TC Legend Homes built this 945-square-foot home in Seattle, Washington, to the performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
This home’s walls are constructed using 6-inch (R-29) structurally insulated panels (SIPs) while the roof is constructed of 10-inch (R-42) SIPs providing a continuous thermal blanket and air barrier around the home.
The foundation walls are constructed using insulated concrete forms (ICFs) and a thick (R-20) layer of rigid foam blankets the ground under the slab.
Deep overhangs protect the walls and windows from high summer sun and repeated drenchings in rainy Seattle.
The highly insulated concrete slab flooring serves as a thermal mass that absorbs energy from the sun to passively heat the home.
For increased energy savings, the home is equipped with ENERGY STAR appliances and advanced LED lighting.
One ductless mini-split heat pump is all that’s needed to heat and cool this compact, well-insulated home.
“We’ve developed practices that allow us to build net-zero-energy homes for the same price as traditionally constructed homes. Sometimes ... even less.”
“Over the last decade, we’ve developed practices that allow us to build net-zero-energy homes for the same price as traditionally constructed homes. Sometimes, we are able to build them for even less. We know we are doing something right because our services are in high demand.”
– Ted Clifton, builder, TC Legend Homes
