Living in a Green House
We build homes using the latest in sustainable techniques and using high-quality design and materials that conserves energy and resources and promotes health. We cover about 500 aspects of design and construction to achieve that. Energy modeling and Passive Solar are integral part of a detailed design process. The custom design of YS DEVELOPMENT, coupled with their low-maintenance materials and systems mean you’ll get a home that fits wonderfully your life style and aesthetics while being comfortable and healthy while cutting your bills.
What do we mean by “green”?
Building green is a level of quality and endurance that is built into the house. It’s also responsible to the environment, our communities, and to the health of the people who live and work in those buildings. YS DEVELOPMENT homes are following several high standards such as BUILT GREEN®, LEED for Homes and Passive Haus.
Built Green for example is an environmentally-friendly, non-profit, NW residential building program which is dedicated to promote environmentally friendly home building methods and practices. The main “green” features and building practices promoted in the Built Green program are: Energy Efficiency, Indoor Air quality, Conserving Natural Resources and Water Quality.
Passive House (PassivHaus) concept represents today’s highest energy standard with the promise of reducing the energy consumption of buildings by 90%
YS masters these approaches and we create the right mix of features and techniques for any given project. Many of our program and pilots with the local municipalities to advance and expedited such programs.
What are the specific “green” features, why we wanted to build you a “green” house and why you should live in one?
Energy Conservation
Our homes are commonly certified ENERGY STAR HOME, but actually exceeds it to provide >50% energy efficiency, meaning your house will be at least twice as efficient as the standard house, it will consume less electricity, and less water while giving you the same capabilities and functions, with increased comfort. How did we do that?
1. High Efficiency mechanical systems – in addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems are quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won’t have to work so hard to heat and cool the home.
2. Advanced Framing Techniques – a technique used to help reduce lumber waste by up to 30% and increase energy savings by up to 4%. The houses structure is also stronger than usual, will insulated better, and will last longer
3. High-Performance Windows – highly energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective Low-E coatings, improved thermally broken frames, and double or triple glazing, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings
4. ENERGY STAR qualified products – lighting fixtures, LED bulbs, whisper-green ventilation fans, energy star appliances such as LIEBHERR refrigerator, MIELE dishwasher, which are as energy and water efficient as possible
5. Effective and above code Insulation – Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort. We use combination of insulation and air sealing techniques. Our homes are typically 50% better than code and or Passive House is 90% better than code.
6. Low-flow Plumbing Fixtures – such as Dual flush toilets, and faucets and bath fixtures, which conserve water
7. “Solar Ready” – Solar PV conduits enable future panel installation.
Health
Not just “green”, but “healthy green”: you and your family health and well being are probably your biggest concerns when you think of where and how you want to live. Materials and air quality are the two main factors on which we are tested and certified for.
1. Environmentally-friendly paints and materials: low or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), low-toxic, solvent-free and lead-free materials – interior paints, finish, floors, insulation, adhesives, siding and other produced to reduce toxins ordinarily associated with such products. This helps to improve the overall indoor air quality of the home.
2. Natural ventilation and maximum daylight – Natural ventilation limits the need for costly duct work which can accumulate contaminants as well as the need for mechanical cooling. We used bright colors so your house stays cool during summer and we oriented the house toward south so you will have enough sun during winter.
3. German Kitchen cabinets by LEICHT certified by PEFC (European equivalent to FSC: Made from 100% post-consumption wooden material) and CARB-II certified (California Air Resources Board standard: the most stringent emission standards for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products) of represents the lowest emission cabinets in the world.
4. Whole-home air filtering system combined with fresh-air intake, or HRV (heat recovery ventilator) assures the highest indoor air quality, and controlled humidity
5. Low-formaldehyde insulation, Eco-Batts and natural spray foam are typically used to insulate our houses.
6. Green Seal Carpet – using low-pile or less allergen-attracting carpet and pad can greatly improve indoor air quality. Installing carpeting by tacking rather than using glue also reduces air pollutants. We use natural fiber wool carpets that improve air quality.
7. Tight Construction and Ducts – Sealing holes and cracks in the home’s “envelope” and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance. Our common houses have ACH value of 1-2ACH and our Passive House has a 0.6ACH (code is 7ACH).
Environment
We all hear that our world resources and natural habitat are in danger, and that we need to take bold actions to save the world as we know it, and we wanted to make our contribution to this fight, together with you.
1. Recycle – we recycled everything we could during construction, our deconstruction process saves on average 80-85% of the landfill, our houses also feature products such as tiles that are made with high recyclable material.
2. Metal Roofing and Siding – durable with over 50 years of warranty, sustainable recyclable and is energy efficient. Long-lasting siding – our houses exteriors are clad with long-lasting, asbestos-free, low-maintenance, and highly sustainable panel such as aluminum and Cembonit and when available, reclaimed or FSC pre-finished wood siding
3. Green roof system specifically designed to grow plants on a rooftop environment. Beautiful, low-maintenance and healthy, they also help reduce urban heat island effect, reduce noise, and helps with Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff.
4. Rapidly Renewable Resource – our houses contain finish materials such as FSC certified wood, bamboo and cork that are rapidly renewable resource. Our homes feature direct vent gas fireplaces – we installed only gas fired fireplaces, no wood burn fire places.
5. Trees – we saved as many trees on your lot as we could, and we used no endanger timber in construction. For example, the Atlas Spruce in front of our Kirkland DOU homes is a landmark tree (50” in diameter it appraised at $50,000)
6. Low impact Development – no pollutants in our building products and tools. We are doing everything that we could to limit the disturbance that is made by building your home.
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