Completed in the fall of 2007, the gold-rated LEED home was built with an advanced framing system that uses 20 percent less lumber, and is insulated by non-toxic soy-based insulation. A passive solar design, solar hot water and rooftop photovoltaic systems also help to make the home a zero energy dwelling. A whole house fresh air exchanger, main floor radiant heat, non-toxic paints and finishes—and even a charging station for a plug-in vehicle completes the LEED-worthy list of amenities.

In addition to becoming the first LEED-certified home on Bainbridge Island, it is also the first one in Kitsap County, which encompasses the central west side of Puget Sound.

The home's architect, Russ Hamlet of Bainbridge Island-based Studio Hamlet, selected James Hardie fiber cement materials for the home based on their durability, which he believes is also paramount to any green project.

"Part of building green is building durable, and with durability in mind, we chose the Hardie products," he says. A product is not green if it is going to need continuous maintenance or if it's going to fail in five to ten years, he explains. "If it's going to fill a dumpster, how green is that?" Another factor in the decision to use Hardie, says Hamlet, is the product's ability to hold paint well, which results in less paint consumption over the life of a home.

A Creative Combination
Hamlet specified a unique configuration of Hardie products to create the exterior of the LEED home. Underneath, he created a rain screen system using HardieTrim™ 7/16" inch thick x 4" wide cedarmill boards (textured side facing out) painted black on all sides and cuts.

"Builders often use pressure-treated wood or regular lumber" for a rain screen, the architect says, but he believes the longevity offered by fiber cement is a more appealing option.

Next, Hamlet used 12" wide smooth HardieSoffit™ boards in a horizontal configuration on the ground level, and 8" wide boards in a vertical orientation on the second story. A one-inch gap between each board allows the black rain screen underneath to show through. ""We wanted to give it a unique look," he says. "It gives a real sense of relief between the siding boards."

Hamlet painted the boards on-site, but says he will look "harder" into James Hardie's pre-painted products featuring ColorPlus technology on future projects. "We had to set up a tent for painting," he recalls, since the weather was less than optimal during installation.

Hamlet says he plans to build more LEED homes in the future—with Hardie products being part of the plan.

The three-bedroom spec home, with partial views of Seattle and the Olympic Mountains, is currently on the market for $799,000. It is sited on approximately three-quarters of an acre.

Visit Studio Hamlet online at http://www.studiohamlet.com/

The home can also be viewed at: http://www.rollingbaylandco.com/new/homes.htm

Streetscapes Online, Volume 25 <