“We strongly value our certification with ILFI because it’s based on proven performance, instead of modeling or projections.” – Julian Weber AIA, Founding Principal of JW Architects

ILFI’s Zero Energy Certification program has now been streamlined to save project teams time and money, and continues to be implemented along with ILFI’s flagship certification, the Living Building Challenge, as a framework for design with leading projects, policies, programs, and incentives around the world. Based on demonstrated operation at net zero energy over a 12 consecutive month period after a building is constructed and occupied, Zero Energy Certified projects like JW Architects’ commercial office on King Street in Seattle receive third-party verification of performance from ILFI’s independent auditor network. Leading projects like this are helping shape a profound, transformational growth in the zero energy marketplace.

“Our Zero Energy Certification with ILFI is one of the signature achievements of our firm.” – Julian Weber

JW Architects’ King Street project was specifically designed to be a zero energy building. By utilizing highly effective design both internally and externally, the space is able to produce more energy than it uses on an annual basis. The energy goals for King Street include simple ideas that are both sustainable and achievable. The whole team has a stake in this one statement: “Our building produces more energy than it uses.” The statement is clear and succinct and anyone can understand it. Energy conservation is embedded in the JW Architect office culture and everyone contributes.

All workstations, appliances, printers, and mechanical systems were thoroughly researched and chosen based on their quality to efficiency ratio. The lighting load during office hours is minuscule on a typical Seattle day because the entire office is illuminated by the sun through large south facing windows. The design of the LED lighting system to supplement the natural lighting focuses on individual task lighting versus inflexible ambient lighting. These tactics to reduce the energy load of the building allow for more flexible comfort zones and significant utility savings. The projected Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) was 20.4 and it ended up being 17.4. This was attributed to daylighting and using less artificial lighting. Production ended up being 27.5 MWh, which was up 8.3% from the estimate. The actual use was 18.8 MWh, which was 15.7% down from the estimated use.

“Certifying with ILFI was such a pleasant experience that included collaboration, inspiration, and positivity. ILFI was rooting for our success from day one and they were thrilled when they presented us with our certificate for the second zero energy office building in Seattle.” – Julian Weber

While designing and energy modeling the building, JW Architects worked with a sustainable building consultant to make strategic and cost-effective upgrades to the mechanical system and building envelope. Those included upgraded insulation, high-efficiency mechanical system, heat recovery ventilation, a 100% LED lighting system, and a 24 kW PV solar array.

An eGauge came complimentary with the solar panels and has been a valuable tool for the office. It monitors the production and usage in real time. It also allows for the diagnosis of problems in real time, such as when the north zone of the building is running heat while the south zone is running AC. In that case, turning off both and running the Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) evens out the temperature. The eGauge also engages and connects the building with the weather patterns. The clouds are clearly visible in the morning but then clear up by the early afternoon. On August 21^st, the solar eclipse showed clearly on the eGauge and it’s possible to see as the moon moved in front of the sun as the solar production dropped to nearly zero. In addition to high energy performance, the office has been a great place to continue working in a collaborative style.

“We have been pleasantly surprised by the respect and awareness of ILFI certification in the design and building community.” – Julian Weber

About JW Architects

JW Architects is a 16-person architecture firm based in Seattle. Through a highly collaborative design process that includes clients, architects, designers, and consultants, the firm works to provide higher density urban housing, producing a lower carbon footprint.

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and New Buildings Institute (NBI) today announced a partnership that will streamline and strengthen the tracking and certification of zero energy (ZE) buildings in order to drive broader market adoption, codification and standardization of ZE technologies in everyday buildings.

“NBI and ILFI are aligned in our shared vision for a future where high performance, ultra-low energy buildings powered by renewable energy are the norm, not the exception,” said Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of ILFI. “Through each of our programs, we have demonstrated time and again that zero energy is achievable and scalable. Together, we can catalyze this movement.”

As a first step, NBI and ILFI will consolidate certified, verified and emerging ZE building projects into a single, unified dataset with common categories. In addition, NBI and ILFI will also share a protocol for data collection, certification and case studies. The partnership builds on the strengths of each organization, and the end result will be one seamless system for tracking, registering, certifying, and evaluating the burgeoning zero energy movement. The buildings industry—design teams, builders, owners, operators and others—will also get the needed clarity on the standards for zero energy performance using data driven outcomes for validation.

Within this collaboration, the ILFI will continue as administrator of the Zero Energy Building Certification, while NBI will act as lead certification auditor as well as administrator of the building data. In addition, projects currently pursuing the Living Building Challenge will be added to the emerging ZE set, creating a broad cohort of leading edge projects worldwide.

“We have the opportunity to reimagine and remake the built environment by 2050,” said Ralph DiNola, CEO of NBI. “Zero energy buildings offer a pathway to that future. Today, nearly half of U.S. energy and 75% of electricity is consumed by buildings. By combining our efforts, we can dramatically reduce carbon emissions and provide deeper insight into what it takes to get to ZE and in doing so, we will rapidly grow the number of buildings striving for zero energy.”

Over the next several months, ILFI and NBI will work to further integrate the way they accept project data and communicate about the new certification and database protocols. Tracking and spotlighting success and lessons learned remains a key goal for both partners in order to fuel continued growth of projects in the residential, multifamily and commercial sectors.

If you have a zero energy building that you would like to register, please visit www.living-future.org/net-zero/certification/

About National Buildings Institute

New Buildings Institute (NBI) is a nonprofit organization working to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings. NBI works collaboratively with commercial building market players–governments, utilities, energy efficiency advocates and building professionals–to remove barriers to energy efficiency, including promoting advanced design practices, improved technologies, public policies and programs that improve energy efficiency. NBI has been a leader in the zero energy buildings movement and is working with industry and partners to mainstream zero energy performance by 2050. Learn more at www.newbuildings.org.

