zHome: The Future of Homebuilding

Located right here in the Issaquah Highlands, zHome is setting the stage for future, ultra-green homes throughout the country.

During a public open house in the fall of 2011, nearly 10,000 people toured zHome, which is the first zero-energy, carbon neutral multifamily community in the United States.

An additional 4,000 people were also educated on zHome through off-site presentations at conferences, classes and seminars throughout the region.

There's still time to see these homes in person! Stop by from 1-4 p.m. every Sunday for a self-guided tour.

What's the main goal of zHome? Demonstrate that cutting-edge environmental building technologies are not only possible - but also scalable - for mainstream housing production.

The project was accomplished through a highly collaborative public/private partnership spearheaded by the City of Issaquah, in conjunction with Built Green, King County, Port Blakely Communities, Puget Sound Energy and the Washington State University Energy Program. The homes were built and developed by Ichijo USA and Seattle builder Matt Howland.

Although the zHome townhomes will be sold, one of the 10 units will remain as a Stewardship Center for the next five years, offering educational programming and tours for the community, builders, designers and students.

zHome townhomes:

• Are zero net energy and carbon neutral, thanks to energy-efficient construction practices and products, as well as solar panels that generate needed power.
• Use 70 percent less water than the average home, achieved in part through an integrated rainwater recycling system and water-efficient fixtures.
• Incorporate 78 percent FSC-certified wood products and a high percentage of recycled, reclaimed and regional materials.
• Diverted 90 percent of all construction-related debris through waste prevention, reuse and recycling.
• Offer high indoor air quality through low toxicity materials and proper ventilation.
• Reduce stormwater impacts through low-impact site development strategies - including recharging runoff onsite - to mimic the site's original, forested state.
• Achieve the highest ever Built Green certification score of 850 points.
• Were developed in conjunction with an adjacent 150-unit YWCA Family Village workforce housing community. Together, they form a transit-oriented development adjacent to a regional transit center.