Fox Net Zero House

Fox Net Zero House

Fox Net Zero Home

Started in the winter, building the Fox Home was not without its challenges, but the challenges ended up working in our favor in the end and producing this beautiful and unique home. Right off the bat, after we poured the concrete slab, the weather turned and frosted. As we saved the slab from freezing using plastic sheets and hay, the wind kicked up and caused the hay to come into direct contact with the slab as it was curing. The hay interacted with the concrete and caused what turned out to be really cool color undulations which add to the home’s character. Now we are intentionally adding this option for future clients who want some extra pizzaz in their concrete floors!

We always love when clients add their personal touches to a home as well, and in this case that personal touch was in the form of a repurposed trash receptacle laundry chute!

 

Specs

  • Overview:

    • 1978sf SFR &  876sf garage
    • 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath SFR
    • Net Zero Energy
    • 1st floor aging-in-place
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-59 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.18 ACH50
    • HERS Index: -2
    • Annual Energy Cost Savings: $2,800
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

     
    Mechanical:

    • Ventiliation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and fan coil unit
    • PV: 9kW solar array with Enphase microinverters and battery ready

    Selections:

    • Thermatru exterior doors
    • Certified Cool Roof metal roofing
    • Birch doors and hemlock trim
    • Floor Score certified vinyl flooring & zero-VOC, anti-microbial underlayment
    • Quartz countertops
    • Thrifted plumbing fixtures
    • Europly maple cabinets
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows
          Bellingham Gentle Density DADU

          Bellingham Gentle Density DADU

          TC Legend Homes demolished an existing one-car garage and re-purposed the available space with a cozy, high-performance, 775 square foot, detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) that includes an attached single-car garage. The RE Store handled the structure demolition to maximize recycling opportunities and minimize waste.

          The DADU was designed from the ground up to be net-positive-energy, meaning it will produce more energy on an annual basis than it requires. TC Legend Homes applied the same approach and many of the same building techniques to this DADU as it does to any of its other homes.

          Key Features

          • A simple design to minimize exposed surface area

          • Orientation and window placement to optimize active and passive solar

          • Slab on grade with 4” under-slab insulation & Insulated concrete forms

          • Structural Insulated Panel construction (vice traditional framing) to reduce possibility of thermal bridging

          • Triple-pane windows

          • High-efficiency mini-split heat pump for heating & cooling and high-efficiency heat pump for water heating

          • HEPA High Efficiency Whole House Insulated Filtration System

          • 5.4kw photovoltaic solar system

          • Energy Star, EPA Indoor airPLUS, and 5-Star Built Green Certified

          • Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is negative 16!  (A typical new home has a rating of + 62).

          Ballard Net-Zero-Energy Home

          Ballard Net-Zero-Energy Home

          Owners: Eric Thomas and Alexandra Salmon

          Designer: Zero-Energy Plans, LLC (zero-energyplans.com)

          Builder: TC Legend Homes (tclegendhomes.com)

          Site Address: 612 NW 60th St., Seattle, WA 98107 (Ballard)

          SPECS:

          1,915 square feet, single-family, 2 stories, 3 bedrooms + work loft, 2 bathrooms, concrete slab foundation, radiant heat floors, Hardie plank siding.

          GREEN FEATURES:

          Structural Insulated Panel construction, air-to-water heat pump, 6kw solar electric (photovoltaic) system, triple-pane windows, passive solar design, rain garden, stained concrete floors, reclaimed fir floors, recycled fixtures, zero-VOC paint, low-waste engineering, low-energy LED and CFL lighting, capacity for additional solar panels to power an electric car 5,000 miles per year.

          Montlake Modern

          Montlake Modern

          After more than two years of looking at dozens of houses, putting down multiple offers on several properties, and just not being able to find exactly what they wanted, Relja and Yoojin decided to build their own house. With two architects in the family, it probably wasn’t very surprising.

          The modern, positive-energy home they designed meets all its own energy needs while also powering an electric car. 

          Both Relja and Yoojin work in the technology sector, and building their home with the most advanced materials was important to them. However, after receiving bids from other builders, they weren’t sure their dream home would be within their price range. After teaming up with TC Legend Homes, they found that building with advanced materials, such as structural insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete forms (ICFs), could actually fit their budget.

          In keeping with the high-tech concept, the house includes the latest in home automation to further reduce energy requirements. Heating, cooling, and the LED lights are all controllable through wifi. Even the master shower has a feature that prevents the water from turning on until the desired temperature is reached. The owners are looking forward to writing their own apps to help automate the house.

