Haberzetle Homes: Playful All-Electric Townhomes

These Fauntleroy homes stand out from the other scattered new construction projects in the neighborhood with their playful façades. Rather than a flat, monotonous front, a variety of depths provide aesthetic intrigue and privacy between units, as well as an assortment of materials and colors. Each unit’s front door is a distinct color, offering individuality between units. One can imagine a homeowner saying, “I’m the unit with the bright purple door” to differentiate themselves amongst other new construction projects along Fauntleroy.

The playfulness of materials continues inside the units. Many new construction projects share similar palettes and modern finishes that make them feel a bit sterile. This project, however, offers warmth and variety with hemlock millwork/trim, Viroc cement wood board stairs, finished concrete slabs, and more. The selection celebrates raw, authentic materials that are not overly finished.

Vital Stats	Section	Points
Location: West Seattle Star Level: 4-Star Checklist: Single-Family/Townhome Verifier: Evergreen Certified	Site and Water	109
	Energy Efficiency	96
	Health and Indoor Air Quality	105
	Material Efficiency	69
	Total Score	433

The Haberzetle Homes team made a deliberate effort to promote superior indoor air quality through appliance and material selections. Under certain circumstances, gas appliances can produce combustion pollutants that can degrade the overall indoor air quality, often leading to damage to occupants’ health. By eliminating gas appliances in the units, they decreased potential pollutants in the home. Haberzetle Homes also chose materials with fewer toxins/VOCs to limit off-gassing inside the units—from the paints, caulks, adhesives, and sealants to the pre-finished engineered hardwood, cabinets, hemlock millwork, and omission of carpet.

This all-electric project uses heat pump technology for all its space heating and cooling, as well as most of its domestic hot water needs. From an energy-efficiency standpoint, rather than solely relying on fuel to produce heat, highly efficient air-source heat pump technology transfers heat from outside air to heat inside air. With ductless mini-splits throughout most of the unit, residents have temperature control for both heating and cooling in their living spaces. A hybrid heat pump water heater services domestic hot water demands and heats the finished concrete slab on the first floor, adding warmth to an otherwise relatively cold material at an efficiency of over 300%.

Haberzetle Homes Playful All-Electric 4-Star Townhomes roof deck

Haberzetle Homes Playful All-Electric 4-Star Townhomes exterior entry and garden

Haberzetle Homes Playful All-Electric 4-Star Townhomes kitchen

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

Low-flow plumbing fixtures
Pervious hardscaping
Drought-tolerant plantings and no turf grass

Energy Efficiency

Modelled to achieve 28% improvement over WSEC 2015
Full in-floor hydronic radiant heat
All-electric site
Hybrid heat pump water heater

Haberzetle Homes Playful All-Electric 4-Star Townhomes stairway and storage

Haberzetle Homes Playful All-Electric 4-Star Townhomes bathroom

Health and Indoor Air Quality

Low-VOC paints, adhesives, and finishes
CARB II cabinets and millwork
Pre-finished engineered hardwood flooring and no carpet

Materials Efficiency

Vertical grain hemlock trim/millwork
Local/regional materials (Bellmont cabinets, millwork, windows, framing lumber, cedar, and Hardie siding)
Finished concrete slab on first floor of units
Veroc wood cement board stairs

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

Over 80% stormwater from roof and site managed on site
EnergyStar qualified roof to reduce urban heat island effect
Bio-planters on roof and over 1,600 sf raised garden beds for urban gardening
Located in urban, amenity rich South Lake Union with frequent transit service within two blocks
Commissioned irrigation system to maximize water usage as appropriate for plantings
WaterSense certified plumbing fixtures for reduce water usage

Energy Efficiency

29% energy savings over the 2015 Washington State Energy Code
Programmable thermostats
High-efficiency heat pumps, above EnergyStar standards, in common areas
Exterior rigid insulation
100% LED lighting and EnergyStar appliances
300 W solar per 1,000 sf of space, for a total system of 16.8 kW

Stream Dexios Built Green 4-Star SLU apartment living room and kitchen

Stream Dexios Built Green 4-Star SLU apartment kitchen, hall, and desk space

Health and Indoor Air Quality

Low-toxicity jobsite operations
Low-VOC materials throughout
No carpeting in units
Extensive building envelope measures for superb moisture management
Radon-resistant construction using EPA standards

Materials Efficiency

Partnered with facility to send jobsite recyclables to a commingled recycling facility with rate of 90% diversion from landfill
Locally and regionally produced materials
ECOBATT insulation with over 65% recycled content
Durable siding: fiber cement panels, brick, and shou sugi ban

Stream Dexios Built Green 4-Star SLU apartment entrance patio

Stream Dexios Built Green 4-Star SLU apartment view from deck

stream-dexios-4-star-south-lake-union-apartments

Built Green™

04/06/2021

McGraw 4-Star Condo Remodel

Like many condo remodels, the builder of this Built Green 4-Star project faced many hurdles set by the building’s condo/homeowner association (HOA). Building envelope upgrades, like adding insulation or installing new windows and a ductless mini-split heat pump, were off the table. Placing cistern on the deck to collect water for watering indoor plants wasn’t allowed, either.

