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Sustainable & Green Homes

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In thinking about the worldwide lack of reliable water, sanitation, food, and electricity—and the fact that housing sector contributes more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions—the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture and the New Haven, Connecticut–based architecture firm Gray Organschi Architecture designed and constructed a 230-square-foot home called the Ecological Living Module (ELM). The construction is a fully off-grid housing prototype that was designed to take advantage of sustainable materials, green technology, and simple construction methods. There's a a rainwater harvesting system, a solar system that provides 100 percent of the building’s energy needs, and a graywater system that irrigates food-producing plants that mark the building’s west facade.
In thinking about the worldwide lack of reliable water, sanitation, food, and electricity—and the fact that housing sector contributes more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions—the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture and the New Haven, Connecticut–based architecture firm Gray Organschi Architecture designed and constructed a 230-square-foot home called the Ecological Living Module (ELM). The construction is a fully off-grid housing prototype that was designed to take advantage of sustainable materials, green technology, and simple construction methods. There's a a rainwater harvesting system, a solar system that provides 100 percent of the building’s energy needs, and a graywater system that irrigates food-producing plants that mark the building’s west facade.
"The porch’s distinctive 30-foot peak is discernible from a great distance, and its rhythmic, horizontal cypress slats are a contemporary interpretation of traditional vented gables," add the architects.
"The porch’s distinctive 30-foot peak is discernible from a great distance, and its rhythmic, horizontal cypress slats are a contemporary interpretation of traditional vented gables," add the architects.
The kitchen now looks out to the big, open deck which houses expansive tree views.
The kitchen now looks out to the big, open deck which houses expansive tree views.
The house that Fleetwood Fernandez Architects designed for contractor Mehran Taslimi and his wife, Laila, embraces its surroundings. “They wanted doors that they could just throw open,” designer Hunter Fleetwood says of the retractable wall system from Vitrocsa.
The house that Fleetwood Fernandez Architects designed for contractor Mehran Taslimi and his wife, Laila, embraces its surroundings. “They wanted doors that they could just throw open,” designer Hunter Fleetwood says of the retractable wall system from Vitrocsa.
Wheelhaus founder and CEO Jamie Mackay creates prefabs with the same quality and durability of the log cabins he grew up with, while also incorporating his values of green production and modern design. Although it takes about four months to construct his prefabricated properties, it takes about a week for the home to be delivered, and then three to five days for the house to be set up on site.
Wheelhaus founder and CEO Jamie Mackay creates prefabs with the same quality and durability of the log cabins he grew up with, while also incorporating his values of green production and modern design. Although it takes about four months to construct his prefabricated properties, it takes about a week for the home to be delivered, and then three to five days for the house to be set up on site.
Location: Columbia City Type: Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) Year Built: 2016 Building Recap: Detached office and guest house built in the backyard Considerations: Sustainability, multi-purpose usability, maximizing square footage http://modelremodel.com/2016/08/columbia-city-backyard-cottage/ © Cindy Apple Photography
Location: Columbia City Type: Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) Year Built: 2016 Building Recap: Detached office and guest house built in the backyard Considerations: Sustainability, multi-purpose usability, maximizing square footage modelremodel.com/201... © Cindy Apple Photography
A Tekmar system distributes solar-collected heat throughout the compound. Wells designed the buildings to carefully respond to the roof pitch of both the original architecture and the neighboring homes.
A Tekmar system distributes solar-collected heat throughout the compound. Wells designed the buildings to carefully respond to the roof pitch of both the original architecture and the neighboring homes.
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Sitting on a Kirkland hillside overlooking Lake Washington, this multigenerational home is truly one of a kind. MRM worked closely and collaboratively with the visionary architect, Velocipede (click link for technical data), and a variety of talented partners and sub consultants to achieve the homeowners’ goals of “off the grid” capacity and net-zero energy. Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography
Sitting on a Kirkland hillside overlooking Lake Washington, this multigenerational home is truly one of a kind. MRM worked closely and collaboratively with the visionary architect, Velocipede (click link for technical data), and a variety of talented partners and sub consultants to achieve the homeowners’ goals of “off the grid” capacity and net-zero energy. Built Green 5 Star + LEED Platinum certification | Eastside Harvest House by Model Remodel and Velocipede, Kirkland, WA © Cindy Apple Photography