TC Legend Homes Staff - Legend Homes

Read Our 2016 Housing Innovation Award-Winner Case Study

by TC Legend Homes Staff | Mar 26, 2017 | Featured Projects

TC Legend Homes built this 2,463-ft2 home in Seattle, Washington, to the performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program. The two-story home has SIP walls and triple-pane windows for draft-free construction and high insulation values.

Project Data

Name: 19th Avenue
Location: Seattle, WA
Layout: 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 2 fl, 2,463 ft2
Climate Zone: IECC 4C, marine
Completion: May 2016
Category: custom for buyer

Modeled Performance Data

HERS Index: without PV 44, with PV -2
Projected Annual Energy Costs: without PV $1,053, with PV $25
Projected Annual Energy Cost Savings (vs home built to 2012 IECC): without PV $811, with PV $1,889
Projected Annual Energy Savings: without PV 9,453 kWh, with PV 20,993 kWh
Added Construction Cost: without PV $0

When a net-zero-energy home can be built at a cost on par with traditional construction, everyone wins. TC Legend Homes is helping to usher in a new era of green construction in which home owners don’t have to choose between cutting-edge efficiency and staying on budget.

“Over the last decade, we’ve developed practices that allow us to build net-zeroenergy homes for the same price as traditionally constructed homes. Sometimes,
we are able to build them for even less,” said TC Legend Homes’ owner and lead Ted W. Clifton, Jr.

“We know we are doing something right because our services are in high demand,” said Clifton, who is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, but also builds in the Seattle area.

One way TC Legend Homes is achieving net zero is by building to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program. DOE has honored the builder with four Housing Innovation Awards since 2013, including a grand award in 2014 in the affordable category
and a 2016 award in the custom home category. The 2016 award-winner is a two-story, 2,463-ft² home located next to another TC Legend Home on an urban
infill lot in Seattle.

The high-performance features of this home, combined with the 9.5-kW PV system
and solar water heating, help the home achieve a Home Energy Rating System
(HERS) score of minus 2. That equates to calculated annual utility costs of $25
(counting service charges) or enough electricity to power the all-electric home. If
the home performs better than calculated, it will cover the power for the electric
car charging station in the garage as well. Even without the PV, the home would
achieve a HERS score of 44, far better than the HERS 80 to 100 of typical homes.

Clifton is used to getting such scores. He has been certifying homes to the DOE
Zero Energy Ready Home program since 2013. His previous winning homes have
HERS scores ranging from -12 to 13 with PV or 34 to 43 without PV. Clifton has
committed to building all of his future homes to the program.

The DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program requires homes to meet all of the
requirements of ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3.0 and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor airPLUS program as well as the
hot water distribution requirements of the EPA’s WaterSense program and the
insulation requirements of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.
In addition, homes are required to have solar electric panels installed or have
the conduit and electrical panel space in place for future photovoltaic panel
installation.

The 2016 award-winning home was situated on the northern edge of the lot to maximize southern exposure. “Our houses are designed from the ground up to take advantage of the sun. A passive solar layout like the one in this house means lots of windows facing south and few facing north,” said Clifton. The long axis of the house is east to west to allow for maximized solar exposure for the PV and solar hot water systems and for passive solar heating. High-quality triple-paned, vinyl-framed windows were located on the south side of the house to maximize
solar heat gain. The builder polishes and stains the concrete floor slab to use as the finished flooring; its thermal mass absorbs heat from the sun during the day and slowly releases it at night to provide beneficial passive solar heating.

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) were used for the walls and roofs. “We chose SIPs for their excellent insulation values, airtightness, and ease of construction,” said Clifton. SIPs consist of two layers of OSB sandwiching a layer of rigid expanded polystyrene foam. They arrive from the factory as 4x8-foot sheets or precut for doors and windows as required for each wall. Clifton uses locally made panels that come precisely cut, allowing for fast construction, a strong, airtight
shell, and practically zero jobsite waste. The TC Legend Homes crew is trained in
SIPs construction, which helps assembly go smoothly. Clifton has used SIPs ever
since he began constructing homes with his father, Whidbey Island builder and
designer Ted L. Clifton, while in high school. Ted Clifton Jr. is on site daily to
oversee every step of the TC Legend home construction process, allowing for any
problems to be quickly fixed.

