South Park Lofts

This month’s featured project is The South Park Lofts in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. This 5 unit townhome project, developed and built by Pb Elemental Architecture, features a 100 percent permeable site, construction of community spaces, no lawns, and landscaping that will require no irrigation. On the energy efficiency side, the homes are modeled to perform 17-22 percent better than Washington State Energy Code depending on the unit. They feature solar panel awnings and radiant slab heating with a .82 Caef boiler. According to Greg Squires from Pb Elemental Architecture, thanks to the operable skylights in the master suites, the chimney effect is in effect. To see a more complete inventory on the strategies utilized in the project, please see below.

Some of the many green features of the project include:

Site and Water Protection

• Site is 100 percent pervious excluding home footprints
• Drought tolerant and native landscaping used exclusively, no lawns
• Use of dual flush toilets in all units
• Front porches on all units
• Extensive provision of community spaces and walkways
• Provision of rain barrels to each household
• Used no garages

Energy-Efficiency

• Homes estimated to perform 17-22 percent better than Washington State energy code
• 1 kW photovoltaic systems on units 1 and 2
• Installed .82 Caef rated hydronic systems and no ducted heating
• Installation of on-demand water heating
• Enrolled the residences in a utility based renewable electricity sources program
• Installed heating systems with separate zones and controls

Material Use

• Used source separated recycling for cardboard, metal scraps, wood, packaging, drywall, concrete and masonry, paint, glass and yard waste.
• Painted with recycled re-worked paint for interior surfaces
• Used bamboo for floors and some ceilings
• Installed hard surface tile with 40 percent recycled content
• Installed a 50-siding product and 30-year rated roofs
• No use of pressure treated lumber
• Framing with finger jointed studs
• Commissioned local artist to create sculpture of waste ABS and PEX pipe

Indoor Air Quality

• Open joint cedar/Hardi panel rainscreen
• No carpets used in homes
• No garages
• Used low toxic adhesives and sealers extensively
• Installed all shelving, molding, and trim that contained no added urea-formaldehyde
• Installed whole house radiant heating system, no forced air
• Installed a drainage plain between house wrap and siding

Still Images

Click on an image to enlarge.

Photos by Justin Horrocks.

 

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