Architecture

Reclaimed Modern home hits near net zero

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Reclaimed Modern is a near net zero home that makes use of recycled materials
Reclaimed Modern is a near net zero home that makes use of recycled materials
An exterior view of Reclaimed Modern during the evening
An aerial view of Reclaimed Modern, showing its solar array installed on the roof
The dining room inside Reclaimed Modern
The entry of Reclaimed Modern looking into the house
Artwork and glazing in the entry of Reclaimed Modern
A seating area outside Reclaimed Modern
The outside patio of Reclaimed Modern
A guest bedroom of Reclaimed Modern
The Kitchen of Reclaimed Modern
A living space in Reclaimed Modern
A living space leading to the outdoor deck at Reclaimed Modern
A marble shower and bath in Reclaimed Modern
The master bathroom in Reclaimed Modern
Interior metal detail in Reclaimed Modern
The Rooftop deck of Reclaimed Modern
A aerial view of Reclaimed Modern showing its solar array, rooftop deck and patio area
The 7.29 kW solar array of Reclaimed Modern
The rooftop deck at Reclaimed Modern
View gallery - 19 images

When we think about sustainable homes, we tend to think about energy usage. A new home in Columbia City, US, can claim to not only be energy efficient, but to make sustainable use of materials. Reclaimed Modern has near net zero energy consumption and is built using reclaimed metal, wood and concrete.

Designed by architecture firm Dwell Developments, Reclaimed Modern covers 3,140 sq ft (290 sq m) and houses four bedrooms. It has a detached garage and rooftop deck from which there are views of Seattle, Columbia City and Lake Washington. Much of the building's character, however, comes from the reclaimed materials of which it makes use.

"We have always used a lot of materials with high recycled content," says design project coordinator at Dwell Development Abbey Maschmedt. "But the idea of actually taking and reusing materials from old buildings slated for demolition was the next step – a natural evolution."

The materials used include metal and wood from a deconstructed barn in the Willamette Valley. Corrugated metal from the barn was used for cladding on the side of the house, as well as to create fencing in the garden. The barn wood, meanwhile, forms part of the overhang, or "soffit," above the rooftop deck. The pathway leading up to house is made out of repurposed concrete from a public sidewalk that was removed during construction.

The rooftop deck at Reclaimed Modern

The house has a 7.29 kW solar array installed on the roof and was built targeting a net zero level of energy consumption. With it only having only recently been occupied, there is no practical usage data available yet, but Dwell tells Gizmag that it came in just short of the target, with a HERS rating of 15.

The HERS index is a US rating of a house's energy performance. A score of 150 means a house is 50 percent less energy efficient than a standard new home, while a score of 100 puts a house at the same level of efficiency as a standard new home. A score of 0, meanwhile, indicates that a house produces as much energy as it consumes ... a net zero home.

Reclaimed Modern's HERS score of 15 shows that it has an excellent level of energy efficiency. Dwell tells Gizmag that the building could be brought up to net zero level by adding another 4 kW of solar panels.

Any electricity generated that isn't used is sold back into the grid at a premium over the cost at which the owners buy their electricity, earning them a projected US$4,500 per year for the next four years plus.

The outside patio of Reclaimed Modern

Elsewhere, the house makes use of Enviro-Dri coating on its exterior that helps to create a weather-resistant barrier and seals the building against moisture. Triple glazing helps to insulate the house and a blower door test for airtightness has also been carried out. This measures the number of times in an hour that indoor air is replaced at pressure and Reclaimed Modern's result of result of 2.5 at 50 Pa indicates a high level of air tightness.

Building work on Reclaimed Modern began in February 2014 and was completed later that year in October.

The video below provides an overview of Reclaimed Modern.

Source: Dwell Developments

View gallery - 19 images
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4 comments
Rakkasan
Beautiful home. Soooo.... how much did it cost per sq ft?
Jeffrey A. Edwards
Rakkasan, follow the end of story link for the developer. http://dwelldevelopment.com/design/4606-43rd-ave-s-in-columbia-city-2/ It's $999,990 for 3,140 sq ft ~ $318/sq ft . . . but it's the view too !!! In Columbia City the mean sale price is $378K, but this is unique, (data from Redfin 02/13/15) similar properties may be comparably priced.
Harriet Russell
Love the concept. Not crazy about the minimalist look, and would hate to live in the house behind it, though, where the windows are now at the bottom of a dark canyon. (image 18)
Oun Kwon
It is something like to deploy a few electric cars to reduce gas consumption. Nice idea with net practicability like improvement to be made on Rolex watches.