The design solution began with responding to the land to meet our client’s priorities of outdoor living, privacy, and views into a protected forest. The entry side faces Southwest and has minimal windows and a long front porch that provides later afternoon shade. The downhill view side faces Northeast and is two stories with a tall window-wall for private views toward the forest where solar heat gain is less of an issue. A sixteen foot wide accordion door connects the kitchen and dining to a large screened porch and the outdoors beyond.

Our technical design for net-zero energy started with the wall and roof assemblies. The house has a structural insulated panel (SIP) roof system with twice the insulation value that is required by code. In addition, continuous exterior wall insulation eliminates thermal bridging and provides increased energy efficiency. The home is heated and cooled by a geothermal heat pump and has all-electric appliances, including an electric fireplace and induction cooktop. An array of rooftop photovoltaic panels brings the house to net-zero and powers a battery system for resilience during extreme weather. These systems allow for an all electric home, eliminating the need for any onsite fossil fuels.