Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, building, coates, construction, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, USGBC
Bainbridge Architect, Coates Design is devoting this “Architect’s blog” to sharing the design and construction progress of the Ellis Project.
The Ellis Residence is registered with the United States Green Building (USGBC) and designed with the goal of LEED Platinum certification.
Thank you for visiting! Please come back often to observe the progress and of course let us know if you have any questions or comments
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, USGBC
The Ellis’ are holding their final open house before they move onto their new home. Please join us to see the Ellis Residence at substantial completion. 
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, residential, roof, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, vegetated
Crated Vegetated Panels
Installed Panels
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, photovoltaic, pv, residential, seattle, solar, Solar Washington, sustainability, sustainable, USGBC
These Seattle Architects had the opportunity to climb up on the roof of the Ellis Residence to film the installation of the 20 panel, 4 kw photovoltaic system which will supply about 40% of the power to the residence. The system features 200 watt panels from Sanyo. The panels harness the rays of the sun to create DC electricity which is then inverted to usable AC power. Electricity generated by the panel but not used by at the residence, especially during the summer months, will be sent to the power grid to be used elsewhere. The installation was recently featured on a Bainbridge Island Television broadcast.
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architects, bainbridge island, seattle, residential, architect, sustainable, design, matthew coates, sustainability, green, coates, LEED, solar hot water
Two 4′x8′ solar hot water flat plates have been installed on the lower, south-facing roof of the Ellis Residence. These two panels will collect heat from the rays of the sun to help supplement the domestic hot water supply throughout the year. The Seattle area has some beautiful, sun shiny summer months, and during that time the solar hot water panels will supply all that is needed for the domestic hot water.
Installation of Solar Hot Water Panels
Inside The Mechanical Room
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, heat recovery ventilator, HRV, LEED, matthew coates, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, USGBC
Our first look into the Ellis Residence mechanical systems begins with the heat recovery ventilator(HRV). The main function of the HRV is to provide an energy efficient way to bring fresh, filtered air into the house while exhausting stale and contaminated air. The basic premise of a HRV is the following:
1. One set of ducts collects stale moist air from the kitchen and bathrooms. This stale contaminated air passes through the HRV unit and is exhausted to the outside.2. A second set of ducting draws in fresh clean air from outdoors through the HRV unit.
3. As the two air streams pass each other within the heat exchanger core, heat is transferred from the outgoing stale air to the fresh incoming air. There is no mixing of air streams.
4. The HRV unit is able to capture up to 85% of the energy from the outgoing stale air. Filtered, preconditioned fresh air is delivered where you need it – in the living areas of your home.
The Ellis Residence HRV utilizes MERV 13 filters in order to maximize LEED for Homes credits for air filtration.
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, mechanical systems, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, USGBC
We are going to start a mini-series dedicated to the various mechanical systems that have been installed in the Ellis Residence. During the next few weeks check in to learn more information about each individual system that has been utilized in a home targeted with the goal of LEED for Homes Platinum. To get you primed, take a look back to the posts on geothermal energy and radiant heating.
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, coates, design, LEED, National Solar Tour, residential, seattle, Solar Washington, sustainability, sustainable
We are pleased to announce that the Ellis Residence will be part of the American Solar Energy Society National Solar Tour on October 3, 2009. More details to come. The Solar Tour will mark the third time that the Ellis Residence construction site has been open for public tours since March.
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, bainbridge island, coates, design, green, LEED, matthew coates, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable
This may not seem like the most interesting topic in the world, but it is one of the more economically accessible energy saving options for a new home builder. The Ellis Residence utilizes a hybrid insulation system. The wall and roof cavities are first filled with three inches of closed-cell spray foam insulation and then finished off with your standard batt insulation. This system allows the house to utilize the greater insulation and air sealing properties of the spray-foam in conjunction with the ease of installation and cost effectiveness of batt insulation. Often insulation is only looked at for its thermal properties (r-value), however, itsability seal around outlets and joints in the exterior sheathing from the outside air temperatures is just as important. As the spray-foam expands it does just that. Spray-foam in the roof cavity also allows us to have an unvented roof assemblywhich if properly detailed and executed will reduce the possibility of condesation and consequent mold growth in the roof cavity.
On average the roofs in the Ellis Residence are insulated to an r-value of 60. In the state of Washington the building code calls for an r-value of 38.
Closed-cell spray foam insulation
Batt insulation
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, forestry, FSC, green, ipe, LEED, matthew coates, seattle, sustainability, sustainable, wood
Siding has been continuing throughout the past few weeks. It is not an item on the critical path of the construction schedule so the siding is being installed as the contractor has a moment from the countless other tasks they are trying to complete. Frankly though, these Seattle architects are excited to finally catch a glimpse of what the finished product will look like.
View of ipe siding installation from the entry approach
Ipe siding on the bedroom volume of the residence.
View of ipe siding from the bluff side of the residence
Ipe detail
Filed under: Ellis Residence | Tags: architect, architects, bainbridge island, coates, design, FSC, green, ipe, LEED, matthew coates, rainscreen, residential, seattle, sustainability, sustainable
Installation of the ipe siding is almost complete on the main residence. FSC certified ipe was certainly a challenge to source especially at a cost that was close to the amount budgeted. However, thanks to some diligent work by the construction team we were able to find a source though Parker Lumber that met our needs. Rather than choosing a siding material like cedar which would require a few coats of finish, the density and durability of ipe allowed us to skip the finishing and some of the components that are toxic to the environment. Much less maintenance in the future as well.
FSC Certified Rainscreen Siding