For many of us it has been hard to cling to a sense of hope when we see basic human rights such as clean water, clean air, and freedom of religion under attack. Our work here at the Institute often requires courage as we seek to create a Living Future for all. Van Jones has been on the forefront of making positive change for our world, from founding Green for All and DreamCorps to his current role with CNN. As a changing political climate was brewing, my intuition told me that we would need courage and the genius of brilliant ideas to keep our work moving forward this year. Having Van agree to keynote the Living Future Conference almost a year ago cemented this vision.

Genius and Courage is the theme that Van will open for us when we gather in Seattle this May. We will come together to regain hope and continue the momentum that we have built toward creating living, healthy, and thriving communities. Leading up to Liv ing Future we are committing to 10 courageous actions.

Get outside – get engaged with those who support and protect our precious natural treasures. Visit one National Park with a child, pass on your appreciation and reverence for our uniquely American landmarks, and support the National Parks Foundation.

Write a letter to support the diversity that makes our country the richest in the world. For letter-writing advice and other ways to support refugees, visit OXFAM.

Engage in a #messytruth conversation with someone you care about today, get inspired about how to do that with the #LoveArmy—the organization founded by Dream Corps and our LF keynote speaker, Van Jones.

Sign the petition to #FixFlint so that we can combat environmental racism in cities like Flint, Michigan.

Go Net Zero – support the rapidly growing market by making your home or business Net Zero Energy.

Join our Volunteer Network of engaged, global citizens who are working to bring sustainable design to their city.

Contribute to an organization that provides political empowerment for underrepresented communities. We like Presente, the largest national Latinx online organization advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture, co-founded by our LF artist in residence Favianna Rodriguez.

Ask your employer to make a commitment to transparency by disclosing social justice and equity policies through JUST.

Get out of your bubble by organizing your neighborhood to perform a (nonpolitical) day or afternoon of service to a local organization.

Make a commitment to lighten your personal footprint by choosing to buy less stuff, eat less meat, and take alternative transportation.

We invite you to join us in this commitment and share your actions and courage with us by using #CourageousFuture. Join us at the Living Future unConference in Seattle, May 17-19.

A triumvirate team of Developer/Sustainability-Consultant, Architect, and General Contractor engaged in creating a standard plan prototype house for infill lots in downtown Phoenix. The three main goals were to:

1. Create a prototype house inspired by the “case-study” homes of the 1960’s, designed with time and place in mind, and to the highest standard of sustainability possible.
2. Create a low- to mid-cost home with high design, quality, and sustainability.
3. Create a design that may be replicated for any typical lot within Phoenix.

The team processed six versions of the design. They tested, energy-modeled, and priced each to find an optimal balance between design, performance, and cost.

The two-bedroom home is designed to fit on any typical downtown lot. The ultimate goal is to improve existing neighborhoods by building homes where derelict sites currently exist.

The home surpassed LEED Platinum certification and provided a blower test rating of .68 ACH50. The 1500 square foot house uses about 6000 kWh (about $700 worth) of electricity per year offset by a 3.6 kW photovoltaic system to create a net-positive energy house.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

Vali Homes Prototype I

Net Zero Energy Building Certified

Living Building Challenge 3.0

Performance Areas
Place • Energy • Beauty

Place 

Recognizing the huge issues sprawl brings to cities such as Phoenix, the team also realized single family homes are the dominant housing form being constructed. This inspired the team to create a demonstration project to showcase better design and construction practices.

The project site was empty prior to construction, considered a “missing tooth” of the surrounding 1970’s suburban neighborhood. Because it was empty, the land was often used as an informal landfill and had trash on site. Because the landowner did not live in the neighborhood, there was no regular maintenance of the trash or landscape. Many of the neighbors felt the site was neglected and a blight for their community.

All landscaping is native desert species requiring little to no water use (after a one year establishment period) and little maintenance. All plant choices are located within 100 miles of the site. Native desert landscaping requires regular watering for 300-400 days before it can survive on rainfall alone. All watering occurred though an automated drip irrigation system.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

Energy

The estimated annual energy consumption for the home during the design phase was 6500 kWh. After the PV panels were installed, the measured energy use was 5334 kWh, while the measured onsite generation was 5720 kWh. By the end of the performance period, the home had generated 107% of its energy use onsite.

Net Zero Energy Design Strategies

Reduce Energy Through Building Envelope

One major design strategy was to reduce energy use by means of thorough insulation. Additionally, measures were taken to limit infiltration in order to further reduce unwanted heat transfer. Materials were selected based on thermal properties, cost, and ease of installation, maintenance, and proper disposal.

• Utilized Passive House energy modeling software to test various building envelope solutions and cross-checked each solution for cost-benefit analysis.
• 2×6 wall and 18” deep wood truss roof construction completely filled with blow-in cellulose insulation.
• Use of advanced framing techniques to reduce amount of lumber used by approximately 20% when compared to conventional framing.
• The cellulose insulation was chosen for its:
  • 100% recycled content and near zero carbon footprint.
  • Increased R-value over typical fiberglass insulation with less air flow.
  • Ability to be blown into place to fit around ducts and pipes effectively.
  • Ability to be recycled and efficiency of material use (far less waste created when compared to conventional insulation)
• 1” rigid insulation installed between the exterior sheathing and wall cladding system to reduce thermal heat gain and further insulate the building envelope.
• Tightly sealed building envelope including vapor barrier beneath the slab, sealing all floor penetrations, house-wrap tape sealant, and gaskets at all openings.
• Blower door test provided rating of .68 ACH50.
• Utilized wood doors with aluminum cladding to help reduce thermal heat gain.
• Developed a vented bent-metal pan cladding system that sheds its own heat.
  • Creates zero construction waste as each piece is cut-to-length.
  • Extremely durable (rust protects steel in Phoenix region), zero maintenance.
  • 1” profile creates vented skin system to separate exterior temperature from interior.
  • Low cost & 100% recyclable.

