Clifton View Homes built this 1,861-square-foot custom home in Anacortes, Washington, to the high performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.

Deep overhangs help protect the south-facing windows from rain, snow, and sun.

The air-to-water heat pump provides all the heat and hot water this home needs with a COP of 3.92, outperforming a ground source heat pump in this marine climate on a year-round basis.

WaterSense-labeled fixtures, an induction cooktop, and an ENERGY STAR-labeled dishwasher and front-loading clothes washer help minimize energy and water usage.

Large south-facing triple-pane windows capture more than just great views. They bring in daylight and beneficial solar heat gain that is absorbed in the thermal mass of the exposed concrete floors to help passively heat the home on winter evenings.

The home's unheated basement contains tanks that store 20,000 gallons of rainwater. This rainwater meets all of the home's domestic water needs. An additional 3,000 gallons of outside overflow storage is used for irrigation.

Filters clean the rainwater that supplies 100% of the home's domestic water needs.

Metal framing was installed below the SIP roof panels to provide a service cavity for fire-suppression sprinklers and light fixture wiring.

The graphite-enhanced SIPs provide an R-29 wall insulation value and an R-46 ceiling insulation value.

The restrictions of a narrow, angled lot with a 100-foot setback from the lake and a desire to fit into the natural surroundings both helped to dictate the "modern treehouse" design of this home, with deep overhangs that protect the south-facing windows from overheating in high summer sun.