DOE Tour of Zero: Emerald Star by Dwell Development
Photos
1/17
Dwell Development built this 2117-square-foot home in Seattle, Washington, to the performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
2/17
Reclaimed wood and metal roofing from old barns provides the unique exterior cladding of the home, which is located in Seattle’s historic Ballard neighborhood.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
3/17
Durable standing-seam metal roofing covers the shed roof, which has very few penetrations to minimize heat loss and maximize the space available for solar photovoltaic panels. Dwell installed 8.1 kW of PV, which will help cut energy costs to $51 per year.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
4/17
Dwell maximized use of space on the urban infill lot by splitting the parcel and constructing a net zero duplex behind the award-winning home.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
5/17
Exterior lights are energy efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
6/17
The home was equipped with a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer for energy and water savings. Other features include an induction range.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
7/17
All of the interior and exterior lamps use advanced light emitting diode (LED) lighting technology.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
8/17
Triple-pane, ultra-efficient windows are almost three times as efficient as standard windows.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
9/17
The home meets the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor airPLUS certification including the use of structural wood products, primer, paint, cabinets, and flooring that give off few or no air contaminants.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
10/17
The plumbing includes water-saving fixtures that comply with the U.S. EPA WaterSense program. Hot water is provided by an efficient heat pump water heater that uses 1 kW of energy to generate 4.5 kW of heat, using about 78% less energy than typical gas tank water heaters.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
11/17
The open design brings natural daylight into the home’s interior.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
12/17
Countertops, cabinets, and tile made locally from recycled materials contribute to the home’s inventory of eco-friendly components.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
13/17
The floors, stairs, and treads were built out of 100-year-old hand-hewn mixed hardwoods from Montana.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
14/17
Rainwater is collected with a harvesting system that includes a 420-gallon cistern storage tank. The rainwater is twice filtered and used in toilets and hose bibs.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
15/17
A fresh air balanced system consisting of a heat recovery ventilator supplies all living spaces with filtered air.
Photo courtesy of Dwell Development
“They sell themselves because once people understand, then there is only one choice to make.”
“A healthier place to live, with lower utility bills and less impact on the environment. As soon as this is understood, there is no need for us to sell our homes. They sell themselves because once people understand, then there is only one choice to make.”
– Anthony Maschmedt, builder, Dwell Development