Reduce Energy Use Through Appliances

Another concurrent design strategy used to help the home achieve Net Zero Energy was the reduction of energy use via efficient appliances and mechanical systems.

• A heat recovery ventilator produces 24-hour air exchange while maintaining 90% HVAC energy.
• Heat-pump water heater uses 1/3 as much energy as the conventional type, and acts as a half-ton A/C unit when operating (about 2-3 hours per day)
• HVAC system is a ductless mini-split system to deliver air directly to living areas within the house. The entire system utilizes less than 12 amps when fully operational.
• Ductless HVAC eliminates ducts in ceiling to ensure maximum insulation.
• All kitchen appliances are low-energy use (ENERGY STAR at minimum).

Design Process and Building Orientation

The team identified the importance of an integrated design process from the outset and made use of building orientation to help meet the goal of Net Zero Energy.

• Inclusionary Team Design Process including Owner, Sustainability Consultant, Architect, Mechanical Engineer, Structural Engineer, General Contractor, and all sub-contractors.
• Several forms of energy calculation processes were used including using Passive House software to study cost versus benefit for each design decision.
• House was intentionally oriented on a north-south axis. There is zero east-west fenestration in order to reduce heat load.
• 100% shading on all glass during the four hottest summer months.
• Open plan to minimize HVAC components.
• Trees sited on east and west sides of house to shade the building.
• Flat roof for easy PV system installation.

On-Site Energy Systems

The on-site energy is provided by roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and is supplemented via a grid connection.

• 3.6 kW PV system, roof-mounted.
• System is grid-connected.
• No energy storage system.
• 100%+ annual energy is offset by the PV system, transferred to utility grid.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

Beauty

The idea for this project, and for future homes to be built on other sites, was to create a design in the mindset of the case-study homes of the 1960’s – something visionary, stark, and simple. Though rather than copy the case-study home types, the team aimed to create something more specific for the current time and place, with much greater sustainability in mind.

The prototype project is meant to be as affordable as possible. To achieve that aim, the design needed to be as simple as possible. Within that simplicity, the team honed the design to produce human delight with pattern, color, sacred geometry, and biophilic elements and principals.

Pattern

The steel cladding on the exterior of the building is a slightly customized bent metal pan system of various widths to create visual variety. The majority of the cladding was intentionally designed to be rusted metal set in a “random” pattern for a variety of reasons.

The texture is rich and mimics patterns on local rock and ground cover. The material, left to naturally patina in this way, helps to blend it with the site, which was covered with local granite gravel paving.

The material itself is a reminder of the area’s mining and agricultural past. Rust is often seen on the oldest remaining buildings in the city.

Of course, durability is a key feature. But over time, the material changes, allowing the home to take on different appearances. In this region, mill finish steel left to rust lasts a minimum of 50 years even with a 20 gauge bent pan.

The varied widths and “random” pattern provide a biophilic interpretation into natural patterns.

The screen wall around the courtyard is created with a carefully placed set of horizontals, also with a variety of sized elements set in a seemingly “random” pattern to create a biophilic interpretation of natural patterns.

The colored glass wall at the back of the house is painted with a random pattern of bubbles.

Color

The exterior cladding includes a few colored panels to break up the biophilic pattern further.

The green color is derived from the native Palo Verde tree. Its bark is green and allows the tree’s skin to photosynthesize – something very unique to the plants in this region.

The “random” pattern of the green panels mimics the way a multi-trunked Palo Verde tree can look against a backdrop.

Two glass panels were added behind the house to provide a view to a colored wall plane.

Sacred Geometry

There are several areas that utilize geometries that are immediately recognizable and appreciated by the human eye.

The entire house in elevation from the street is made up of two rectangles of 10’x20’ that make up the 40’ long elevation.

The constant 8’ height of the interior of the space is meant to be comfortably proportioned and sized.

The three white walls, not connected to the side walls, at the exterior elevation (one at the living room and one at each of the two bedrooms) are each exactly 8’x8’.

There is another white wall at the interior that is disconnected from the side wall and also exactly 8’x8’.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

Biophilia

Every living space has multiple openings to collect changing light patterns throughout the day.

Every living space has views to native landscaping.

The front courtyard provides a “refuge” and “prospect” for the living space to put occupants at ease by providing protection with a view of the surrounding area.

The green painted glass with bubble pattern mimics the way mud dries in the desert.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

Inspiration + Education

Prior to construction, the team attended a neighborhood meeting to present the design and sustainability strategies of the house to the community. There were approximately 30 people in attendance. People seemed excited about two aspects of the project.

1. They were very happy to see that the previously empty lot in their neighborhood would now be filled with a house for ownership. The lot had always contained a fair bit of trash that people would leave there or that the wind would blow onto the property. Sometimes people would also park their cars on the lot, creating an eyesore for the neighborhood.
2. Several community members were very interested in the sustainability features we were employing, particularly the goal of net-zero energy usage. There was a bit of discussion and brainstorming about how the team could achieve this goal.

The team provided a “reader’s digest” version of the design and building technologies that it planned to employ to accomplish the challenging goals. The neighborhood seemed pleased with the proposed solutions.

While aesthetics were discussed, the neighbors were less interested in discussing this aspect. However, they were also very happy the house would be limited to one story in height. The entire neighborhood is one story, and they saw the design as fitting in well with the scale and housing types of the community.

