It takes my breath away a little to be writing this inaugural blog post.  It was two and a half years ago that a small group of us, representing different organizations and perspectives, under the leadership of the City of Issaquah, got together to pursue building an out-of-the-box housing development that drove to the heart of environmental problems.  We wanted to build something revolutionary – something that would inspire the average person with a vision for how mainstream housing could be radically – not incrementally – greener, yet be market rate, and a cool place to live.  A project with audacious goals like true zero net energy/zero net carbon emissions.  I think zHome has achieved that vision, and can’t wait to share with you all its construction and evolution.  Over the coming year, the site will grow, and we will be sharing as we learn via the blog and the Dig Deeper sections of the site.  Sign up for email updates if you would like to know when the site is updated, or for upcoming events and classes.

If this project has taught me anything, it is that turning something this visionary into reality takes an incredible amount of work by a number of folks.  Many, many people have touched and affected zHome already, including our Mayor and City Council, our friends at Howland Homes, our terrific partners, and our great design team.  While the vision of zHome has captured people’s imaginations and helped propel it forward, it definitely didn’t happen by accident.  Thank you to everyone who has brought it to this point!

This is a picture of a young friend of mine playing in a pea patch.  Ultimately, zHome is about the future – showing that there are real, hopeful solutions to our significant environmental problems.  There’s a lot of handwringing going on about how to address climate change, salmon habitat, deforestation, environmental health – the list goes on.  Housing is a big part of our environmental footprint – and zHome provides a way forward into the future.

Brad Liljequist – zHome Project Manager, City of Issaquah