Green Building is more than trendy phrase, it’s a huge movement in the construction industry for both residential and commercial buildings. But the term “green” can mean different things to different people. For some, green defines the way a building performs after it’s constructed. Others...
The foundation is well underway at Desert Rain, the Living Building Challenge home we are building in one of Bend, Oregon's older neighborhoods. At every step of the way, this project involves careful consideration of the materials used, where they come from, how they...
We have been working closely with Parr Lumber, in Bend, to identify and source an alternative to Pressure Treated (PT) Lumber for the Desert Rain Project. This Living Building Challenge project has pushed us and out suppliers to look at every aspect of building in a...
We were so taken by Paul McGinnis's discussion of the Living Building Challenge that we wanted to share some excerpts from his recent post on The New York Green Advocate: ...
We recently had the Shevlin Home tested to show that it is an energy efficient, healthy and resource-wise home. The testing was done through the Earth Advantage program and received an excellent result on one of the tests which helps determine a home's airtightness. These are several...
Last week, we broke ground on the Living Building Challenge project, Desert Rain. It's an exciting project that has been in the works for some time. The commencement of construction was an exciting step for everyone involved. Excavation is not an easy process on this project. The views offered by...
The potato barn wood reclamation project has been a slow but steady process. As more of the wood is revealed, we able to better assess the product and the appropriate applications for it. For now, we've identified the floor joists from the barn as potential trusses and rafters...
We recently worked with local insulation installer, ECI Insulation, to identify and install a sustainable and energy efficient batt style insulation for areas of the Shevlin Commons Home that were not constructed with SIPs. Using the the "Prescription for a Healthy Home" Guidelines, it is...
We recently visited an old potato barn in Central Oregon with the hopes of reclaiming lumber and large timbers. The barn owner plans to tear down the structure because it is in disrepair and is a safety concern and a liability. Our hope is to...
This article from EcoHome highlights some of the challenges that our Desert Rain team faces in designing, sourcing, and eventually building this ultra green home in Bend. Living Buildings By: Rick Schwolsky [caption id="attachment_562" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="DESERT RAIN HOUSE "You have to question every building practice you thought was...