Vital Stats	Section	Points
Location: Tacoma Star Level: 4-Star Checklist: Remodel Checklist	Site and Water	30
	Energy Efficiency	111
	Health and Indoor Air Quality	88
	Material Efficiency	90
	Total Score	319

The builder set out to overcome these obstacles by planning ahead, communicating his plans to the HOA board as far in advance as possible. He also sent notice of his plans, indicating that if he did not hear back from the board by a certain date, he would take it as approval to move forward. This allowed him to keep a timely schedule.

Despite not being able to puncture the exterior walls to make energy-saving improvements, the builder was still able to reduce the unit’s overall energy consumption by over 30% compared to its reference home. A combination of indoor storm windows, a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), a heat pump water heater add-on, heat pump dryer, 100% Energy Star appliances, and 100% LED lighting allow for significant savings! WaterSense certified fixtures, a low-water-use dishwasher and clothes washer, and removing the existing garbage disposal also reduce water consumption, which ultimately save energy on water heating!

In addition to saving energy, the HRV significantly improves the indoor air quality. An HRV supplies outdoor fresh air while tempering cold air as it comes in. With a HEPA filter, this reduces pollutants carried in from outside—so valuable as wildfire events become more frequent in the Seattle area. The builder also selected interior finish products that are no- and low-VOC, Green Guard certified, and FloorScore certified, meeting stricter standards for indoor air quality.

Removing the carpet initially wasn’t allowed, due to sound requirements, so the builder took the time to educate the HOA board where he could. Armed with information, he demonstrated the sound qualities of carpet vs. cork flooring with cork underlayment and was able to convince the board to approve replacing the existing carpet with hard-surface cork flooring.

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel living and dining room

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel floor plan

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel entryway

Shared walls and a pandemic meant the builder had to be extra cognizant of neighbors’ work from home needs. He built a good relationship with the neighbors, letting them know a remodel was happening, exchanging contact info, and offering to pause work when neighbors needed quiet to hold video meetings.

The tight urban setting brought daily logistical challenges, from difficulty removing construction waste and debris to limited parking for construction vehicles. The secure building entry caused additional problems around new material deliveries. To reduce waste coming out of the unit and deliveries going in, the builder creatively repurposed existing materials, cabinetry, shelving, and lighting fixtures wherever possible. Items not remaining where carefully deconstructed and brought to Second Use Salvage and Building Materials, appliance recyclers, Habitat for Humanity, and friends. Drywall, Styrofoam, and other recyclable materials were brought to DTC Recycle in Seattle.

Another valuable decision the builder made? Working with an NAR Green certified real estate agent. Certification gave the agent the ability to confidently describe the value of individual green building upgrades to potential buyers.

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel kitchen

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel bathroom

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

Energy Star clothes washer and dishwasher
Energy Star qualified roof to reduce urban heat island effect
WaterSense certified low-flow plumbing fixtures, including Niagara Stealth 0.8 gpf toilets
Removed garbage disposal and replaced with built-in compost bin
Installed water leak detectors at all wet locations

Energy Efficiency

31% energy use savings over the 2015 Washington State Energy Code and over 41% energy cost savings
Programmable thermostats
100% Energy Star appliances, including a heat pump dryer
Heat pump water heater add-on unit to water heater
100% LED lighting
Energy Star exhaust fans
HRV added for whole house ventilation
Interior aluminum storm windows

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel patio

McGraw Built Green 4-Star Seattle condo remodel utility room with bike rack and heat pump hot water heater

Health and Indoor Air Quality

HRV with HEPA filter
Low-VOC paint throughout
Existing carpeting removed from entire unit and replaced with hard surface flooring, except for primary bedroom
GreenGuard Gold certified finish products installed
Utility room with bike storage and utility sink

Materials Efficiency

Deconstruction plan used in order to salvage materials where possible
Existing base cabinets reused and painted, with only new upper cabinets added
Salvaged materials installed or existing materials reused or repurposed, including light fixtures
Construction waste plan implemented and materials sold for salvage where possible

mcgraw-4-star-condo-remodel

Built Green™

10/27/2016

Built Green Conference 2016: Award Winners

By Sadie Normoyle, Built Green™ Coordinator

Built Green relies on the exceptional builders and people who support the program to be where it is today. At the 2016 Built Green Conference, in order to recognize the hard work of Built Green members, we announced the winners of the Built Green Hammer Awards and of the Built Green Pioneer Award.

The Built Green Hammer Awards recognize Built Green members for their outstanding projects and participation over the previous year. The Built Green Pioneer Award recognizes people who have played an integral role in developing and maintaining the Built Green program. Without the time, energy, and support of these Pioneers, Built Green would not be what it is today.

