THE FUTURE

The Seattle field trip begins at a 10-unit townhome development called zHome in Issaquah, WA. zHome uses a smart design to reduce environmental impacts. A few of the energy-efficient techniques used to reduce energy use are super insulated walls, double-paned fiberglass windows that allow solar heat gain to enter the homes during the cooler months, tight exterior walls that exceed code standards, a ground source heat pump is used for heating and hot water, a heat recovery ventilator which allows cold air coming into the house to be heated by the warm air that is being exhausted, and hydronic heating which water that runs through the floors and walls that heat the units. The most effective technique is the use of photovoltaic panels; these panels absorb the sun’s rays and turn it into electricity. What happens when it’s cloudy? A lot of solar energy does make it through the clouds in Western Washington. zHome has a 40% water use. The landscape design used around the townhouses are that of drought-tolerant plants that won’t require any watering once they are established. Rainwater storage tanks are used to flush toilets and wash clothes year-round. Because so much time is spent indoors the air quality inside a home greatly impacts ones health. zHome increases air quality through proper ventilation and the use of low-toxicity materials. zHome has an amazing concept that is becoming the way of our future. Homeowners in the zHome community not only save money with the energy techniques used but they also have a very positive impact on our environment.