Earth-friendly energy efficiency starts on the ground.

This project started very, very carefully: on a steep slope at the end of a narrow street on Capitol Hill, in an environmentally critical area with no turn-around access. Not only did we need to demolish the existing structure, we needed to protect the area at the end of the slope—leaving limited staging area for materials and equipment.

Careful planning of all activities and material deliveries were a must. We were able to successfully navigate a tricky area and protect the existing property thanks to meticulous attention to planning and constant communication.

The new home we built not only overcame all these obstacles, but it’s a showpiece of modern design and energy efficiency. Nearly half of the owners’ daily energy needs are now met through photovoltaic panels—solar power—and the earth’s ground temperature helps heat the home using geowells. The “hot room,” similar to a sauna, incorporates radiant heat cables in the walls and ceiling and a heated sand floor.