In contrast, the interior is bright and well-lit by daylight flooding in through the windows, which will help minimize energy usage for lighting during the day. The house is also extremely well insulated; the exterior walls are covered in three inches of rigid foam, in addition the fiberglass blown-in blanket systems (BIBS) on the interior. The ceiling has a minimum of six inches of rigid foam on the exterior and the 16-inch-deep trusses are also packed with fiberglass BIBS. AeroBarrier helps reduce overall envelope leakage.

By combining AeroBarrier with a well-insulated envelope, RW Anderson was able to decrease the heating loads so the whole house could be heated (or cooled) with just a few ductless mini-split heads. This project also utilized a high-efficiency gas tankless water heater, Energy Star appliances, and high-efficacy lighting, allowing them to save over 40% more energy compared to a code-built house.

Beyond energy efficiency, many of the interior design choices were selected not only for their aesthetics, but also for their sustainability. Rather than using new materials throughout, many of the doors, light fixtures, and other products are salvaged material, with old markings bringing charm and character. The oak flooring used through is FSC and FloorScore certified.

The combination of all these items and the use of long-lasting siding products will reduce the overall impact on the environment while creating a beautiful, durable house.

It is also ideally located near parks, schools, restaurants, and the Queen Anne Ave. N strip, giving it an extremely high Walk Score. A covered front porch, an open-concept main floor, and a large kitchen island makes this the perfect design for entertaining guests.

Tucked away above the garage is a hidden feature of the house—a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU)! The studio-style DADU gives the new homeowners the flexibility and power to make rental income, if desired. The garage and DADU are conveniently located off the alley to provide privacy.

Beyond the flexibility provided by the DADU, C4Digs and developer Eiffel Tour LLC established their sustainability goals for this project early so that all the details could be ironed out and executed perfectly. Read on for some of the strategies utilized to achieve their Built Green 4-Star certification.

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

• All onsite trees saved
• 100% pervious hardscaping for water infiltration
• Nontoxic outdoor material used for landscaping
• Low-flow lavatory, showerheads, and kitchen fixtures
• Detached ADU

Energy Efficiency

• Fiberglass blown-in insulation
• 3.18ACH50 blower door score
• High-efficiency gas tankless water heater
• Ductless mini splits and in-floor hydronic heat
• Direct vent gas fireplace
• Energy Star appliances

A dynamically landscaped central courtyard and expansive views provide a feast for the eyes at The Elements on Dexter townhome development by Gamut360 Holdings. This Queen Anne development increased the original sites’ density by 600% while its central courtyard design, located above street level, optimizes natural views for added value to homebuyers.

Oversized windows let in an abundance of light. Every floor includes indoor-outdoor linkages through patios or decks and the roof-top decks deliver grand views of Lake Union and Gas Works Park. The homes’ stacked floor plans benefit from built-in, space-efficient storage and airy, floating stairwells.

Situated close to the popular South Lake Union Tech-work district residents will easily be able to hop on a bus or bike to many downtown locations. To support bike commuters and outdoor enthusiasts 16 dedicated bike spots and private storage areas are offered in the secure underground garage.

The ductless heat pump mini-split space conditioning and gas tankless water heater systems, combined with taped seam house wrap, EcoBatt wall insulations, Low-E windows, EnergyStar certified dishwasher and clothes washer and dryer, and LED lighting contributed to these homes achieving a modeled performance of 25.7% improvement over 2015 WSEC.

The project utilized locally produced brick siding, engineered framing lumber, cadet heaters, and windows. Superior indoor air quality was maintained by choosing materials with fewer toxins/VOCs in them to limit off-gassing inside the units—from the paints, caulks, adhesives, and sealants to the pre-finished hardwood flooring and millwork. Multiple materials with recycled content were selected to reduce resource extraction.