Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1257023
Next-Level Building Adelstein pointed out that while some builders simply want to improve their business and branding, "others are inspired to take their commitment to the next level and fully embrace the environmental and social benefits of green building." One such company is TC Legend Homes. A custom homebuilder and design firm based in Bellingham, TC Legend Homes describes themselves as ushering in a "new era of green construction in which homeowners don't have to choose between cutting-edge efficiency and staying on budget." Since 2009, TC Legend's Ted Clifton Jr. has been a Built Green member, building innovative, high-performing homes across the whole region, including King, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. Every TC Legend Homes project he's had certified by Built Green has been 5-Star or Emerald Star. The company currently promotes positive-energy homes that go beyond net zero. Surplus electricity produced with solar panels can be used for other necessities such as electric vehicle chargers. Another specialty is prefabricated structural insulated panels (SIPs) that are precisely cut to speed up construction and reduce jobsite waste. SIPs help insulate the home with a strong, air-tight shell. Reflecting on companies like TC Legend, Adelstein said, "They discover that connecting environmental stewardship with construction is rewarding beyond the marketing advantages. They want to preserve the environment and keep the Puget Sound an amazing and vibrant place to live." TC Legend Homes was behind this striking home in Blaine that features a very low air infiltration rating and a Japanese tatami room. "Connecting environmental stewardship with construction is rewarding beyond the marketing advantages." A ARON ADELSTEIN, MBAKS Director of Programs & Products Built Green's 20,000th Certification This 5-Star, all-electric home in Everson features an aging-in- place-friendly first-floor master suite. Clerestory windows flood the home with daylight and a vast, south-facing photovoltaic system fully powers both the house and an electric car. Thick insulation and fastidious sealing retain winter heat and keep summer cooling low to zero, with R20 foam beneath slab-on-grade floor, R29 and R49 SIP panel walls and roof, and triple-pane windows. An HRV constantly delivers fresh, filtered air, boosted by humidity and CO2 sensors. TC Legend is known for testing new building-science tech, bringing reliable practices into the mainstream. Here, they incorporate Zehnder ComfoPost tech, which reproduces traditional forced-air heating and cooling delivery, powered by a Chiltrix CX34 heat pump. PHOTO: YURIY MANCHIK "Anyone who enjoys the region's beauty, vibrance, and connectivity to the outdoors has a responsibility to preserve those same attributes for future generations." The Next 20 Years With more than 500 members and 20,000 certified projects, Built Green has proven its effectiveness in driving market change toward a more sustainable future. Over the next two decades, Built Green will continue to transform the building market and practices, dramatically lowering the environmental impact of building construction and operation. Through collaboration with homebuilders and jurisdictions and the cultivation of incentives, Built Green will inspire healthy and inclusive communities while preserving the region's natural treasures for decades to come. 17 SUMMER 2020 | master BUILDER