For the winning home’s walls, Clifton specified R-29, 6-inch SIPs that are glued
and taped at all interior and exterior joints. The panels are covered with house
wrap that is overlapped and taped to serve as a drainage plane under the fiber
cement siding. The roof decking consists of R-42, 10-inch SIPs, also taped at all
interior and exterior joints. The whole roof deck is covered with self-adhering
ice-and-water shield, which provides a weather-resistant layer under the asphalt
shingles. There is no attic in the home. Because the SIP panels provide the
insulation and roof decking in one layer, all of the home’s upper-floor rooms
can have vaulted ceilings.

The home has a slab-on-grade foundation with stem walls made of insulated
concrete forms (ICFs) that wrap the sides of the slab in R-23 of insulation while
an R-20 layer of rigid foam covers the ground under the entire slab. Seams are
taped and the rigid foam layer serves as the vapor barrier between the ground and
the home.

The concrete floor slab contains radiant floor loops. Water for the radiant floor
heating is provided by the roof-mounted evacuated tube solar hot water system
and by an ultra-efficient air-to-water heat pump with a coefficient of performance
(COP) of 4.5. These systems also provide domestic hot water. The heat pump’s
indoor unit is centrally located on the main floor. Low-flow fixtures help cut
water usage.

ENERGY STAR-rated appliances also reduce water and energy usage. All of the
home’s lighting is provided by LEDs, adding to energy savings.
The home was assessed by a home energy rater per DOE Zero Energy Ready
Home requirements and showed air leakage of only 0.60 air changes per hour
at 50 Pascals. That’s equivalent to the Passive House Institute U.S. Standards
and three times tighter than required by the newest energy code. (The 2015
International Energy Conservation Code requires 3 ACH 50 or less.)

To provide good ventilation for the home, the builder installed timered exhaust
fans to provide spot ventilation in the four-bedroom home’s 2.5 bathrooms. The
range hood fan is timer controlled with a 200-cfm fan that pulls fresh air into the
home through a vent located downstairs on the north side of the home. Both fans
can be set to come on for balanced ventilation during the day and for night-time
cooling in the summer.

Use of low- and no-VOC paints, finishes, and flooring and good moisture
management practices like site grading and drainage were among the measures
the builder installed to comply with the requirements of the EPA’s Indoor
airPLUS checklist.

Home Certifications

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program, 100% commitment
ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3.1
EPA Indoor airPLUS

In a “green” market like the Pacific Northwest, marketing DOE Zero Energy
Ready Homes is easy. TC Legends has found it gets more than enough
customers through these avenues: 1) referrals from other customers; 2) TC
Legends’ website; 3) TC Legends’ presence on other websites, for example the
DOE Tour of Zero and Housing Innovation Awards sites; and 4) participation
in the annual Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s Green Home Tour.

“Because TC Legend Homes builds custom homes, most of our potential
customers approach us already wanting an energy-efficient home. We educate our
customers about how our homes are different from most houses and about how we
achieve net-zero energy and positive energy in the homes we build,” said Clifton.
“By conserving as much energy as possible, these homes will be able to offset
more than 100% of their electricity usage with the roof-sized solar electric
systems.” said Clifton.

By value engineering and fine-tuning their processes, TC Legends is able to achieve zero energy at surprisingly low cost. “We only do net zero energy construction, and for less than most builders in the area do regular construction. We average $200/ft² including solar,” said Clifton.

