Case Study & 2024 HIA Winner: The Lynden Powerhouse
Written by: Talia Dreicer, Nicole Miller & Senna Scott
The Lynden Powerhouse Case Study, written by Talia Dreicer, was featured in this season’s Master Builders Association Publication!
“The Lynden Powerhouse is a highly efficient, net-positive energy home that cultivates meaningful aging-in-place living and community connections in Lynden, Washington. Designed by Powerhouse Designs and built by TC Legend Homes, this 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home features three distinct living areas and seamlessly merges innovative design techniques, a high-efficiency HVAC system, and automation technology to create a beautiful and comfortable home. Receiving DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, ENERGY STAR, and EPA Indoor airPLUS certifications, along with a Built Green 5-star certification, this home is a shining example of
high-performance housing.
In the years leading up to their retirement, Baby Boomer couple Lee Anne Caylor and Bob Edmiston saw two potential paths. According to the couple, the choice was “a decision between lives of generativity or stagnation.” Caylor and Edmiston chose the path of generativity, focusing on creating a future where they could share time and knowledge with family, friends, and community. They started envisioning their future home, the Lynden Powerhouse, as an accessible, comfortable, and healthy living environment that would
enable meaningful intergenerational living and support human connection. The COVID-19 pandemic only furthered their interest in positively impacting the lives of their family, community, and the planet, helping them refocus from their professional goals towards providing solicitude for both younger and older family members alike. The couple also saw the Lynden Powerhouse as a chance to push the high-performance housing envelope. Edmiston, a self-described “mad scientist” with a technical background and keen mind for
understanding how things work, wanted to incorporate automation technology and add resiliency measures to optimize resources and reduce future financial burdens. Seeking a team that could deliver on their project goals, Caylor and Edmiston approached Powerhouse Designs and TC Legend Homes to design and build the Lynden Powerhouse.”
Additionally, we were excited to hear this week that Lynden Powerhouse is one of the 2024 DOE Housing Innovation Award winners! We don’t know what category the home has won yet, but we are beyond ecstatic and grateful to be receiving yet another win.
This was truly possible because of the collaboration with our incredible clients who were willing to push the envelope with us. We have the deepest appreciation for them and the innovative smart home features they created!