Built Green Hammer Award Winners

Isola Homes is a locally rooted, family-owned company with a passion for building exceptional homes. They collaborate and strive to bring the very best in sophisticated design, modern livability, and unmatched quality in Seattle’s most desirable locations. Their ultimate goal is to create a place that inspires you to live with the same passion that they had for building your home. Over the past year, they have certified 114 homes with Built Green: seventeen at the 3-Star level, 92 at 4-Star, and five at 5-Star.

DEP Homes strives to provide the Seattle housing market with quality homes that are technologically advanced and environmentally responsible. Their homes are strategically located in desirable neighborhoods in order to promote sustainable living through convenient access to shopping, public transportation, and major employers. In the last year, they have realized their vision for elegant sustainability through major projects like “DEP City 15” and “DEP Columbia.” Over the past year, they have certified 39 homes as 4-Star Built Green.

DevCo, Inc. is a privately held real estate investment company, and Heartland Construction is their construction affiliate that is responsible for building all of their projects. With more than 20 years of experience, together they professionally develop, build, and own multi-family apartment communities. Some unique aspects of the Discovery West project were the use of a common domestic hot water system, high energy efficient HVAC system for the common areas in the buildings, and use of low- or no VOC and eco-friendly finish materials throughout the interiors of the buildings. Heartland Construction has done an excellent job incorporating Built Green Standards seamlessly into the project. Their experience on the first two developments helped them to understand the process so the certification process on this project was completed rapidly. Their most recent certification was for 209 4-Star units.

Aegis Living was chosen for this award for their brand new, 129-unit Aegis of Queen Anne at Rodgers Park assisted living community development. The Aegis of Queen Anne at Rodgers Park project met and surpassed Built Green 4-Star requirements. The development collects and retains 80% of storm water and building water discharge; used only low-VOC and low-toxic interior paints and finishes for all surface areas (including doors, windows, and trim); controlled building moisture; used effective air distribution and filtration systems; sent at least 85% of jobsite waste to a local recycling center; and maximized efforts to install locally-produced materials (local windows, cement, and wood).

Sola 24 LLC achieved Built Green 4-Star certification for a 23-unit project in Seattle this past year. Their premise was simple - super tight buildings consume less energy for heating and cooling. In order to achieve this, they used spray foam insulation to achieve a virtually airtight building shell. In addition, all penetrations, such as lights, switches, and outlets were sealed with caulking or gaskets and large, high-tech Andersen E-Series windows that provide natural daylight for both light and warmth. This combination of efficiency and natural light makes the spaces inviting and relaxed.

Fairwinds Development is a family-owned, father-and-son-operated developer of single-family and low density multi-family homes in North Seattle neighborhoods. The Eltovar rowhouse project that they have been working on this past year is an example of a certified 4-Star Built Green project. Over the past year, they have achieved certification for nine 4-Star projects.

This past year Malboeuf Bowie Architecture certified a 5-star remodeled home in the Wedgewood Neighborhood– the only 5-Star remodel so far in 2016. They kept the foundation (minimizing ground disturbance) and installed a new concrete slab floor with hydronic radiant heating. With a 6.4 kW solar PV system, the home is modeled to perform 45% better than new homes built to code.

Model Remodel’s backyard cottage in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood received Built Green 4-Star certification for its calculated design and mindful construction. Durability, energy efficiency, and overall user-healthiness come together in this comfy second story studio dwelling atop a two-car garage. The trees around the unit offer privacy and the feeling of a tree house while the windows on the north and south open to carry the cool, aromatic, Lake Washington breeze through during the summer heat.

The two units by TC Legend Homes are stunning examples of healthy, sustainable, and energy efficient single-family homes. Located on two peaceful wooded lots in the Victory Heights neighborhood of Seattle, the outward appearance of these 5-Star dwellings belie their advanced construction and ultra-high performance. The homes are constructed using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) which is one of the trademarks of builder Ted Clifton, a leading figure in the net-zero energy building community. TC Legend Homes also included many advanced energy efficiency measures in addition to the 9.5 kW solar arrays on each roof. They also meet 100% rainwater infiltration on site, have continuous exhaust ventilation, and used salvaged materials from the previous home.

Built Green Pioneer Award

David Barnes

Sam Lai

Aaron Fairchild

The Built Green Pioneer Award this year was award to David Barnes, Sam Lai, and Aaron Fairchild. David Barnes pioneered the green building priority permit review in the City of Kirkland as well as makes a big effort to reach out and loop builders into the Built Green program.

Sam Lai and Aaron Fairchild, both of Green Canopy, have worked tirelessly to support Built Green and have come up with idea after idea to better the program. They played a huge role in the conference this year and in the past. Sam Lai sits on the Built Green Marketing Subcommittee and Aaron Fairchild was on the Built Green Executive Committee and now is an MBA Board Member.

While it was difficult to select the nominees and award recipients from such a talented, hard working group of Built Green members, we wish to thank everyone who has been involved with and helped Built Green over the course of this year. We are already looking forward to next year’s Built Green Conference and sincerely hope you will join us!

built-green-conference-2016-award-winners