Custom Sustainable Homes

If you're interested in a custom sustainable home in the Seattle area, remember that Cascade Built does custom homes.  We are capable of delivering cost-effective custom homes, built sustainably.  We have delivered Energy Star, Built Green, and LEED certified homes, currently we are building twice as efficient as energy codes require, and that's our sweet spot.  It doesn't cost much to cut your utility bills in half, so why not do it?  We build homes that are far more comfortable and have fewer toxins than the norm.  You'd think, of course our builder will do these things, but very few in fact do.

Modular Prefab modern homes

SEATTLE, WA, June 16, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- New legislation allowing backyard cottages on eligible lots throughout the city of Seattle created the foundation for Backyard Box's marked interest and success. The pre-designed modular prefab or custom dwelling units introduced earlier this year provide customers an easy and cost-effective way to add the living space they need with a variety of options depending on lot size and cottage usage. Backyard Box's designs recently won the titles of "Best in Show" and "Most Sustainable" in the Backyard Cottage Design Challenge sponsored by Method Homes and Infinity Real Estate. 

"Aging parents, the rise in telecommuting, and the desire to create rental income are just a few of the many factors contributing to the increase in individuals and families seeking a solution to the problem of not enough living space," said Sloan Ritchie, founder of Backyard Box. "Me included. The idea started with my own family's need to have more space for a home office and ultimately resulted in a house that we rented for the added income. Depending on where you live, you can recoup the cost of building a backyard cottage in roughly five years of renting it." 

Backyard Box is the easiest and most comprehensive solution on the market for detached accessory dwelling units designed with prevalent uses in mind - a place for baby boomers to retire, for children in college or between home and living on their own, for short-term or long-term visiting family members or guests, an office or retreat, or a rental income property. The cottages feature a contemporary design and range in size from the Mini Box at 325 square feet - perfect for a home office or studio, to the Big Box at 800 square feet - two-stories with a master suite. 

Unique to the market, Backyard Box delivers cottages that are completely designed, making it simpler, more efficient and cost-effective for customers because they don't need to go through the design and contractor selection process. Instead, they choose from thoughtfully laid-out plans that match potential uses, including units that emphasize accessibility with all-one floor living. In addition, all models are available in a modular configuration, which means they are built off-site in a controlled environment, and then delivered to the site location, reducing construction noise and saving time.

Backyard Box cottage designs reflect Passive House standards with a 10x reduction in heating energy costs and an immeasurable increase in thermal comfort. Each Backyard Box also comes with sustainable features including rainscreen siding, an efficient lighting package, SIP framing, and non-toxic finishes. And, for the eco-conscious customer, the Smart Box option adds solar photovoltaic panels, solar hot water and an energy-monitoring dashboard. 

Founded by Sloan Ritchie, an eco-urban developer and custom home-builder, Backyard Box homes start at $39,500 and are currently available for purchase. Design options and details can be found at www.backyardbox.net, with new models being released continually. Foundation and appliance costs are not included as costs can vary based on a customer's lot and personal preferences. Customers can also create a Custom Box if they prefer, using an experienced Backyard Box architect.

Backyard Box new models

Backyard Box has 2 new units: The Loft Box and the Mini Box.

The Mini is our smallest, basically a 1-room studio that would be usable for an office, guest suite, art studio, yoga studio, hobby space, etc.  A little retreat right in your backyard.   It’s even upgradeable to a complete dwelling unit if future plans change.  From $39,500, completed, tastefully appointed, insulated, wired, ready for use (not a kit, not a storage shed from Lowe’s!).

The Loft Box is another way to maximize living space in a very small footprint.  The sleeping loft is above the living room & kitchen, yet the footprint is so small it will fit almost anywhere!

Backyard Box Launches new Backyard Cottage Product line

Responding to Seattle’s new ordinance legalizing Backyard Cottages, Backyard Box has designed a line of Backyard cottages for Seattle area residents. Seattle homeowners can now build a separate dwelling unit in a side or rear yard to use as a guest house, rental property, home office, or extended family and multi-generational living.

And did I mention that these are built to the highest energy efficiency standards – they use about 85% less energy to heat and cool versus “standard” code construction.

Press release:

Custom-architected Backyard Cottages are Pre-Designed for Selection Ease and Cost Savings; Feature Sustainable Techniques and Three Finish Packages

01.2010 – Seattle - On the heels of new legislation that allows the construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots throughout the city of Seattle, Backyard Box (www.backyardbox.NET) today launched pre-designed dwelling units that customers can select based upon size, need and usage. Backyard Box cottages feature a contemporary design by award-winning architect Jim Burton of Blip Design, and come in three sizes, three finish packages, and a Smart Box option, which includes solar photovoltaic panels, solar hot water and an energy monitoring dashboard.

