Ultimate Open House

From Green Source Magazine, By David Sokol

Hennebery Eddy’s parking garage for the historic First Presbyterian Church in downtown Portland. Completed in 2007, the 170-spot structure burrows three levels below grade adjacent to the church, and its intensive green roof allows partial public access.

When church members purchased the neglected four-story building that sits where the garage is located today, they had envisioned planting a lawn on the roof. But the community didn’t have green design in mind originally. The structure was necessary for older congregants and families to participate in various church services, and the grass merely a placeholder for above-ground building expansion.

Eddy says the client began thinking greener, because his firm convinced the church that those features dovetail perfectly with its concern for “practical, thoughtful solutions that last long, are efficient, and don’t cost a lot to operate.” Materials are durable, ceilings painted white reflect light and reduce the number of fluorescent lamps installed by approximately 15 percent, a second-generation elevator saves energy, and ventilation turns on only when carbon monoxide sensors trip the switch.

The garden itself is designed to highlight the rose window that had been hidden by the four-story neighbor. Lawns, which the church daycare program uses, are framed by walking paths and boxwood, and furniture nestled into the garden’s sawtooth edge activates the public sidewalk. Hardscaping is graded so that stormwater drains toward planted spaces, although heavy precipitation travels to flow-through planters and stormwater vaults.

“Design the experience for the people who are going to be using it, and design the way it fits into the city,” Eddy says. “Then make the cars fit in the most efficient way you possibly can.”

A recent survey of the 13 largest publicly traded U.S. homebuilder entitled Greener Pastures for America’s Homebuilders? A Survey of Sustainable Practices by the Homebuilding Industy found that, while every major homebuilder has incorporated some environmental and efficiency programs and products into some of their new homes, none has fully embraced the emerging market of sustainable building design and construction. This study of the sustainable policies, programs, and performance of the nation’s largest homebuilders revealed that the industry has a long way to go before any of the companies can truly claim to be addressing the risks and opportunities inherent in the environmental and climate change dilemmas.

Local builders that ranked among the nation’s Greenest large-scale homebuilders include D.R. Horton and Centex.

In April, Oregon’s new residential building code took effect, raising energy efficiency requirements to equal EnergyStar standards for new homes. To qualify for an EnergyStar rating a home must be 15 percent more efficient than the 2004 international residential code for buildings.

The new code aims to reduce home energy use by 10 to 15 percent in the state by 2015 in order to help meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals of 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

State building codes officials also expect to continue increasing efficiency and sustainability standards over the next decade. Industry associations and nonprofits have taken notice and are starting to offer more training for builders that want to be prepared.

The Oregon Home Builders Association plans to launch a pilot project this month with the city of Portland to build eight to 12 high-efficiency homes throughout the city to serve as models for green building practices. Also, Starting Sept. 26, Earth Advantage will offer a six-month certification course in green building for appraisers, architects, builders, real estate agents, inspectors and other building industry professionals.

Story from The Daily Journal of Commerce.  Read more here…

Luxury homebuilder, Beacon Homes, is preserving trees and nativescaping in its newest neighborhood, Lady Apple in Tigard.  The site had many western red cedar, oak, hawthorn, big leaf maple, douglas firs and red alder native trees.  Arborists, local landscapers and tree preservation experts aided in saving over 50 mature trees, plus Beacon was able to plant over 7,000 natives such as currants, Oregon grapes, alders, douglas fir and three kinds of native roses in the neighborhood. 

“The beauty of the site was clearly the trees and native plants.  Our team did an outstanding job of preparing the site and the result is a really beautiful neighborhood.  The buyers have certianly pointed out the trees, plants and landscaping of the site as one of the main reasons for deciding to live there,” said Kurt Dalbey, chief executive officer.

“High Performance” is a term you usually see associated with expensive cars. But more and more, it’s a term homebuilders are using to describe their houses.

A case in point is “The High Performance Home,” at 8230 S.W. Sorrento Road in Beaverton, one of more than 90 properties listed in this year’s Ultimate Open House home show.

Built by Lifestyle Homes, it is a model of energy efficiency, using computer-aided framing for greater stability and less waste, and providing healthy indoor air. Many of its innovative features were developed by Parr Lumber, which collaborated with Lifestyle Homes owner Mike Arnett on the home.  read more

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PLANNING WORKSHOPS DURING TOUR AT “MORE THAN GREEN,” HOUSE #5 IN TOUR GUIDE

Award winning designer Paolo (Paul Scardina, IIDA) identifies how to get the high-performance house out of your head and into your life during two free More-Than-Green house planning workshops during the Ultimate Open House Tour on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Each workshop is 60 minutes in duration and is held in the spare bedroom of “More Than Green,” house #5 in tour guide.

You will discover:
How to build a budget and form a balanced team
How to choose the best sustainable features
How to increase your market value
How to maximize space

Reservations: Call 503-222-1757 x 11, email ryan@paolodesigngroup.com, or simply drop by!

Additional Times and Locations for Paolo’s Workshop After the Tour:
Saturday, May 3rd 10:00 - 12:00 p.m., Workshop held @ LEE/Eastman Contemporary Design Studio across from Bridgeport Village at 18035 SW Lower Boones Ferry Road, Tigard, OR 97224. Saturday, May 31st 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Workshop held @ Northwest Children’s Theater and School in the auditorium of the historic Cultural Center, 1819 NW Everett, Portland, Oregon 97209 (free parking located in lot on Flanders St). Entertainment will be provided by the children’s theater. The event is free; however donations for the children’s theater are gladly accepted

Biogas is created when manure is placed in a machine called a “biodigester,” designed to capture methane gas released by decomposing material. A dairy farmer, for example, could use a biodigester to help resolve a farms biggest solid waste problem: manure disposal. When properly treated, biogas can be used to generate electricity or eventually added to a pipeline system and used in homes and businesses.

