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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Green builder unveils first 5-Star Home

The Celadon, a home by Brent Peterson Construction in Spokane, is first Built Green 5-star home in Spokane County. It offers a large variety of energy efficiencies and sustainable features, including closet lights that turn off when the door closes, a skylight that closes when it senses rain, and a dual-flow toilet, which lets people control how much water used per flush. (Joe Butler / Down to Earth NW)
Joe Butler Down To Earth NW
By JOE BUTLER Down To Earth NW “The Celadon,” a new home by Brent Peterson Construction is being described as “The American Dream Home.” Maybe it is – but it’s a different dream than one would have even 10 years ago, when a large point of pride was lots of square footage, lots of extra, unnecessary space, and more garage doors than you may actually own vehicles for. These days, more homeowners are looking for other features in their dream domicile – energy efficiency, a smaller carbon footprint, and building products and materials that won’t hurt the occupants or the planet. They’ll have all of these things – and more at this new home in Greenstone’s River District, a neighborhood near Liberty Lake. “A family motivated to live a more Green lifestyle will take advantage of this,” said Kris Eiffert, the company’s Built Green coordinator. “”Someone who is kind of interested but doesn’t know much about it can still get there.” The home has a 5-star certification from Built Green, a new local standard requiring builders to comply with a variety of sustainable and energy-efficient techniques. The detailed checklist looks at everything from materials used to landscaping to flooring. Homes built with 3 or more stars also require a third-party inspection to make sure everything is adhered to. Similar, separate inspections are also required for homes using EnergyStar products. So what’s special about this home? Eiffert said it starts with the framing, which uses advanced construction methods. The insulation is specially selected to have low toxins and high energy efficiency. The windows are also high-efficiency. The flooring is bamboo and there’s little carpet. There’s few products with formaldehyde or VOCs, both of which contribute to lower air quality in some homes. “The home is airtight, and every nook and cranny is sealed,” she said. It includes a heat energy ventilator, which brings in outside air but cleans it first. People can open the windows or close them and breathe purified heated or cooled air. The bulk of the lighting is either natural or LEDs. The home also includes solar cells on the roof, so on a sunny day, enough energy will be generated that Avista will buy it back. Water comes through low-flow fixtures. Toilets are dual-flush, which means a lot or a small amount of water is used. Landscaping, including plants that are indigenous to the area vs. plants or trees that just look good, is designed with low-water needs in mind: sprinklers have sensors that turn off on rainy days, and rain water is collected into a barrel for irrigation. Peterson has been enjoying learning more about the Built Green process. He’s been building for the last 29 years ago, and began to try to follow the strict guidelines more recently. “We’ve always done quality, energy-efficient homes as a standard,” Eiffert said. “Last January, we started paying more attention to the Green and sustainable techniques. We went to a seminar and made a commitment to be part of the Built Green program.” For the company’s first Built Green home, it wasn’t too much of a challenge. “What we were already doing wasn’t too much more than 1-star already,” she said. Three other homes in Eastern Washington followed. Now, they decided to go for the first 5-star home in Spokane County, the Celadon. As the company worked on more homes, Eiffert said they learned that it really doesn’t take a considerable amount of extra time and cost to be more Green. “They ask for a 90 percent efficient stove, and we’ve been above that anyway,” she said. Other Green touches include eliminating unused space or unnecessary features, such as traditional décor elements like crown molding or exterior trim. Some of the counters are reclaimed. Even the fireplace has Green touches such as crystals to better reflect light, or electric heat as an alternative to burning wood. The Celadon is being represented by Zyph Realtors/Century 21 Beutler and Associates, and will be on display at the Sustainable Solar and Home Tour Sept. 20. JoAnn Zyph said the home is a good example of the future of building in the area. “This is a great opportunity for a family,” she said. “All the efficiencies will make a huge difference in the way people live.”
The Celadon is at 19969 E. Meyers Avenue in Liberty Lake, in Greenstone’s River District. For more information contact www.zyphrealtors.com.