Easy on the Earth

  • By Debra Smith Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:47pm
  • Life

Most people probably couldn’t tell this Stanwood beach house is one of the greenest homes on the West Coast.

No one can see the geothermal heating, a system that cost tens of thousands of dollars and involved drilling a 300-foot hole.

The steps leading up to a cupola look nothing like the bleacher seats they used to be and it’s impossible to eyeball a framing technique that used less wood.

Most of the dozens and dozens of features and decisions that makes this home uber-energy efficient, healthy and durable aren’t evident. But that’s sort of the point. Living green is more than solar panels and energy-efficient windows.

The owners of this home, Anna and Dave Porter and the small army of professionals who helped them make it happen, are eager to share how with you. Workers are putting the finishing touches on the seaside luxury home and it will be open to the public for tours for three weekends beginning Oct. 27.

Dave Porter, a mortgage banker and green advocate, and his wife, Anna Porter, decided three years ago they wanted a lifestyle more in keeping with their values. They also wanted to demonstrate to the public what is possible.

They started a Web site, www.goinggreenatthebeach.com, and the couple plans to report on how the green products work and how efficiently the home performs, down to the utility bills. Anna Porter said they’ll be able to tell people how, for instance, the bamboo flooring in their bedroom withstands wear, tear and their dog.

Green building covers a lot of ground, including design, materials and building practices. It encompasses energy efficiency, water conservation and indoor air quality. It’s using space efficiently inside the home and generating as little impact as possible outside. It’s reusing and recycling when possible and choosing durable products such as glass shower doors that last longer and perform better than vinyl shower curtains.

Caesar stone countertops, for instance, are infinitely recyclable because they’re so durable, Porter said. The couple chose plaster moldings because they produced less waste than wood.

“If these crack we just fill it, sand it and presto, no damage,” she said.

This home is built on the footprint of a century-old house that stood on the shores of Warm Beach. The original home had reached the end of its life span: It had significant rot, ancient wiring, vermiculite ceiling insulation and a host of other ailments.

Part of the green process included salvaging and recycling as much of the original house as possible. Eighty percent of the old home never made it to the landfill, the couple said. A salvage company recycled or sold fixtures and building materials to others. Some of those materials went into the new house, including the wood wainscoting in the living room and the fireplace mantle, shaped from a chunk of wood from the original home’s frame.

This custom home is valued at about $1.5 million, but it’s no McMansion. The three-level, 2,700-square-foot home snuggles between two other homes on a 30-foot lot.

Inside, the efficient design is reminiscent of a ship, with nearly every nook serving a purpose. Bookshelves and storage cabinets line hallways and walls. The door to the den does double duty as a bookcase that seamlessly shuts into the wall. Rooms are only as big as needed.

The Porters never intended this home to be an exercise in self-denial. They wanted to show people that green can be chic and comfortable, Anna Porter said. But even the luxury touches come with environmentally friendly caveats, including a hot tub filled with water filtered from the rooftop and a wine cellar with racks made from salvaged decking.

Nowhere is the quality above quantity philosophy more evident than the kitchen. It’s just a few steps from one end to the other, but the island sports a marble countertop salvaged from a hotel. Tiles accent the backsplash, an art piece made to resemble a tidal pool hides under the breakfast bar, and the yellow energy saver tags still hang off the stainless steel appliances.

Even families on a tight budget can live in a greener home, Anna Porter said. Two of the easiest changes to make are changing light bulbs to more energy efficient choices and taking off shoes at the front door. The later is a health issue. She said people in the business have told her old carpets removed from homes weigh far more going out than they did going in.

If possible, get rid of the carpets, she said. Low-fume paints, nontoxic finishes and avoiding chemicals in the landscape are easy, effective, low-cost choices all homeowners can make, she said.

During the tour the home will be labeled with tags: Light green means easy changes people can make and the dark green, more challenging and expensive.

The Porters want to inspire not only homeowners to change their ways but professionals too. They purposely hired a builder, architect and engineering company who didn’t have a lot of green experience, since that’s one obstacle to green practices and products.

Green-minded businesses are sponsoring the project, discounting some services and products. But the couple is shouldering most of the cost of the house, they said.

Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com

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