From the founder of Seattle’s eco-urban developer, Cascade Built (www.cascadebuit.com), Backyard Box has the easiest and most comprehensive solution on the market for detached accessory dwelling units designed with prevalent uses in mind – a place for baby boomers to retire, for children in college or between home and living on their own, for visiting family members or guests, an office or retreat, or a rental income property.

Another unique feature of Backyard Box cottages is the completed design work, making it simpler, more efficient and cost-effective for customers because they don’t need to go through the design and contractor selection process. Instead, they can choose from thoughtfully laid-out plans that match potential uses, including two plans that emphasize accessibility.

All current Backyard Boxes are also built to Passive House standards with a 10x reduction in heating energy costs and an immeasurable increase in thermal comfort. The smallest home, Match Box, is a one-floor studio in 400 square feet. The Sand Box is a 600 square foot 1 bedroom/1 bathroom home, also on one floor. The Big Box is an 800 square foot living space on two floors with a master suite. Every Backyard Box will be built with rainscreen siding, an efficient lighting package, SIP framing, and non-toxic finishes.

“We’re amidst a cultural shift where families are returning to living more closely, people are working from home more often, and simply selling your house to upgrade is no longer fast and easy,” said Ritchie. “Having the opportunity to add living space is the perfect solution for many providing a multitude of uses while increasing the value and usage of home lots.”

Backyard Box homes start $79,500 and are currently available for purchase. Design options and details can be found at www.backyardbox.NET. Foundation and appliance costs are not included as the cost can vary vastly based on a customer’s lot and personal preferences. Customers can also create a Custom Box if they prefer, using a Backyard Box recommended architect.

Healing or Stealing?

Just came across this recently: Paul Hawken's commencement address to University of Portland's 2009 graduates. Sure it's a tad off topic, but it's inspirational and far reaching.

As a builder/developer, there's a market reality out there, and there's constant pressure (called market forces) to revert to the mean, and do exactly what everyone else is doing, which results in more of the same old energy wasting homes being built. Hey, if it's behind the walls and under the slab no one will ever see it, so why work any harder to make it airtight, why insulate better than code, why strive to build something more than the market is currently demanding? And then your competition who builds code minimum Legal Boxes claims to be "leading the industry in sustainable building," because they used a can of low VOC paint and bamboo flooring. But I digress.

Paul Hawken captures the essence of why we have to do what we have to do:

Healing or Stealing?

The unforgettable Commencement Address 2009.

By Paul Hawken

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was “direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” No pressure there.

Let’s begin with the startling part. Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation... but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, civilization needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food—but all that is changing....

read the rest

http://www.up.edu/commencement/default.aspx?cid=9456

City Council approves Backyard Cottages

The city approves Backyard Cottages citywide: (I'll build you one if you want!)

SEATTLE – The Council today adopted legislation to allow the construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the city. Backyard cottages also referred to as “detached accessory dwelling units,” have been permitted in Southeast Seattle since 2006, and approximately 20 have been constructed since that time.

“This is a smart and modest step to create affordable housing options, help someone pay their mortgage, get older on their property, or to make a room for a son or daughter moving back home," said Councilmember Sally J. Clark.

After more than a year’s work involving public testimony, surveys, meetings in the community, briefings, and tours, the Council voted to carry over the development standards from Southeast Seattle to the rest of the city. Backyard cottages will be limited to 800 square feet, including garage and storage space. The legislation also prohibits the construction of backyard cottages on lots less than 4,000 square feet or located in a Shoreline District.

The property owner must live in either the principle structure or the backyard cottage for at least six months out of the year. Other requirements include a side yard setback of at least five feet and limiting the total lot coverage of the principle residence, backyard cottage and any other accessory structures to 35 percent.

The legislation also states that if a homeowner currently has an attached unit, such as a basement or attic apartment, those homes would not be eligible to build a backyard cottage.

Amendments to the legislation include reducing the maximum permitted height to 22 feet unless the lot is at least 50 feet wide or served by a rear alley. It also eliminates the earlier proposed cap of 50 on the amount of cottage permits allowed per year.

“We learned a lot looking at the cottages in Southeast and the older ones in the North neighborhoods,” Clark said. “This will be a tool that gives people a new housing option while preserving single-family density and building rules.”

The full bill with amendments, C.B. 116528 is available on line from the City Clerk website.

Alley House sold

The Alley house is sold. The buyers are already enjoying the efficient heating and thermal comfort provided by the radiant heated floors...