The team conducted several open house events before the house sold. All of them were tours given by both the developer/sustainability consultant and the architect. The tour guides verbally conveyed information on the building technologies, energy savings, and net-positive energy aspects of the house while showing the visitors the building technologies, including the solar PV array on the roof (seen from across the street). In particular, there was discussion around the use of advanced framing techniques, increased insulation, and the tightly sealed house-wrap system. There was also discussion around the need for and positive aspects of the heat recovery ventilator (HRV) equipment within the house. The vented steel skin system was a highlight; it is completely recyclable, requires no maintenance, and will last for a minimum of 50 years.

Announcements for the house were published through the team’s websites, Facebook page, and local websites/Facebook pages for people interested in sustainability and architecture. All three Open Houses were open to the general public and free of charge.

In May 2009, San Juan County Building Department issued Final Occupancy Permits for Common Ground, Lopez Community Land Trust’s fourth affordable housing neighborhood and their first net-zero energy neighborhood in the state of Washington. Common Ground consists of 11 single-family affordable homes. Additionally, LCLT built an office and two affordable rental units. The 11 homes are under a cooperative ownership model and governed by a 198-year ground lease, which includes an equity limitation formula; this assures the homes remain permanently affordable.

LCLT initiated the project because affordable housing is key to sustaining a strong, viable community. The team was inspired to build a net-zero neighborhood after reading a speech by William McDonough, a world-renowned architect, designer and author of the book Cradle to Cradle, a manifesto that called for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design.

Lopez Island faces unique economic challenges. Salaries and wages contribute only 33% to household incomes in San Juan County compared with 61% statewide. 45% of household income within the county comes from investment income. This pattern of income gives Lopez Island a high cost of living (especially housing costs) coupled with low wages.

In 2006, LCLT convened a three-day design charrette. Over thirty practitioners from northwestern Washington offered their in-kind services. The charrette team consisted of future residents, architects, planners, builders, county officials, water and energy consultants, attorneys, and permaculture designers. For the final design, LCLT hired Mithun, a leading architectural firm in sustainable design. LCLT served as manager, developer and owner through the design and construction phases. Common Ground members, LCLT and designers worked collaboratively throughout the design and building phases.

Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Lee

Common Ground

Net Zero Energy Building Certified

Living Building Challenge 3.0

Performance Areas
Place • Energy • Beauty

Place 

The site was chosen for its horizon-to-horizon sun access for maximizing solar energy, close proximity (walking and biking distance) to Lopez Village where there is access to the medical clinic, post office, grocery stores, community center, farmers market and other essential services. With a gentle slope to the southeast, the site lends itself well to solar access. The soils were poor, containing only a few inches of top soil and mostly a clay silt content, but soils were enhanced where the gardens are located and utmost care was taken to preserve what little top soil was disturbed. A pond was constructed in the lowest section of the land for storm water and irrigation collection.

Innovations

Rainwater is used in the homes for washing clothes and flushing toilets. The units contain earthen plasters and straw bales for insulation, evacuated tube solar water heaters, and a 3-kilowatt photovoltaic system for each house.

Lessons Learned

Earthen plasters and straw bale construction were very time and labor intensive.

Introducing rainwater in the houses is an ongoing expense because of the back flow preventers.

Earthen plasters were not properly prepared and caused moisture issues, which showed up a few years later. These had to be remedied, which added to the already high cost.

Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Lee

Energy 

Net zero energy was established as a core design principle for Common Ground in March 2006 during the initial design charrette, making the community an early pioneer in this groundbreaking concept and reality. Extensive consideration was given to achieving the net zero goal through the design and construction process. Given the early date in the overall narrative of net zero energy, the team had to arrive at a number of guiding principles and expectations on their own, including assumptions about occupant loads – there were few examples, definitions, or frameworks to look to at the time.

Later in 2006, LCLT contracted with Dana Brandt of Ecotech Energy Systems to further evaluate the net zero energy concept. Using recorded data from three existing LCLT communities and information from existing “net-zero energy home” projects, an energy requirement estimate for Common Ground was made. LCLT reviewed the information and determined there was a good chance of meeting the net-zero energy goal. The team researched further, finessed the information, and then adjusted as needed given the budget, skills and timeline. Design development continued as building plans were created by Mithun, the project design architect.

A key element of the project was to work in harmony with the natural gifts of the site: sun, wind, water, and materials. The site has excellent solar exposure, and the home designs orient towards a partially passive approach in heating, ventilation, and hot water. This aspect is a standout feature of Common Ground compared to other net zero energy projects, which tend to rely on more mechanical approaches.

Common Ground was designed to gain a significant portion of its heating needs directly from the sun, and retain the gained heat in a highly insulated, well sealed envelope. The homes are oriented with their lengths on the east-west axis, substantial glazing is placed on the south façade to maximize solar gain, and a high south facing clerestory with operable windows high and low assist with wind and stack driven ventilation. Thermal retention inside the homes was provided by an insulated concrete slab and by the heavy stucco finish, which was placed over the straw bales.

The building walls and ceiling are highly insulated. The north, east, and west walls are built with straw bales, which resulted in R-34 to R-42 – double the level required by code. The south walls were R-21 2×6 stud construction, insulated with blown in cellulose. The ceiling was a combination of cathedral (insulated with spray foam) and dropped sections (insulated with blown in cellulose), both insulated to R-50.