Currently, biogas can be produced only in limited quantities, and NW Natural hopes that through Smart Energy biogas can become a viable, renewable energy source for our region. By capturing the methane from manure, biogas projects can protect the atmosphere from substantial emissions of a gas strongly associated with climate change.

A typical cow produces 120 pounds of waste each day, which as it decomposes, releases methane gas. There are approximately 120,000 dairy cows in Oregon on 350 dairy farms. That means that over 14.4 million pounds of cow waste is generated in Oregon every single day. Methane from manure is a 23 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.  Biodigesters can keep manure and bacteria out of streams, lakes and groundwater.  Small local farms benefit by receiving financial support and by generating energy for their own use.  Biodigesters also eliminate odors and other issues associated with manure collection.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more efficient than homes simply built to Oregon code standards, making them some of the most energy efficient homes on the market today.

Better Future
Just one ENERGY STAR new home can keep 2,070 pounds of greenhouse gasses out of the air each year. That’s approximately equivalent to not driving 2,244 miles or planting 200 trees. By choosing a home that uses less energy, you’ll help contribute to a healthier environment and a better future for everyone

Enhanced Comfort
Enjoy a home with even temperatures throughout—warmer in winter, cooler in summer—and free from drafts. Tightly sealed ductwork, high performance windows and properly installed insulation all contribute to making your home more comfortable.

Healthier Indoor Air
Healthier Indoor Air Performance-tested ductwork helps keep the air inside your home clean by reducing the possibility of drawing unwanted air from your home’s attic, basement, crawl spaces, and garage. Improved ventilation delivers the right amount of fresh air to help minimize moisture problems and reduce common household odors.

If you or a family member has asthma or allergies, or other specific concerns about indoor air quality, you should consider asking your builder to use the specifications of the ENERGY STAR Indoor Air Package. Developed by the U.S. EPA to reduce air quality risks in new homes, this ENERGY STAR add-on can also earn extra points toward Earth Advantage or LEED program certification.

Savings
ENERGY STAR homes cost less to own and live in than code-built homes. These homes keep more money in your wallet month after month, making an ENERGY STAR home a good investment and a smart choice.

Peace of Mind
Relax knowing your home has been inspected and certified by an independent third party to meet ENERGY STAR standards. Simplify the numerous energy efficiency choices in the new home buying process by choosing one that has earned the trusted ENERGY STAR label.

What is a high performance house?  Incorporating the latest building science, a High Performance Home will be more structurally sound, have healthier indoor air and reduce operating costs by lowering the homeowner’s utility and maintenance bills.  And, in about one week, Lifestyle Homes will present it’s High Performance House in Beaverton, at 8230 SW Sorrento Rd.  As president of Lifestyle Homes, I’ve left this home about 70% finished, so that people can look behind the walls to learn that what you can’t see really is important.  Several Plexiglass windows throughout the home will show you why this home will be between 30% and 40% more efficient than a standard code-built home.  And the lucky buyer will get to finish the home to their tastes, picking cabinets, counter tops, carpets and fixtures.  I look forward to seeing you there 4/18-20 and 4/25-27.

 Mike Arnett, Lifestyle Homes

The Argonaut Group and Paolo Design Group have formed an innovative partnership to design and brand a “More Than Green” home in the Ultimate Open House Home Tour. The goal was to combine high end contemporary design with sustainable site development and home building practices. The result is this stunning modern home on SW Boundary Street in Portland. The sleek and modern, yet warm aesthetic of this home’s interior is enhanced by the sustainable practices used during construction and the increased energy efficiency that the anticipated Earth Advantage and Energy Star certifications provide.

In selecting the site to build this home, the Argonaut Group looked for a close-in infill lot that did not require cutting down mature trees. This site was choked with invasive English Ivy and Blackberry brambles. There was also one diseased apple tree that was removed. All storm water that hits this lot is either retained or treated on-site. This is accomplished by using pervious pavers in lieu of a standard concrete driveway, and connecting all downspouts to a flow through planter box. The landscaping at this home is over 50% native, and predominantly drought tolerant. Turf has also been minimized to a small section in front of the house, while the rear and side yards are being hydro-seeded with a mixture of native shrubs and grasses.

Construction on this home did not require a dumpster because 100% of wood, metal, paper, cardboard, and drywall were recycled. A passive solar orientation where a majority of windows face south help heat this home in the winter, and provide plenty of natural light. The three zone climate control on the 92% efficient furnaces helps save energy, and the energy efficient windows and insulation help retain heat. Water is heated with twin tankless hot water heaters so that water is not being warmed when it is not needed.

Building Green is about more than certifications and sustainable materials. Location and environmental impact of the site play a huge role in true sustainable living. Think of it this way: you could live in a home with similar features and green ratings in the suburbs, but if your daily commute takes you to downtown Portland, your carbon footprint would be much higher. Buying a new energy efficient home in a close-in existing neighborhood cuts down on vehicle emissions, and saves fuel costs for you and your family. Infill also helps cut down on the urban encroachment into farmlands and forests.