Page 41 - Green Builder July-August 2019 Issue

Green Builder® Media embarks on its next extraordinary

demonstration project: a stunning dream house that doubles

as a template for sustainable building that pros and homeowners

across the nation can emulate.

BY CATI O’KEEFE INITIAL LEARNINGS
UILDERS AND ARCHITECTS The goal of the project is lofty: to rede-
design houses of all kinds ƒne sustainability and set a new standard
in this country, but given a for building green in the current market-
chance to create homes for place by blending sustainability, quality,
themselves, what do you durability, intelligence and wellness with
think they would build? a˜ordability.
One example is under To achieve optimal results, Green Builder
Bway right now: the personal and Herro gathered some of the greatest
home of Meritage Homes Vice President minds in the country, including interna-
of Innovation C.R. Herro. The house is on tionally acclaimed sustainable architect
a spectacular 20-acre parcel in Enumclaw, Stace McGee and award-winning green
Wash., approximately 30 miles southeast builder Ted Clifton, along with the most
of Seattle at the base of Mount Rainier innovative product manufacturer partners.
National Park. The project will unite sus- (See Sponsors In the Spotlight, page 42).
tainable design techniques with advanced Off-grid, net zero and connected, the
products, systems and technologies for VISION House Seattle Cascades will
®
optimized performance and wellness at feature a Panasonic solar system (with
a reasonable price point. storage); a robust Control4 smart home
Follow Herro’s house build as it progresses system that will optimize performance
from the conceptual idea of recreating the and connect all of the lighting, devices
feeling of his grandparents’ home, through and mechanical systems with the solar
the choices made for high performance and power system; radiant heating by Uponor;
design, and culminating with a stunning super-efficient windows from Western
sustainable net-zero masterpiece, ready for Windows Systems designed speciƒcally for
vibrant living in spring 2020. the Paciƒc Northwest climate; stone-coated
This show home project—the VISION steel rooƒng from Boral; durable manufac-
House Seattle Cascades—brings together tured stone from Cultured Stone; energy
®
the greatest minds in the building industry management system from Square D; high-
to redeƒne what it means to build green performance ƒreplace glass from Schott;
homes in today’s marketplace. The home will and resource-saving KitchenAid appliances.
serve as a simple, replicable application of The home will be off-grid with respect
innovative design, progressive building sci- to water and sewer, as well as energy.
ence and thoughtful green building, which “I was pleasantly surprised at how easy
professionals and homeowners throughout it was to unplug in the Seattle climate,”
the nation can follow. says Herro. “Utilizing rainwater harvesting
Green Builder’s coverage of this show proj-
A grand ‘Vision’. VISION House® Seattle ect will highlight the gamut of issues that and an atmospheric generator that pulls water
out of the air, I’m going to have twice as much
Cascades: The House the Experts Built building professionals and consumers should water as the typical American home needs.”
will feature the most advanced products, COURTESY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS
systems and technologies to achieve consider when building in today’s market, For the most part, the process has been
extraordinary performance results—all including novel design approaches, advanced engaging, educational and enriching. “I
at an affordable price point. products, enabling technologies, efficient love this project,” says Herro. “I love work-
ing with all of the manufacturer partners,
building systems and renewable energy.
www.greenbuildermedia.com July/August 2019 GREEN BUILDER 39

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