The City of Issaquah, WA recently spearheaded the creation of zHome, the first zero net-energy townhome project in the country. It also built one of the most energy-efficient fire stations in the world.

zHome

The success of zHome demonstrates that cutting-edge environmental building technologies are not only possible – but also scalable – for mainstream housing production.

Featuring 10 townhomes, zHome represents an opportunity for individuals to live in a compact, transit-oriented community with the smallest possible environmental footprint, by achieving the following benchmarks:

• Zero net energy usage/carbon neutrality
• 70 percent reduction in water usage
• Stormwater infiltrated on site 
• 15 materials sourced within 500 miles 
• 78 percent Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood
• 100 percent low-VOC/low-toxic finishes
• 92 percent reduction in construction and demolition waste

“This pioneering project sets a new standard for how homes can – and should – be built in our region and country,” said Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger.

zHome is now completed, sold out and fully occupied. Initial results are showing that the homes are performing as anticipated.

zHome was brought to life through a highly collaborative public/private partnership spearheaded by the City of Issaquah, in conjunction with Built Green, King County, Port Blakely Communities, Puget Sound Energy and the Washington State University Energy Program. The homes were built and developed by Ichijo USA and Seattle builder Matt Howland.

One of zHome’s 10 units will remain as a Stewardship Center for the next five years, offering educational programming and tours for the community, builders, designers and students.

“Buildings account for 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions nationally, yet modern homes are about as innovative as the Model T,” said zHome project manager Brad Liljequist with the City of Issaquah. “zHome represents a huge step forward toward reducing your living footprint without radically changing your lifestyle. The Stewardship Center will also offer folks innovative and practical steps for replicating zHome’s approach in their own home building or remodeling projects.”  

For more information, visit www.z-Home.org.

Fire Station 72

Issaquah is also home to an extremely unique and energy-efficient fire station.

Designed to become the highest-rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) “platinum” fire station in the United States, the building also meets the 2030 Challenge’s 2010 threshold to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent.

The station’s design team employed several cost-effective ideas to create an extremely “green” building

The technologies include:

• A system called a “ground source heat pump” that uses the ground’s temperature to pre-warm water for heating and hot water. zHome uses the same technology.
• A heating system that pumps warm water through the station’s floors.
• A solar hot water heater.
• A tight thermal building envelope that prevents heat loss and provides for a healthier indoor environment.
• Solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity. When the panels produce more power than the building uses, the excess power goes back to the electrical grid, resulting in a credit for the station’s power bill! 
• The City’s first electric vehicle charging stations.

For more information on the station, go to issaquahwa.gov/sustainability.