Windows are fiberglass, argon filled, low-e coated, and double paned. Glazing was specified to maximize solar gain for south, west, and east facing windows and maximize retention on the north facade. On the north walls, the team selected windows with a 0.27 U factor, a SHGC of 0.28 and a VT rating of 0.49 with double glazing with insulated spacers (“super spacers”). Windows on the south, west and east walls have a 0.31 U factor, a SHGC of 0.61 and a VT rating of 0.63 with double glazing with insulated spacers.

The homes were performance tested using a blower door and infrared camera.

Initial calculations suggested that about 40-50% of the unit heating could be provided through passive solar gain, based on the home design. At the time of design and construction, mini split systems were untested regionally and not well known, and ground source heat pumps were cost prohibitive. Given the expected passive solar performance of the home, the team determined electric resistance heating, though inefficient, to be an acceptable mechanical heating system for the homes. Since initial occupancy, two of the certified homes (units F and I) have been retrofitted with mini split ductless heat pumps. Whole house fans provide supplemental ventilation.

The project’s approach of maximizing direct sun energy continues with the hot water system, which includes evacuated solar thermal tubes to provide 65-75% of the needed hot water for each home. Each home has its own hot water system, including a Thermomax evacuated tube array and a hot water storage tank, which includes an electric resistance element to provide any hot water needed that the array isn’t able to supply. The tube arrays are mounted on the individual home rooftops.

Energy Star appliances were chosen throughout. As LED lighting has become commonplace, it has made its way into most fixtures. In practice, the community is very environmentally oriented, which helps raise consciousness and expectation for keeping loads low.

The homes’ energy demands are offset by individual ground mounted 3-kilowatt arrays. These arrays are collocated on the south edge of the site – while they appear to be one large array, they are in fact eleven separate arrays mounted side by side. Each 3 kW array is comprised of 15 Evergreen 205 Watt Modules, making 165 solar panels in total for the supply to 11 homes. A grid-intertie SMA 3000 string inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity from that array’s solar panels to 240 volt alternating current (AC) electricity. The AC electricity from each inverter is passed through a production meter, and then connects to each home’s electrical panel.

Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Lee

Beauty

Beauty and inspiration were guiding principles for this project. The Common Ground homes are located in the San Juan Islands, considered the crown jewels of the Pacific Northwest. The site is just east of the Salish Sea, where the Olympic range can be seen in the distance. The team wanted to celebrate place and have the buildings reflect that beauty.

Common Ground utilized the unique sculptability of straw bale and plasters for beauty and inspiration. Homeowners, interns and volunteers were excited about sculpting in the straw bales and plaster. “Truth Windows” were one of the primary sources of inspiration.

An entire visiting delegation from Thailand made a comparable “Tree of Life,” and a Maori delegation contributed its indigenous design for Life.

Photo: Courtesy of Sandy Bishop

Photo: Courtesy of Juan Hernandez

Inspiration + Education

The homes will, in measurable ways, promote energy and water independence while preserving the rural character of the site and improve the natural diversity and habitat of site, situation, and surroundings through permaculture practices. These beautiful homes reduce the use of resources by utilizing small, efficient footprints. Six of the homes are 740 square feet, four are 876 square feet, and there are even two studio rentals available at 412 square feet each. Local lumber was milled for key features, including door trim, adding to the site-specific identity of the homes. Numerous parties volunteered their time, labor, and services to help make this project a reality.

During a 3-day design charrette in the spring of 2006, LCLT gained essential development expertise from over thirty practitioners who offered their in-kind services. The team consisted of eight architects, along with several planners, builders, county officials, water and energy consultants, attorneys, and permaculture designers. Their participation set a framework for Sustainable Community Homes.

Some of LCLT’s Guiding Principles:

• Demonstrate good design and appropriate building in an age of climate change
• Make development decisions based on sustainability while assuring decisions are fair, cost effective and subjected to a predictable process
• Model buildings and infrastructure on natural systems in which there is little to no waste
• Utilize energy efficiency and renewable energy to produce net zero energy homes
• Foster distinctive, aesthetically pleasing homes with a strong sense of place
• Recognize the importance of natural beauty, and critical environmental areas in all final design schematics
• Encourage community collaboration in building through sweat equity and intern opportunities
• Plan to share knowledge by updating the manual
• Create a walkable neighborhood that fits with the existing mixed-use neighborhood, and address alternative transportation choices

“Common Ground is about reinventing the American Dream. In the years ahead, Americans will be compelled to shed some deeply ingrained habits of material consumption. These adjustments can be endured, nay, embraced, if people are confident that the country is headed to a more fulfilling transformation. I believe this transformation is fundamentally about discovering what it means to be truly human, not as ‘consumers’ but citizens, neighbors, friends, co-creators of a compelling new story that embraces social justice and a healthy planet. It’s about smaller footprints and larger lives.”

-Chris Greacen, resident of Common Ground

Extraordinary Projects Meet the Built Environment’s Most Rigorous Performance Standard

(May 12, 2016, Seattle, Wash). — The International Living Future Institute today announced three newly certified Living Buildings, bringing the total number of buildings achieving the world’s most rigorous green buildings program to 11. Additionally, nine new projects have been certified Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB). Today’s certification brings the total certified projects in the Living Building Challenge (LBC) to 44 worldwide, with an additional 331 projects in the pipeline.

The Living Building Challenge calls for the creation of building projects that operate as cleanly, beautifully and efficiently as nature’s architecture. On the path to full certification are several levels that relate to increasingly rigorous standards, including Net Zero Energy, and various Petal Certifications for Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. To be certified under the Challenge, projects must meet a series of ambitious performance requirements over a minimum of 12 months of continuous occupancy, making Living Buildings the only projects required to validate their design goals before achieving certification.

“These are the buildings that show the world what is possible–they provide incontrovertible proof that our built environment can both nurture and shelter us,” said Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of the International Living Future Institute. “Pursuit of the Living Building Challenge requires tenacity and a pioneering spirit, and we salute the teams who have brought these projects to life.”

