Case Study

Vital Stats Location: Ballard Star Level: 5-Star Checklist: Single Family/Townhome Verifier: Diane Glenn/Daimon Doyle Section Points Site and Water 138 Energy Efficiency 225 Indoor Air Quality 154 Material Efficiency 128 House Size Multiplier 1.05 Total Score 678

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TC Legend Homes– Bellingham, WA
Project: 5-Star Custom Home

This Built Green 5-Star custom home in Ballard is only the second in the region to receive the Zero Energy designation through Built Green. With a super-insulated structural insulated panel (SIP) envelope, triple pane windows, a high efficiency heat pump heating system and a 6.8 kilowatt solar array to produce power, this home will produce as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. In addition to its extraordinary energy performance, this home, which is on an urban site, reduces runoff with a 200-square-foot rain garden and captures rainwater in oak barrels. In addition to Built Green, it is certified by the EPA's Indoor Air Plus program, which speaks to the indoor air quality features of the home. In material conservation, the builder achieved a 90-percent-plus construction waste recycling rate and used salvaged materials extensively in the finishing of the home. TC Legend Homes even used B99 Biodiesel in the box van servicing the project. This is the kind of carbon reducing project that is on the cutting edge of high performance building, and it demonstrates a level of building performance rarely seen anywhere, much less on an urban infill site..

Some of the many green features of the project include:

Site and Water Protection

• 200-square-foot rain garden
• Oak rain barrels to capture and store 1,000 gallons of rainwater
• Urban infill site within walking distance of countless amenities
• Exclusively landscaped with drought tolerant plants
• No turf grass in landscaping
• All topsoil was preserved on-site for reuse
• B-99 Biodiesel was used for form releaser on foundation
• Landscaped soils were amended to 10-12 inches
• Pervious materials used for at least one-third of all hardscape areas
• High efficiency toilets installed
• Low-flow showerheads and kitchen and bathroom faucets used to reduce water and energy use

Energy Efficiency

• Homes modeled to achieve zero-energy use on a net annual basis
• Power for home provided by a 6.8 kw solar photovoltaic array
• SIPs provide a highly efficient airtight envelope
• Blower door test showed air tightness of 0.56 ACH50
• High efficiency ductless heat pump
• Advanced solar design with triple pane windows
• Triple pane windows average U-value of 0.21
• All lighting either compact fluorescent or LED
• Energy Star refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine
• Clothesline outside to reduce use of dryer

Indoor Air Quality

• Installed whole-home radiant system
• No wood or MDF products with added urea-formaldehyde
• Low-VOC paint
• Low-VOC, low-toxic water-based sealants and adhesives
• Full indoor air-quality plan strategy executed
• Certified by EPA Indoor Air Plus
• No attached garage
• Whole house fan with HEPA filter
• Envelope professionally inspected

Material Use

• Overall recycling rate of 90 percent
• Used salvaged materials including:
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Stair treads and risers
  • Two cast-iron bathtubs
  • Wine barrels for rainwater catchment
  • Timbers for front porch
  • Wood chips for driveways and paths
  • Glass blocks
  • Kitchen range
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Kitchen sink
• Reduced wood waste by using factory constructed SIPs
• Extensive use of locally sourced materials
• Reduced interior walls through open floor plan
• Installed finger-jointed MDF trim
• Installed a 40-year roof
• Used B99 Biodiesel box truck to service site

Still Images

Click on an image to enlarge.

 

Photos courtesy of Eric Thomas.

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