Imagine your original windows the day they were put in your house — how easily they moved, how fresh and clean they looked. As time has gone by, maintenance has lagged and paint has built up so that they are drafty and difficult to open. Windows are usually at the top of the lists when homeowners look for ways to increase energy efficiency and diminish frustration — yet typically, windows account for only about one fifth of a single-story home’s energy loss. The largest culprits of inefficiency... more

By the time most people decide that they need a shed, it can be a real V-8 moment of “we could have had this years ago!” My wife and I felt this way after having our first child. We saw many of our possessions slowly getting relocated to make way for things such as vibrating swings, basinets, and play kitchens. And when the bike with a child seat became a permanent fixture in our foyer, it was time to do something. Below are a few questions you might ask that could help you plan and build the... more

Most “green” building homeowners won’t admit it, but they love showing off their houses to family and friends. A lucky few will have a chance to be in the coveted Build It Green! Home Tour, where they can share the green building gospel with casual acquaintances. So a house built simply for a yearlong showcase offers a unique opportunity for green-building enthusiasts. The Water House is a sustainable demonstration house built to showcase water conservation practices and local... more

The Woodland Kitchen started as a very isolated and outdated space in a classic 1959 Mid-Century Modern home. This galley-style kitchen was very confined, with little connection to the adjacent dining and living spaces. The challenge in this project was to create a clean, timeless look that respected the authentic vintage character of the home. PROJECT TEAM:  Principal Architect: Richard Shugar AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager: Gabriel Greiner AIA, LEED AP General Contractor: Mica McOmber Yankee... more

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) offer a perfect opportunity to test your hand at an energy-efficient or sustainable structure. Small in size but large in environmental significance, the ADU helps to reinforce the community nature of the neighborhood, and as such should be in harmony with its surroundings. While this doesn’t mean you have to build a mini-earthship or use a recycled shipping container, an ADU can be a miniature example of the most advanced sustainability models. ADUs: A Platform... more

Now that the green movement is driving the vast majority of new flooring products toward sustainability, it’s time to discuss the use of floors that can be installed over the top of existing floors without adhesive. Marmoleum Click This is a green issue. First, you are not tearing out material and transporting it to a landfill. Second, the lack of adhesive minimizes the possibility of off-gassing into the living area. Third, the majority of areas being replaced are older, traditional dry-backed,... more

Winter in the Pacific Northwest has officially arrived, with a familiar sting from the higher utility bills and extra maintenance to go with it. This year, instead of feeling trapped by winter’s demands, make some changes to improve the efficiency and longevity of your home. This begins with an energy audit. Although not required, an energy audit is strongly recommended. For example, windows are commonly blamed as a cause of energy inefficiency. Even the best window is a relatively poor insulator.... more

I once saw in a catalog an air freshener with the “new-car smell.” I’ve never seen an air freshener with the “just-painted smell.” Decorators say that the easiest way to “freshen” a room is to paint it, but no one likes the smell of new paint. We even pay more for paints marketed as low odor. Before latex paint took over the paint market, the solvent in oil-based paint made the smell intense. While latex paints do not smell as strong as oil-based paint, they do contain a small amount... more