Living Buildings by the Numbers

To be certified, Living Buildings must achieve the most advanced measures of sustainability in the built environment possible today. They are required to meet a series of performance criteria in every Challenge category, including Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Three new Living Buildings are now certified:

The Chesapeake Bay Brock Environmental Center

Virginia Beach, VA
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s 10,500 square-foot Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, VA is the first public building to successfully harvest rainwater for potable use. Designed to supply all of its own water needs, the building gathers rainwater, then filters and treats it on-site. The building harvests energy from two on-site 10 kW wind turbines and 46.5 kW of installed solar PV, and features a roof clad in metal tiles that resemble fish scales. The project is designed to be resilient to the effects of climate change and is elevated 14 feet above sea level in anticipation of sea level rise and storm surge.

Old Oak Dojo

Jamaica Plain, MA
The Old Oak Dojo by Next Phase Studios is a 1,000 square-foot community gathering center that is surrounded by three large oak trees, providing inspiration for the project’s biophilic design and strong human/nature relationship. The building, which shares a half-acre residential lot with a community home, is an experiment in dissolving the boundary between public and private spheres, and hosts activities such as yoga, dance, meditation, martial arts lessons and other meetings and gatherings.

Dixon Water Foundation, Betty and Clint Josey Pavilion

Leo, TX
Josey Pavilion by Lake|Flato Architects is a 5,400 square-foot outdoor space on the Texas prairie that educates about and demonstrates environmentally and ecologically sound ranching practices.The project treats blackwater with onsite constructed wetland and features wall panels that occupants can slide or pivot to provide more or less protection from the sun, wind and rain.

More on Living Buildings can be found here.

Net-Zero Energy Building Certifications

Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) rely on exceptional energy conservation and on-site renewable generation to meet all of their heating, cooling and electricity needs. To qualify for certification, projects must achieve the full Energy Petal along with a subset of requirements within the Place and Beauty Petals.

The newly certified NZEB include DPR San Francisco, a 20,000 square-foot commercial building in the heart of downtown San Francisco that is the third certified NZEB from DPR Construction, a national technical builder that specializes in highly complex and sustainable projects. This year’s certifications also recognize a number of residential projects, including three single-family homes and one detached multifamily residence building.

The newly certified Net Zero Energy Buildings are:

zHome Phase II in Issaquah, WA
DPR San Diego in San Diego, CA
DPR San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
Sustainable Dreams in Edmonds, WA
PNC Bank Davies and Andrew Branch in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Chrisney Branch Library – Lincoln Heritage Public Library in Chrisney, IN
2938 Madrona in Bellingham, WA
Ballard NZE House in Seattle, WA
Journey to Net Zero in Seattle, WA

Petal Certified Projects

The projects receiving Petal certification demonstrate they can improve the ecosystem they inhabit. To achieve certification, they must meet at least three of the seven Petals required for Living Buildings, which include Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty.

This year’s Petal certifications include the NRDC Midwest Office Expansion in Chicago, IL, the first 3.0 Materials Petal certified project, notable for its “Design for Deconstruction” approach that includes modular glass partition systems that are easily deconstructed.

The 20,000 square-foot visitor center at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, BC, features an orchid-inspired structure with wavy green roof “petals” that sit above rammed earth and concrete walls and link to the ground via a vegetated land ramp. This project demonstrates the Living Building Challenge’s unique recognition of Beauty and Inspiration in sustainable project design.

Additional, newly certified Petal projects include:

zHome Phase II in Issaquah, WA
NRDC Midwest Office Expansion in Chicago, IL
UniverCity Childcare in Vancouver, Canada
VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada
Mohawk Design Studio in Dalton, Georgia

With the Davie & Andrews Branch in Ft. Lauderdale, PNC sets a new industry benchmark for high-performance retail bank branch design by achieving net zero energy. This project represented an evolution of PNC’s Green Branch^® prototype which was the first design to receive LEED Volume Certification and which led PNC to build more newly-constructed LEED certified buildings than any other company in the world.

The project team included PNC Realty Services, the Green Branch design team (Gensler, CJL Engineering, Paladino and Company) and researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), all of whom collaborated as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Partnerships Program.

Using PNC’s Green Branch prototype as a starting point, the team undertook a rigorous optimization process to analyze and adapt each system to the Fort Lauderdale climate. A target was set to reduce energy use by 50% compared to an ASHRAE 90.1-2004 baseline before supplementing with renewable energy. Starting with the building envelope, the team conducted a series of daylighting and energy analyses to review optimal glazing and shading configurations, as well as insulation materials with the highest efficiency. Next, lighting and HVAC systems were reviewed based on the latest available technology and the most appropriate systems to streamline the branch’s long-term maintenance.

After all building-related optimizations were implemented, the team determined that further measures were required to achieve their 50% reduction target. PNNL and PNC partnered on a plug load study of an existing PNC branch to evaluate detailed hourly use profiles and equipment specifications. Conclusions from this study were taken to PNC’s IT department which negotiated new equipment purchases and protocols for software updates that required minimal off-hour power use. Additionally, branch signage standards were re-evaluated in order to eliminate extraneous energy use. These final measures met the energy target and allowed the team to specify an optimized PV package, which was incorporated into the branch roof, parking canopies and drive-through.

The lessons learned from the PNC Davie & Andrews project have already been incorporated into the standards for PNC Bank branches. Similar systems and equipment are now specified for new branches and renovations, and IT protocols are being considered for rollout to all branches. Needless to say, while this project made an impact in Florida, the equally important impacts are the energy and cost savings realized across PNC Bank’s entire portfolio.

