BOTHELL — The most environmentally friendly new home in Snohomish County is hitting the market, and Tom Campbell has high hopes.
But living green hasn’t always been easy.
Campbell’s family set out with a group of acquaintances a decade ago to push the bounds of low-impact development by building their own neighborhood called Clearwater Commons.
There are now six occupied homes. With a seventh newly completed house going up for sale, they’re about to find out whether others will follow their example.
“It’s been more friends and family, but now we’re starting to see if this kind of lifestyle appeals to a wider audience,” Campbell said.
Clearwater Commons was the sole Snohomish County locale among two-dozen stops during last weekend’s Northwest Green Home Tour. Most sites were in Seattle.
Contemporary-style houses stand along a pedestrian-only street, with a shared garden and community shop. There’s a station to charge electric cars in a parking lot that’s designed to let water infiltrate down to the ground underneath.
Though only a short walk from bustling Bothell-Everett Highway at 194th Street SE, the community borders North Creek. Clearwater Commons took extraordinary measures to protect the waterway, from replanting native vegetation on the banks, to building houses on pin-pile foundations, which allow stormwater to flow underneath almost as if the houses weren’t there.
The property totals seven acres. Nine more building lots remain.
Clearwater Commons can lay claim to the most environmentally friendly new home in the county because of a certification through Built Green, a nonprofit program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
The suburban Snohomish County location is one of the factors that makes it an interesting test case, said Leah Missik, Built Green’s program manager.
“We think it’s a great example and will hopefully spur some more projects,” she said.
The certification checklist includes energy use, building materials, water impacts and indoor air quality. It’s tailored to the Pacific Northwest. Ratings range from a low of three stars to a high of five.
The new Clearwater Commons home is only the third one in Snohomish County to receive a five-star rating. Until now, the most recent was in 2013.
King County, by comparison, has almost 350 homes certified to the five-star level, Missik said.
Because the standards for certification increase over time, a house that meets today’s five-star certification requirements will surpass the standards from years past. To obtain five stars, a house must exceed current energy-code requirements by at least 30 percent.
Missik is working to convince more builders to adopt construction techniques that are better for the environment.
Financial worries and resistance to new ideas on the part of some big builders can get the way, though.
“There is a perception among some builders that green building is going to cost a whole lot more and they’re not going to recoup those costs,” Missik said. “We argue that that’s not necessarily the case.”
The recent surge in housing prices has helped Clearwater Commons get closer to the market values.
The new three-bedroom house with 1,832 square feet is expected to list in the mid-$500,000s. Some nearby homes built with more traditional methods are selling for similar prices.
The Clearwater home has wool carpets and kitchen cabinets made from wood grown in ways that minimize deforestation. A ductless heating system dramatically improves efficiency.
Ben Kaufman, co-owner and managing broker for GreenWorks Realty, said he’s excited to see Clearwater Commons be successful.
“How do you convey that value to a buyer at the point of sale?” he said. “You can get a house with less toxicity in it that saves you money.”
Snohomish County government officials are looking into ways to encourage similar building projects. Clearwater Commons’ care for its natural surroundings is something the county would like to promote, said Lisa Dulude, who manages county initiatives for energy savings and protecting the environment.
“We don’t have right now a lot of certified green building going on in the residential sector in Snohomish County,” Dulude said. “This is a great example of what can be done.”
Dulude and Kaufman both sit on Built Green’s executive board.
Campbell had a big hand in crafting state growth laws in the 1990s, and is now experiencing those development regulations first-hand.
Difficulties at Clearwater Commons have included buying land during the peak prices in 2006, and weathering the subsequent housing bust. They’ve gone through a learning curve getting permits.
Still, they forged ahead.
Some building techniques worked great, others not so much. Take so-called green roofs with soil and vegetation.
“It’s a lot of weeding,” Campbell said.
Now, they’re ready to test the market.
During this past weekend’s eco-homes tour, Campbell counted 61 visitors.
“There’s a glimmer of hope,” he said.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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