          Features

          • Fresh air system utilizing HEPA filtration

          • Storm water managed with pervious concrete

          • Triple-pane windows

          • Zoned radiant heat powered by an electric heat pump

          • All-electric heat and appliances, including an induction cooktop

          • Car charging station in the garage

          Press

          Energy.gov
          DOE Tour of Zero: Montlake Modern by TC Legend Homes

          Green Building Advisor
          Modern Dream Home is Energy-Positive

          Curbed.com
          Modern Marvels: Net-Zero Montlake Modern House Keeps It in the Family

          Family photos courtesy of the homeowners and Katie Blanch Photography.

          Greenlake Net-Zero-Energy Remodel

          Greenlake Net-Zero-Energy Remodel

          This net-zero-energy house remodel in Green Lake is designed to be budget-conscious, energy-efficient, and surrounded by lush gardens. It is a great example of an affordable deep-green remodel. Collaboration between owner, architect, and builder has created a beautiful synthesis of resource efficiency, connection to nature, and renewable energy — mixed together with a funky modern/industrial aesthetic.

          The inspiration

          The Northwest Green Home Tour inspired the owner Becky to learn all she could about green building. She joined the NW Eco Building Guild and attended green workshops.  She was particularly inspired by a net-zero energy home in Ballard. Wanting to “do it all” — renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, salvaged materials, and much more — she dove in and spoke with many green professionals in the Guild.

          Team approach

            1. The owner

              Becky started with a desire to go “super green” while being cost-effective, and she had lots of great design ideas. After finding a well-located home with good solar orientation and a solid structure (although in need of an aesthetic update), she pulled together the project team of LD Arch Design and TC Legend Homes, as described on her blog about the project.

              The design goals

              The existing home was in serious need of aesthetic and energy updates, with an interior so carved up it felt like every room was small and dark. The goals for the remodeled home were:

              • Create a high-efficiency, net-zero-energy house
              • Raise the roof to provide a good spot for solar and let light in
              • Connect to the garden and integrate rainwater harvesting
              • Use some of the unfinished basement/garage space for bedrooms
              • Have an open floor plan at the upper level that would be good for entertaining
              • Create a more modern and industrial aesthetic
              • Demonstrate that high-quality green design can be affordable

              Green choices 

                1. Less energy

                  • Renewable energy: Budgeting to include solar panels was a priority.
                    • 6.72kW solar module sized to meet and exceed energy usage
                    • Plan for future electric car charging station
                  • An energy-efficient building envelope: The envelope performs well above energy code.
                    • 6” SIPS panel walls and 9.5” SIPS panel roof
                    • 4” rigid insulation installed over existing concrete slab
                    • Triple-pane high-quality vinyl windows
                  • Energy-efficient equipment and lighting: The mechanical systems, appliances, and lighting are selected to be highly efficient.
                    • Mini-split ductless heat pump
                    • Heat pump water heater
                    • EnergyStar bath fans, refrigerator, and dishwasher
                    • High-efficiency horizontal axis washing machine 
                    • LED light bulbs
                  • Air sealing: Heat loss through air leaks can be virtually eliminated with modern building technologies.
                    • SIPS panels provide a sealed wall system
                    • Careful air sealing at openings and penetrations
                    • Whole-house ventilation system to ensure adequate fresh air

                    2. Less new stuff

                      • Reuse and deconstruction: Materials are treated carefully rather than being sent to a landfill.
                        • Much of the home’s structure is reused
                        • Existing materials deconstructed and used elsewhere in the house
                        • A new use found for almost everything removed from the house
                        • Construction waste reduced by precise materials ordering
                      • Reclaimed and recycled content materials: Becky combed salvage shops for materials that fit the desired aesthetic.
                        • Salvaged stainless steel counter and sink in kitchen
                        • Light fixtures made with salvaged material
                        • Salvaged wood trim
                        • Recycled content fiber cement board siding and gypsum wall board

                        3. Less toxic stuff

                          • Nontoxic materials: A priority is placed on selecting materials that do not outgas toxic fumes.
                            • Wood products with no added urea formaldehyde
                            • Nontoxic caulks and adhesives
                            • No-VOC paints and finishes
                            • Marmoleum natural linoleum flooring
                          • Hard-surface flooring: A carpet-free home reduces dust and allergens. The home is a “shoes-off” home to avoid tracking in pollution.
                          • Healthy ventilation design: This is particularly important in a house with an airtight envelope.
                            • High clerestory windows open to draw fresh air up and through the home
                            • HVAC system with HEPA filter includes a fresh air supply

                            4. Less water

                              • Efficient plumbing fixtures
                                • Dual flush toilet with integral hand washing sink
                                • Efficient horizontal axis washing machine
                                • Low-flow shower and faucet aerators
                              • Water efficient site design
                                • Rain cisterns and barrels to capture and store water for landscape watering
                                • Native and drought-tolerant landscaping
                                • Master Composter in residence
                                • Design to celebrate the flow of water in our rain-rich environment

                              Photos by Holli with an i Photography unless noted otherwise.