PNC Bank

Net Zero Energy Building Certified

Living Building Challenge 3.0

Browse Performance Areas
Place •  Energy • Beauty

 
Place

Site remediation included deconstruction of the existing building and pavement and remediation of site contaminants, including asbestos. The landscape design focuses on site retention and the filtration of stormwater, as well as the provision of amenities to connect visitors with the area’s natural features. Paved areas were significantly downsized, and a portion of resurfaced area included porous concrete to allow direct infiltration. Native landscaping was provided around and between paved areas to retain and naturally filter stormwater runoff from the pavement. Additionally, the north boundary of the site,which was previously fenced along a concrete channel, was revitalized with a more natural edge condition to connect with the Tarpon River. A new walking path was also installed along this edge that wraps the entire site and provides an opportunity for staff, visitors and residents to enjoy a more natural corridor through the site.

 
Energy

Design Approach

As part of its aspiration to design a Net Zero branch and use PNC’s Green Branch prototype as a starting point, PNC undertook a rigorous evaluation process to quantify the environmental performance of its design. Participation in a DOE-funded grant program required the team to achieve 50% energy savings below code. To achieve this aspirational goal, an integrative design approach was used to significantly reduce energy demand, as opposed to simply supplying a renewable energy system to meet PNC’s standard Green Branch energy demands. Building orientation, daylighting simulation, building envelope, plug loads and glazing were all analyzed prior to the development of construction drawings, ensuring the most efficient use of the site in the adoption of a net-positive energy system.

HVAC

The HVAC system was designed for staged cooling to reduce compressor cycling. An energy recovery wheel was installed as part of the building exhaust system to recover energy from exhausted air and to dehumidify primary outdoor air. Additionally, a multi-speed adaptive fan was used to reduce energy use, along with an ultra-efficient rooftop unit.

Lighting

Interior and exterior fixtures use solely LED technology, including all of PNC’s exterior signage. Interior lighting is direct solar powered 24V DC low voltage LED lights. These lights are controlled via occupancy sensors to reduce load. Lastly, all exterior lighting is automatically turned off during daylight hours.

Plug Loads

Whe possible, PNC installed ENERGY-STAR rated equipment to improve plug load efficiency. All non-essential equipment has been programmed to turn off outside of banking operation hours. Occupancy controlled plug-in strips turn off personal equipment after a short period of inactivity. Additionally, all computers are remotely turned off during off hours and all provide significant plug-load savings.

Photovoltaic System:

The project uses a 55 kW DC photovoltaic system. The PVs are integrated into the building’s roof and also shade a portion of the parking lot.

Beauty

The branch is located in an up-and-coming neighborhood and was built to align with the South Andrews Avenue Master Plan’s guidelines. Andrews Avenue connects the neighborhood to downtown Fort Lauderdale, the city’s historic and cultural center.

The South Andrews Avenue Master Plan guidelines include: 1) differentiating the street level of buildings by such means as a change in materials, bay rhythm, or a cornice line below the uppers floors, 2) recognition of the human scale at the ground level with elements such as stoops, display windows, awnings, and planters, 3) limited use of flat, undifferentiated surfaces such as curtain walls, 4) no reflective glass at the ground level and sparing use of it elsewhere and 5) encouraging the use of architectural features such as tower, balconies, etc.

The branch and surrounding developments contribute to the city’s initiatives to make the neighborhood more walkable, inviting, and connected to downtown Fort Lauderdale. The site is bordered by Tarpon River Park to the north and by residential areas further north and to the west. Commercial areas are located primarily to the east and south of the site, with a variety of restaurants, commercial businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and medical offices located south of Davie Boulevard.

The branch is also the recipient of local design awards, including the Fort Lauderdale Community Appearance Award and the Broward County Emerald Award for sustainable landscaping.

There are many elements of the project that were designed for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place, including:

• Solar shading: A canopy covers the building’s southern exposure to reflect sunshine during the hottest part of the day while still allowing natural daylight into the building, resulting in reduced cooling costs.
• Material selection and interior design: When possible, PNC used local and recycled building resources for structural and shell materials, as well as interior finishes. Light colored building materials keep the interior of the building cool by reflecting heat and also give the building a bright and pleasant appearance.
• Green wall: A 216 square foot vertical green screen adorns the building’s façade and features various plant species, providing both a visual and natural amenity.
• Walking path: A walking path along the river lines the north end of the site. The walking path is surrounded by trees and other native and adaptive plants selected for varied visual interest

Inspiration

After a decade of successful company-wide adoption of sustainable design and construction practices, PNC sought to push the limits of their real-estate portfolio by developing a Net Zero energy project. PNC targeted Florida to locate their first Net Zero bank branch, in order to take advantage of the ample sunshine. This led to innovative ways to drive down cooling energy use and overall branch operations in order to become fully net zero. An integrated design approach was implemented to meet design, construction and verification goals. For example, multiple innovative strategies were pursued for tying together the building envelope, daylighting and façade style that met concurrent goals of performance, solar gain, daylighting, and architectural style.

PNC also wanted this branch to stand out in the market and be a building which people noticed as significant and unique. Therefore, the following strategies were used to generate local inspiration:

• Native landscaping was included to provide an attractive and unique landscape. While many commercial properties use St. Augustine turf grass for their landscaped areas, PNC used a robust mix of native grasses and shrubs to provide a sense of place for visitors by tying the landscape to the regional ecosystem.
• Bioswales were incorporated into the landscape to capture and treat site stormwater runoff, which also provide an attractive site amenity.
• An accessible and publically available nature trail was incorporated into the site design to promote the health of visitors, generate awareness of a nearby river, and allow them to explore the native habitat.
• The solar canopy was physically integrated into the structure to capture energy while providing shade inside and below for a more pedestrian friendly streetscape.
• In typical commercial properties in this area, the buildings are set back from the sidewalk encouraging visitors to walk through a parking lot to enter the building. However, this building was sited directly adjacent to the sidewalk to promote pedestrian accessibility and walkability.
• All the exterior building shell materials were produced locally.

