In the heart of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, this home offers an iconic example of an advanced high-performance home. It was the first project in Seattle, and the first speculative home, to achieve Built Green’s new Emerald Star rating, and has won a raft of awards and other recognition. The Emerald Star home uses design, innovative materials and technology to achieve net-positive energy, 70% reduction in water use and 90% reclaimed and/or FSC-Certified wood.
Joseph Becker, Olympia-based natural builder, utilized light straw-clay insulation, perforated plywood shear wall, and expanded cork insulation in the earthen wall system of Calliope Farm’s new residential farmhouse. Using thermal resistance R-values from existing code supplements and references from the cork manufacturer, Becker proved his innovative wall system would exceed WA Energy Code. Sufficient evidence showed that a vapor-permeable wall system adequately managed moisture, thus annulling the required vapor barrier.