Rainwater cistern and stormwater system

September 8th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

 

Our rainwater cisterns are in the ground and about ready to be backfilled. Watch this very interesting video of Nick Nied explain how the cistern and stormwater systems are tied together – low water use and low impact development hand in hand.

Nick Nied discusses zHome cistern and raingarden system from zHome on Vimeo.

Nick and Clint share their thoughts on the initial phases on construction

September 6th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

Nick Nied and Clint Hamilton, our construction managers, talk about the first phases on construction – ground work. Hear about lessons learned, challenges, and inspirations.

Nick and Clint share their thoughts on initial phases of construction from zHome on Vimeo.

zHome goes to sea

September 2nd, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

This may be better on our Facebook page, but what the heck!

Nick Nied, construction project manager for Ichijo USA, got up at 12:30 at night to catch an albacore tuna to make sashimi for his coworkers. They were very happy about it!

Nick’s Albacore from zHome on Vimeo.

Incidentally, the Environmental Defense Fund lists Albacore Tuna as an “eco-best” sushi fish.

NW Energy Coalition article on zHome

September 1st, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

A very nice write up by the Northwest Energy Coalition about zHome was posted recently on their website.  Northwest Energy Coalition is a very cool non-profit – according to their website, “The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of more than 100 environmental, civic, and human service organizations, progressive utilities, and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. We promote development of renewable energy and energy conservation, consumer protection, low-income energy assistance, and fish and wildlife restoration on the Columbia and Snake rivers.”  Their website is a great resource – check it out!

Meet Nick Nied of Ichijo USA

August 31st, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

Nick Nied is Ichijo USA’s project manager for zHome (as well as other things).  Nick is a hard worker, thinks big picture, and is a heck of a lot of fun to work with.  It is great to have him on the project  – he’s really brought great fresh energy to a project that has been going on for quite a while.  He is very passionate about zHome and we are lucky to have him on board and playing such a key role.  He and I talk at least once a day and he is very patient with my quirks.  He gets what we are trying to do with education and has jumped into participating in our on-site classes.  We tag team the classes and I think we compliment each other well as far as covering all the bases, from policy to construction.

This photo is of Nick far off Westport, where he caught an albacore tuna for his sashimi loving coworkers at Ichijo USA.  He got up at 12:30 at night to be fishing before sunrise.  Hard core!

Nick Nied, Ichijo USA from zHome on Vimeo.

Thanks Nick for all you do for zHome, you are a great addition to the team!

Timelapse 8/26/10

August 30th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

Here is the latest timelapse, with captions.

Untitled from zHome on Vimeo.

Nice zHome mention on Kathleen O’Brien’s Building Capacity blog

August 16th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

Kathleen O’Brien of O’Brien and Company is a mentor of sorts for me; one of several people who helped me transition my work in environmental policy and urban design to include green building.  I took her green building class at Seattle Central Community College in 2002.  She is one of a core group of green building pioneers here locally and has a very powerful legacy of her work, in the form of many projects and people.  Kathleen recently posted this very interesting and thoughtful blog on the role of government in accelerating green building and it resonated a lot with me.  She mentions zHome as a great example of government really taking the bull by the horns and trying to truly redefine the marketplace.  Her blog in general is a very interesting resource and a great place to get into some depth on our movement.

Aerial photo of zHome and YWCA Family Village

August 12th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

I haven’t mentioned that zHome is being built in conjunction with the YWCA Family Village.  The Family Village is an incredible project – it is a 150 unit affordable housing project being built by the YWCA of Seattle – King County – Snohomish County.  It is aimed at families earning an income ranging from 30-60% of median income.  The two projects have been planned for a number of years on parallel tracks, and it turns out they will be complete at almost the same time.  The two projects have been designed in conjunction with each other, to provide on integrated, sustainable center.  The Family Village is incorporating a number of green features which I’ll cover in a later post.   

This aerial photo shows both projects – zHome is the area in the upper right hand side of the construction.  You can also see the Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride (in the lower section of the photo), which will be connected to the Family Village with a dedicated pedestrian bridge.

Social sustainability has been an important part of zHome, and the social and physical integration of the Family Village and zHome is a critical component.  They are physically linked and connected through urban design, and share a comm0n pedestrian/vehicular plaza.  After both projects are complete, they will be linked by a common stewardship center for sustainability education (more on that later, too).

Monthly onsite walkthrough

August 12th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

Our next monthly walkthrough will be September 2 from 3:30 – 4:30 onsite (they are always scheduled for the first Thursday of the month from 3:30 – 4:30). At this walkthrough we will turn our attention to the rainwater cisterns – we will have the plumbing complete on the pump into the units and so will be discussing that. We will also have floor slabs down, which have slab insulation and hydronic piping issues to work through, and so that will be a topic as well. Come on out and join the fun! Here’s directions to the site - look for us on the sidewalk, east of the Highlands Drive/High Street intersection.

See us at FutureShack!

August 12th, 2010 - Posted By: Brad Liljequist

FutureShack is a great program by the Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It looks at the question: How has design changed and where should it be going? Are you thinking of a new home project of your own? FutureShack provides a chance to learn about what resources are available to you and meet the professionals who can help make your project a reality. Come to the event for a glass of wine and a lively discussion about the future of residential design and how it fits into your neighborhood.

FutureShack is a new way to think about residential architecture. It’s about how it works, not just how it looks. FutureShack creates a platform for dialogue between the public and design professionals. How can architecture help improve the quality of your city? Your neighborhood? Your home? How can you share your vision of living in the future? It showcases creative responses to our changing lifestyles, across a wide range of building types, budgets, constraints and social agendas. Part debate about how we want to live, part recognition of innovative architecture, FutureShack is judged by a panel of both designers and engaged members of the public. The Seattle Times’ Pacific Northwest Magazine will publish the jurors’ selected projects on September 12. The public will also be able to choose their favorite as part of the People’s Choice Award. That winner will be announced at the FutureShack program on September 15. (Just FYI, zHome is in the running!)

Details:
5:00pm – Get your project questions answered and find resources while enjoying a glass of Salmon Safe wine

6:30pm – Jury Presentation

Location
Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion

Cost
$15 General Admission
$5 Students w/ ID
$5 Seniors w/ GOLD card
$5 People w/ FLASH card