This just in and hot off the press – the House in the Hollow Case Study! TC Legend built this net-zero house through the winter of 2020/ 2021.

The house-in-a-hollow isn’t really in a hollow, it’s on a knoll, above protected wetlands, northeast of Bellingham. The hollow is formed by the trees, which were preserved to shield the house from overheating, and to conserve the flora of the native wetlands.

Measuring 1950 square feet, this Department-of-Energy certified Net Zero clerestory design has a central kitchen and a 1st floor aging-in-place floorplan. Designed for an Alaskan couple whose love of the outdoors demanded a house that fully engaged with the landscape, plenty of daylight is admitted & access to outdoor living is easy.

“Builder TC Legend Homes of Bellingham, Washington, aims for quality and sustainability in every home it constructs and company founder Ted Clifton Jr. has found the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program is an ideal way to achieve that goal.”

“The DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program is a great benchmark not only for ourselves, but for all those looking to build or purchase a home that is eco-friendly. Since the program incorporates ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS, holds high standards for energy efficiency, and is nationwide, it is an easy way to compare homes across the board and that reduces confusion for purchasers,” said Clifton.

“It’s also great that the DOE program has a very low cost barrier. There are many other certification programs that charge large fees, making it difficult for small builders to participate. Or, the cost of the fees gets passed along in higher home prices, increasing the barrier to purchase for many people,” Clifton added.

Since 2015, TC Legend Homes has built all of its homes to the DOE program criteria. The builder typically constructs one spec home and five or six custom homes for buyers each year and currently has nine homes under construction. In 2022, the builder was recognized by DOE for its efforts with a Housing Innovation Grand Award in the category “Custom for Buyer under 2,500 ft2.”

Modeled Performance Data of House in the Hollow:

• HERS INDEX: without PV: 33 with PV: -23

• Annual Energy Costs: without PV: $600; with PV: $-280

• Annual Energy Cost Savings: without PV: $1,200; with PV: $2,150

• Annual Energy Savings: without PV: 8,400 kWh; with PV: 20,350 kWh

• Savings in the First 30 Years: without PV: $48,930; with PV: $86,550

Read & download the full case study HERE.

Learn more about the house build & see the the full gallery of pictures HERE.

Related Posts

The Happy Medium

The Happy Medium

The Happy Medium Written by: Senna Scott TC Legend Homes Co-Owner, Norm DesRosiers, was born and raised in Alaska. As part of the Federal Homestead Act Program, Norm’s parents were given four acres, in upper southeast Alaska, just outside of Glacier Bay. They built a...

12 Shocking Housing Statistics You Should Know!

12 Shocking Housing Statistics You Should Know!

12 Shocking Housing Statistics You Should Know! Written by: Nicole Miller  When talking about where we need to go next in the housing industry, it's important to look at where we are currently and what our trajectory is. This will help us determine the needs of...

Award Winning Samish Solar Home Case Study

Award Winning Samish Solar Home Case Study

Written by: Nicole Miller The U.S. Department of Energy announced that the submission for the Samish Solar Home from Powerhouse Designs and TC Legend Homes has been selected as a 2023 Housing Innovation Awards Winner! This national award represents a...

Zero-Energy Building Fan?

Sign up for TC Legend updates.