Case Study

Vital Stats Location: Kent Star Level: 5-Star Checklist: Single Family/Townhome Verifier: Pam Worner, Green Dog Enterprises Section Points Site and Water 136 Energy Efficiency 180 Indoor Air Quality 144 Material Efficiency 147 House Size Multiplier 1.0 Total Score 602

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Sockeye Homes – Auburn, WA
Project: 5-Star Demonstration Home

This 5-Star demonstration home by Sockeye Homes was completed and certified in January. The five-acre site provided plenty of opportunity for infiltration, but the real water innovation came with the 1,500-gallon cistern and bathtub drainage gray-water irrigation system. The home's modeled energy performance shows a 40 percent improvement over the current Washington State Energy Code and achieved a HERS score of 55. The exceptionally tight 0.2 ACH envelope is heated hydronically by a Daikin Altherma boiler and lit by compact fluorescent and LED lighting. To improve air quality, the home is exclusively heated by the radiant system, used no wood products with urea formaldehyde and uses a set of alternating fans, including one wired to the garage door to ensure the right air balance. Finally, in materials, the home achieved a 90 percent recycling rate for construction waste. For walls, they used insulated concrete forms for below grade walls, advanced framing for the walls above grade and structural insulated panels for the roof. Both the Caesarstone countertops and hard surface tile are recycled content, and finger-jointed wood was used for both window frames and trim.

Some of the many green features of the project include:

Site and Water Protection

• 1,500-gallon cistern provided for irrigation needs
• Gray water system for irrigation
• Exclusively landscaped with drought tolerant and plants
• More than 30 percent of trees on site retained, with deciduous trees on south side of home
• Topsoil protected on-site for re-use and amended to 10-12 inches
• Pervious materials used for at least one-third of all hardscape areasPervious materials used for at least one-third of all hardscape areas
• Dual flush toilets installed in all units
• Low-flow showerheads and kitchen and bathroom faucets used to reduce water and energy use

Energy Efficiency

• Modeled homes to achieve 40 percent improvement over 2009 Washington State Energy Code
• Scored a HERS rating of 55
• Insulated concrete forms used for below grade walls
• Structural insulated panels used for roof
• Advanced framing for above grade walls with Blow in Blanket System (BIBS) insulation
• Blower door test showed leakage of only 0.2 ACH
• Daikin Altherma radiant system used for home heating
• 100 percent of lighting is either compact fluorescent or LED
• Installed Energy Star refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine in all homes
• Electrical conduits for future photovoltaic use installed
• Home also certified by Energy Star Homes Northwest

Indoor Air Quality

• Installed whole-home radiant system
• No wood products with added urea-formaldehyde used
• Used low-VOC paint for all interior surface areas
• Used low-VOC, low-toxic water-based sealants and adhesives for flooring, tile and grout
• Installed fan timed to garage door opener to reduce fumes in home
• Used PEX plumbing rather than PVC
• Installed a central vacuum system exhausted to the outside
• Installed sloped sill pans with end dams and back dams for all windows
• Installed sill protection at windows and doors

Material Use

• Achieved overall recycling rate of 90 percent
• Installed locally produced lumber, siding and windows
• Used finger-jointed wood for trim and window frames
• Used Advanced Framing on 24" centers for walls and SIP roof
• Install recycled glass Caesarstone countertops and hard surface tile
• Concrete was amended by at least 25 percent fly ash
• Installed a metal roof
• Built-in recycling center provided in utility room

Still Images

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Photos courtesy of Tod Sakai.

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