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How much does it cost to build a sustainable home? This is a question that we get all the time. The answer is of course, “it depends”.

The greenest home in Bainbridge gets one step closer to Platinum LEED status thanks to Coates Design Architects. Justin Helmbrecht explains how the vegetated roof helps reduce rainwater runoff while also providing a garden area escape.  

1300 square feet of the lower roof of the residence is covered in a pre-planted vegetated roofing system. The system consists of 3′ x3′ panels with pre-grown, drought tolerant sedums laid in a grid to form a cohesive surface of vegetation.

These Seattle Architects had the opportunity to climb up on the roof of the Ellis Residence to film the installation of the 20 panel, 4 kw photovoltaic system which will supply about 40% of the power to the residence.

Two 4’x8′ solar hot water flat plates have been installed on the lower, south-facing roof of the Ellis Residence. These two panels will collect heat from the rays of the sun to help supplement the domestic hot water supply throughout the year.

Our first look into the Ellis Residence mechanical systems begins with the heat recovery ventilator(HRV). The main function of the HRV is to provide an energy efficient way to bring fresh, filtered air into the house while exhausting stale and contaminated air.

We are going to start a mini-series dedicated to the various mechanical systems that have been installed in the Ellis Residence. During the next few weeks check in to learn more information about each individual system that has been utilized in a home targeted with the goal of LEED for Homes Platinum.

We are pleased to announce that the Ellis Residence will be part of the American Solar Energy Society National Solar Tour on October 3, 2009. More details to come.

This may not seem like the most interesting topic in the world, but it is one of the more economically accessible energy saving options for a new home builder. The Ellis Residence utilizes a hybrid insulation system.

Bainbridge’s own, Coates Design Architects, ready concrete cisterns for the Ellis residence. As part of the sustainable design, these cisterns help to collect water from the roof to be used for exterior use.

Framing has been completed on the Ellis Residence on Bainbridge Island, but again we’re still catching you up to present time. All of the lumber used to frame the interior and exterior walls is Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

So far we have discussed one of the active climate control systems, Geothermal, utilized in the Ellis Residence. As construction moves right along, we would like to introduce you to the installation of the first passive system, Thermal Mass.

Seattle based Coates Design Architects designed this home with a goal of LEED-H Platinum certification in mind. It utilizes several different mechanical systems like this geothermal loop to achieve such a rating.

Stacks of wood milled and dried on site sit ready to construct a Bainbridge Island home. The Ellis Residence, a sustainable design from Coates Design Architects will be constructed using this wood. It’s just the beginning of this green design.