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42nd Avenue

    • TC Legend Homes built this small 400-square-foot apartment over an existing garage behind a larger home in Seattle, Washington, to the performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
    • The south-facing shed roof of this home is optimally angled for solar energy production should the homeowner decide to install solar panels in the future; however, even without solar panels, the home cut utility costs $454 compared to a similar-sized home built to the 2012 energy code. The home is expected to have utility bills of about $824 per year or $69 per month.
    • Fiber cement siding on the walls and ice-and-water shield under the standing seam metal roof help provide long-lasting protection for the home’s exterior.
    • The home’s walls and roof are constructed using structurally insulated panels (SIPs) with an insulation value of R-29 in the walls and R-42 in the roof. The SIPs are taped at the seams and the cement board siding is caulked at the seams to properly air-seal the home.
    • For healthy indoor air quality, only low-VOC paints and finishes were used. A 24-hour timered exhaust fan exhausts stale air and brings in fresh air through passive inlets embedded under the slab.
    • Low-flow plumbing fixtures, ENERY STAR appliances, and advanced LED lighting add to water and energy savings.
    • Low-e, triple-paned vinyl-framed windows and slider doors provide ample daylighting without sacrificing thermal comfort.
    • Low-flow fixtures reduce water use so a 30-gallon electric water heater can supply all of the hot water the apartment needs.

      42nd Avenue

      Project Address

      Seattle, WA

      Conditioned Square Footage
      400 sqft
      Number of Bedrooms
      1 Bed
      Number of Bathrooms
      1.0 Bath
      Number of Floors Above Grade
      2 Floors Above Grade
      Home Type
      Custom
      Climate Zone Temperature
      Mixed
      Climate Zone Humidity
      Marine

      With PV

      HERS Index with PV
      63HERS (PV)
      Average Monthly Energy Bill PV
      $70Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)
      Annual Energy Cost Savings with PV
      $450Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)
      30 Year Savings with PV
      $20,00030 Year Savings (PV)

      TC Legend Homes LLC

      ZERO

      HIA Year
      HIA Status
      Honorable Mention

      Learn More

      Key Features

      Key Features
      All-electric home Cold-climate heat pump Electric Vehicle Charger Installed or Wired for Charger Structural insulated panel (SIP) walls or walls and roof Triple-pane windows Unvented insulated attic

      Testimonials

      Video Testimonial

      Watch Videos

      Home owner (or occupant) Testimony
      The owner … contacted us about building a small cottage above her garage. For the walls and roof … we chose structural insulated panels (SIPs) for their excellent insulation values, airtightness, and ease of construction. These locally made panels come precisely cut, allowing for fast construction, a strong, airtight shell, and practically zero jobsite waste.
      Testimony Citation
      Ted Clifton, builder, TC Legend Homes

      Additional Media

      Finished Elevations

        Finished Interiors

          Floor Plan