Key Features

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Path: Performance.
Walls: R-29, 6" SIP taped at all interior and exterior joints, fiber cement siding.
Roof: R-42, 10" SIP taped at all interior and exterior joints. Ice-and-water shield, asphalt shingles.
Attic: None.
Foundation: R-23 ICF stem walls, R-20 rigid foam under slab.
Windows: Triple-pane, vinyl-framed, low-e windows, U=0.21.
Air Sealing: 0.60 ACH 50.
Ventilation: Timered exhaust fans.
HVAC: Evacuated tube solar hot water and 4.5 COP air-to-water heat pump for in-floor radiant hydronic heat.
Hot Water: Air-to-water heat pump, COP 4.5.
Lighting: 100% LED.
Appliances: ENERGY STAR refrigerator, clothes washer, range hood; induction cooktop.
Solar: 9.5-kW PV, evacuated tube solar hot water.
Water Conservation: Low-flow fixtures; centrally located water heater.
Other: Low-VOC paints and finishes.
Electric vehicle charging stati

The U.S. Department of Energy invites home builders across the country to meet the extraordinary levels of excellence and quality specified in DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home program (formerly known as Challenge Home). Every DOE Zero Energy Ready Home starts with ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3.0 for an energy-efficient home built on a solid foundation of building science research. Advanced technologies are designed in to give you superior construction, durability, and comfort; healthy indoor air; high-performance HVAC, lighting, and appliances; and solar-ready components for low or no utility bills in a quality home that will last for generations to come.

For more information on the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program
go to https://energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-home

Download the case study in PDF.

TC Legend Wins Housing Innovation Award from the US Department of Energy

by TC Legend Homes Staff | Aug 9, 2016 | Press

The DOE Housing Innovation Awards recognize nation’s top builders on the path to Zero Energy Ready Homes.

The US Department of Energy has announced that TC Legend Homes has been awarded a 2016 Housing Innovation Award in the Custom category. Grand Winners in each category will be announced at the 2016 Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony, Wednesday, September 27, at the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference, in Dallas, Texas.

“Housing Innovation Award winners such as TC Legend Homes are leading a major housing industry transformation to zero energy ready homes. This level of performance is the home of the future because it improves the way Americans live by substantially reducing or eliminating utility bills, ensuring engineered comfort way beyond traditional homes, protecting health with a comprehensive package of indoor air quality measures, and helping maximize the largest investment of a lifetime,” said Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office.

“These winners are leading the movement to Zero Energy Ready Homes that provide better places for Americans to live, stronger communities, and a more economically and environmentally resilient nation,” said Rashkin.

Visit the U.S Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Award’s website to learn more about the awards. Winning homes from previous award years can be viewed on the DOE Tour of Zero.

TC Legend Homes Wins Home of the Year Award from Green Builder® Magazine

by TC Legend Homes Staff | Dec 24, 2015 | Press

Green Builder Media recently announced the winners of its 8th Annual Green Home of the Year Awards, recognizing this year’s best green homes. TC Legend Homes won the "Best Alternative Construction" category for its Bellingham Power House.

Judges evaluated the entries on comprehensive criteria, including siting, the depth of building science employed, materials sourcing and reuse and overall resilience. All winners will be showcased in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of Green Builder magazine.

“Every year we think we have maxed out the possibilities with the current crop of entries, until we get the new set of entries the following year,” says Green Builder Media President, Ron Jones. “I have to say that I am completely blown away by the judges selections for this year’s awards and amazed by the diversity of project types, geographic locations, selections of materials/products/systems, and architectural styles. The masterful combining of creativity and building science so beautifully and convincingly demonstrated in these projects should inspire everyone, everywhere in the shelter industry to emulate these extraordinary designers and builders."

The Bellingham Power House, winner of Green Builder magazine's Home of the Year Award in the "Best Alternative Construction" category.

This year’s judging panel included some of the most forward thinking individuals in the building industry.

Bill Rectanus is the vice president of Homebuilding Operations for Thrive Home Builders (formerly New Town Builders) and is responsible for the implementation of their “High Performance Building Initiative.”
Sam Hagerman is the co-founder and co-owner of Hammer and Hand, a construction company dedicated to inciting evolution in building through service, craft and science.
Steve Byers is the CEO of EnergyLogic which serves a variety of clients in the residential and light commercial energy efficiency and sustainability spaces helping to “make buildings better."

This was a big year for the Bellingham Power House, which also won a Housing Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Energy. This unique home goes way beyond zero-energy-ready by not only producing enough solar electricity to meet the home's needs but generates enough of a surplus to power the owners' two electric cars.