Education

PNC has a robust platform to educate the public on design and construction strategies targeting Net Zero in the branch:

Notable Strategies:

1. Active Community Education: PNC provides the opportunity for local enthusiasts, academics and professionals to visit the branch, receive a guided tour, or tour the facility at their leisure using PNC-provided materials. These opportunities include:
   1. Architectural and energy-focused educational programs have come to tour the facility to see first-hand the strategies used to achieve net zero, such as solar PV, DC-direct LED lighting and efficient envelope strategies.
   2. Local horticulture and landscape architecture programs have also visited to see how the native l­­­andscape provides a functional and aesthetic differentiator in Fort Lauderdale. This also includes touring the site for its site water management strategies including the green wall, permeable pavement and efficient irrigation strategies.
   3. Lastly, multiple local schools use the branch as a destination for field trips, to provide students the opportunity to take tours around the site.
2. Comprehensive Signage Program: The Net-Zero energy branch has numerous educational materials throughout the branch that educate the public:
   1. Static: There are several posters hanging in the branch describing the sustainable features of the branch. There is a brochure available to occupants that allows them to take a self-guided tour of the specific building features.
   2. Dynamic: There is a building dashboard in the lobby that any visitors or branch users can interact with to learn about net zero strategies and their live performance as displayed through graphs, trends and other educational content.

Tours are provided by directly contacting the branch manager.

Websites about the Net Zero bank branch project:

www.pnc.com/green

http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/pnc/

http://www2.pnc.com/greenbuilding/index.html

http://www.paladinoandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PNC-Net-Zero-Branch_Final.pdf

http://www.gensler.com/projects/pnc-net-zero-1

Net zero energy is quickly becoming a sought-after goal for many buildings worldwide. The media focuses primarily on commercial buildings, but there are a number of innovative homeowners who seek to reduce demand on the earth’s natural resources. Residential net zero energy buildings are examples of what is possible when homeowners and designers look at how to reduce energy demands of buildings. The following stories showcase innovative projects and explore the steps that each project took to become one of the most efficient buildings in the world.

zHome

Launched in 2006, the zHome project has been a market catalyst for deeply sustainable, climate-neutral homes for everyday people. Born out of years of small improvements in green building performance, the creators sought to revolutionize the paradigm for residential construction. The project was conceived in 2005 by Brad Liljequist, while on sabbatical from his role as green building and urban design consultant. Liljequist was inspired by the groundbreaking British restorative communities of BedZED and the Hockerton Housing Project, as well as the University of Nottingham Jubilee campus. The City of Issaquah, where zHome is located, has long been a regional leader in sustainability.

Photo Courtesy of zHome

Willowbrook House

Set on a slope above the street, the Willowbrook House in Austin, Texas, is one of the most energy-efficient residential structures in the United States. Originally built in 1948 in a post-WWII neighborhood with mid-century flair, this 2,100-square-foot Net Zero Energy-certified building is the residence of a family of four. Owners Sunshine and Emily Mathon sought a larger home for their growing family that could produce enough energy to sustain itself. They undertook an extensive retrofitting of the building, using reclaimed wood and focusing on water efficiency.

Photo: Courtesy of Willowbrook House

Zero Energy House

The Zero Energy House (ZEH) is a 2,361-square-foot certified Net Zero Energy Building in Auckland, New Zealand—the first of its kind in the country. Located on a brownfield site, the two-story structure features passive housing design. It was designed for comfort based on room use and building orientation. Design professionals Shay Brazier and Jo Woods are the owners of the house. The bedrooms and living area are positioned on the north side of the house for better solar exposure, whereas the kitchen and bathrooms occupy the south side of the lot. Adjacent to the living block is the play and work block, which are connected by an entryway featuring a workshop and garage. The pitched-roof house takes a simple form, evoking coastal California bungalows and the old state houses of New Zealand. The exterior is made of unfinished Macrocarpa weatherboards, which give the structure a rustic sensibility. Reclaimed catamaran boat beams are used for the interior.

Photo Left: Courtesy of Zero Energy House
Photo Right: Courtesy of Todd Eyre

Mission Zero House

Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mission Zero House is a historic preservation of a 1,500-square-foot 1901 folk-Victorian residence, and one of the first homes to receive ILFI’s Net Zero Energy Building Certification. The two-story house features reclaimed materials, restored wood clapboard siding, a full-width front porch, spindle posts, and a cut-stone foundation. Owners Matt and Kelly Grocoff set out to create a space that met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, and to reimagine the character of a “green” house. The Ann Arbor Historic District Commission approved the home’s solar array, which did not affect or damage the building. The visible PV panels add a clear contrast to the traditional house frame.

Photo: Courtesy of Kevin Miyazaki

Zero Cottage

Zero Cottage is the result of a deep-green study of compact, sustainable urban design. Composed of an 1,141-square-foot loft residence and wood-shop, Zero Cottage is a fits a renovated, historic, Edwardian-style townhouse into an active, mixed-use neighborhood. The Zero Cottage started as a passive house project and contributes to the ongoing vitality of San Francisco’s Mission District neighborhood; blending work-space with a compact, highly functional studio. The cottage is capped by a rooftop deck replete with solar panels and space for gardening and relaxing.

Photo: Courtesy of Zero Cottage