Governor offers international shout-out to Issaquah’s zHome
September 21, 2010 By Warren Kagarise (Issaquah Press)
Gov. Chris Gregoire offered a high-profile shout-out to zHome during a Sept. 17 sustainability address at the Shanghai World Expo.
The governor, on a trade mission to China and Vietnam, mentioned the Issaquah Highlands townhouse project during a speech to the Sustainable Cities Forum, a part of the World’s Fair.
“The city of Issaquah is building a zero-energy housing development in partnership with businesses,” Gregoire said as part of her remarks. “It involves designing, constructing and selling houses that demonstrate advanced ‘green’ building technologies.”
Plans call for zHome to include 10 townhouses designed to produce as much electricity as the units consume. By harnessing solar power and using recycled building materials, developers hope the complex causes only minimal impact to the environment.
The city spearheaded the development of zHome, and a private joint venture is responsible for construction and financing. Construction started in earnest in April. The project should be completed by spring 2011.
In the Shanghai address, Gregoire highlighted other eco-conscious efforts in the Evergreen State, including a push to add electric-vehicle charging stations along the Interstate 5 corridor and a push to add “green” vehicles to the Olympia city fleet.
“It’s not just doing the right thing for our children and grandchildren, it’s about transforming for the new economy,” Gregoire said in closing. “One where we harness the power of the wind and sun to power our cities — and to put their people to work.”
The governor embarked on the 11-day trip Sept. 13. State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, a Maple Valley Republican and the Issaquah-area representative, joined Gregoire in Vietnam.
|
