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Issaquah's zHome development boasts homes with zero net energy use, zero carbon emissions, 70 percent reduced water use, and low-toxicity building materials for a clean, healthy environment. (Image: zHome)

Issaquah zHome development shows 'uber green' a real option

BY Jamie Skorheim  on October 26, 2012 @ 12:25 pm (Updated: 9:47 pm - 10/26/12 )

A project in the city of Issaquah is hoping to "change what it means to be a home."

Using a series of what Brad Liljequist, the Sustainable building coordinator at the City of Issaquah, calls "hard-core environmental benchmarks," the city has built a 10-unit townhome development which they say proves it's possible to produce a zero net energy home for mainstream production.

"A group of us came together and we said, 'OK we want to build a home that's not just a little bit green, but just way uber green,'" says Liljequist.

Homes in the zHome's development boast zero net energy use, zero carbon emissions, 70 percent reduced water use, and use low-toxicity building materials for clean, healthy indoor air.

"It's pretty amazing what we're doing," says Liljequist.

He says there hasn't been strong record for innovation in home building. "We're building homes like Model-T's still."

He says his team is "pushing the envelope in every single way." Their considerable energy savings were made mostly by rethinking the heating system.

"In the Northwest, the leading thing that uses energy in homes is the heating system. That's about 60 to 65 percent of all the energy used in the home. So that's really where you want to focus."

They used double insulation, double paned windows, sealed up the exterior, and used a water heating system which is more efficient than air.

Other energy savings were made by using high efficiency lighting and appliances. All energy used in the homes is offset with solar panels on the roof.

There are still four uber green homes available in the Issaquah zHome community, and Liljequist says their builder, Ichijo USA, who has built over 100,000 homes in Japan, is now offering custom homes for the Puget Sound area.

This week's Home Improvement is sponsored by Zero Footprint Homes.

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (11)


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  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    i would like to know
    October 27, 2012 7:21 am
    how you will power those solar panels when on average we have 260 overcast days a year. It also does not mention....how much electricity the average family in one of these units will be using....please be logical and accurate and tell us really.....how much energy is being saved here compared to the average family in the average town home....solar panels will not power the average family's computers, lap tops, ipods, tv's, appliances, etc, etc, etc...one could argue a family that does not power all these electronics is more green as they are not powering them in any way...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • iapproveofthismessage wrote...
    Overcast conditions does not...
    October 27, 2012 7:45 am
    Impede modern panels ability to convert light into energy. In fact, the larger environmental issue in the Pacific Northwest are the trees which frequently do prevent light from reaching panels. Net - light penetrates clouds, but not trees.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    What will be curious is if
    October 27, 2012 7:49 am
    The buyer is willing to pay the costs and association fees for these amenities. I would also be interested if the condominium law will be used to ensure no failed systems four years down the road. While I definitely encourage high efficiency, it should be noted that high efficiency does not come without a very high price tag, one that does not usually pencil out for those purchasing short term.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dead Fish wrote...
    Your Answer
    October 28, 2012 1:15 pm
    Buyers have NOT been willing to pay the costs and association fees. It took them like two years to sell just half the units with many still sitting vacant. The homes are priced per square foot higher than other homes in the area and with HOA fees of over $600 a month it is hard for potential buyers to swallow such insane rates.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dead Fish wrote...
    Story Incomplete
    October 27, 2012 11:44 am
    Here's some important FACTS this story left out: * Homes are incredibly overpriced * Due to lack of interest, homes have largely sat empty for years * Home are choppy and unappealing * HOA fees are over $600 a month * The Z-Homes have been a failure
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    I dont consider an Apartment Building
    October 27, 2012 1:08 pm
    a Home. No matter what you call it, town home or Condo, its still a freaking apartment.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dead Fish wrote...
    Should also be noted...
    October 28, 2012 1:39 am
    That these Zhomes are listed for over $600k and have largely sat empty for well over a year or two years. As an added bonus, these high priced homes are located right next to low income housing. Why on Earth would somebody buy a Zhome next to low income housing that will surely deflate the value? The truth is this whole Zhome thing has been a gigantic failure and they are looking for press like this to bail them out and sell these stinker of a homes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Old Timer wrote...
    Should also be noted...on Z houses
    October 28, 2012 1:12 pm
    Deadfish, Couldn't agree more, thier about half sold after at least a year and are surrounded by low income. Who would want to live there?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dead Fish wrote...
    Revised
    October 28, 2012 1:26 pm
    They have slashed the prices from $650k+ to $488k actually since they built these a couple years ago. Demand still lacks at the new price. I guess nobody wants to buy a Zhome with $600+ monthly HOA dues for a pseudo luxury green condo when they are surrounded by low income housing to boot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Does the city own these lemons
    October 29, 2012 5:37 am
    If so, how is it the residents allowed the city to become a contractor?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Uber Green isn't a real option
    October 29, 2012 7:03 am
    unless you ignore traditional housing that is cheaper and easier to maintain. If it was such a great deal why is it they aren't all sold?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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