About Green Builder Magazine

Green Builder® magazine is the building industry’s leading magazine focused on green building and sustainable development. Green Builder offers practical, cost-effective information to a community of the most advanced building professionals across the country. The magazine’s nationally award winning editorial team blends top-quality visionary content with sophisticated design to generate an unforgettable publication that addresses the most important issues of our time.

About Green Builder Media

Green Builder® Media, LLC is the leading media company in North America focused on green building and sustainable living. With a comprehensive suite of print and digital media solutions, demonstration projects, case studies, online training, and live events, Green Builder Media assists building professionals in preparing themselves for the new green economy and helps homeowners understand how to live more sustainably.

TC Legend Homes Wins National Award for Its Bellingham Powerhouse

by TC Legend Homes Staff | Aug 18, 2015 | Press

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that TC Legend Homes was chosen from builders across the nation to win a Housing Innovation Award for our Bellingham Power House.

The Housing Innovation Awards recognize the very best in innovation on the path to zero energy ready homes. Our entry goes way beyond zero-energy-ready by not only producing enough solar electricity to meet the home's needs but generates enough of a surplus to power the owners' two electric cars.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) Housing Innovation Award Winners are selected for each of four categories: custom, production, multifamily, and affordable homes. One DOE ZERH Grand Housing Innovation Award Winner will be announced from among the winners in each of these categories at the 2015 Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony held on October 6, 2015, at the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & Expo in Denver, Colorado. We were thrilled to be chosen as a Grand Winner in 2014, and our fingers are crossed to win this distinction again this year.

You can learn more about our winning entries by browsing the excellent U.S. Department of Energy Tour of Zero case studies:

Net Zero In Seattle (2013 Housing Innovation Award Winner)

Cedarwood (2014 Housing Innovation Grand Award Winner)

Learn more about our Bellingham Power House (2015 Housing Innovation Award Winner)

Our Bellingham Power House Takes Shape

by TC Legend Homes Staff | Feb 24, 2015 | Featured Projects

There's nothing we love more than building overachieving homes. Our latest project will not only produce enough solar electricity to meet its own energy needs, but it will produce surplus power to charge two electric cars: a Tesla Model S and a Nissan Leaf.

Nicknamed the Power House, it is the first of its kind in Whatcom County and one of few such homes in the world.

Perhaps more remarkable than the home’s efficiency is its modest price tag. Shared by two couples and three children, the 3,000-square-foot custom home will cost under $110 per square foot to build, significantly less than most other residential construction projects in Bellingham.

With its airtight shell, structural insulated panel (SIP) construction, numerous south-facing windows, highly efficient heat pump, and approximately 10,000-watt solar panel array (built by Bellingham’s own iTek Energy), this one-of-a-kind house has no electrical bills and costs nothing to heat. No oil, natural gas, or other fuels are used.

The home sends power to the city’s electrical grid when the sun is out and draws it during the night or on cloudy days. (Contrary to popular belief, the Pacific Northwest is an excellent place for solar.) Averaged over the entire year, the panels produce more power than the house uses, with enough of a surplus to power the two electric cars through on-site charging stations.

The house will qualify for a one-time federal tax credit of approximately $10,500 and Washington State solar production credits of approximately $5,000 a year until 2020.

The owners are also saving money by teaming up with friends. The Power House is being built under a unique co-ownership agreement between the owners of TC Legend Homes, Ted Clifton and Rachel Lee, and their longtime friend Eric Murphy.

The house features two residences, each with its own private entrance, connected by a 700-square-foot common area.

Eric Murphy, a professional mountaineering guide who leads trips around the world, says he is especially enthused by the climbing wall and home brewing area that will be integrated into the home’s shared space.

The house has a system to harvest rainwater from the roof into a 3,000-gallon cistern, which also helps to trim the home’s utility bills.

The Cliftons will be irrigating their eighth-acre vegetable garden using only water they collect.

The home will show that cutting-edge energy efficiency can actually be affordable. By eliminating entire categories of expenses, like your home heating bill, your electrical bill, and now even your gasoline bill for your cars, then you can really see how this idea can pay off. And if one house can be shared by two families, you come out even further ahead.

Bellingham’s first positive-energy house will be completed early this spring.