Lopez Community Land Trust | Salish Way Cottages
Location: Lopez Island
Star Level: 5-Star Net Zero
Checklist: 2017 Single-Family/Townhome
Total Score: 871
DOE Housing Innovation Award 2021
Lopez Community Land Trust has been a leader in creating affordable net zero housing since 2009 when their award-winning Common Ground community was built. These three cottages are next door to the original 11 homes and the land trust office. They are 480 square foot cozy living spaces with a loft bedroom above, designed by Vandervort Architects. The build included work for 2 student interns, many volunteers and the homeowner-to-be, and hit a soaring 871 points with 5-star net zero certification.
These homes show a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and local, natural materials the locally milled cedar ship lap siding and the classic, simple shapes are the first things you notice. The gently sloping site is fully stabilized with straw and chips and will be landscaped with natives and owner-built gardens. There is little or no concrete paving, and 15,000 rainwater cisterns are buried below the back lawns to serve gardens and toilet flushing. The gravel driveway sits beside a band of preserved native forest on the north side.
The Salish cottages are certified Built Green 5-star Net Zero, ENERGY STAR homes, Indoor Air Plus, and with the DOE Zero Energy Home Programs. They are very well insulated from bottom to top, including blown in cellulose insulation and innovative wall framing with insulated studs. The floor slabs on grad have a double layer of R10 foam insulation. Air sealing was carefully detailed reaching 1.9 ACH50. The ductless heat pump is one of the most efficient models available, and a heat pump water heater works with very low flow fixtures to keep energy use low. The apartment style refrigerator uses 30% less than most common fridges and works with butane, a climate friendly refrigerant.
Salish way cottages are a little unusual as net zero homes go… you won’t see solar panels on the roof. That is because each home owns a dedicated share of Orcas Power and Light’s large community solar project on Decatur Island. For an affordable project, this made the cost significantly lower, and maintenance is done professionally but the utility. The panels are in another place, but still owned by the home so it is net zero!
Health and happiness are important goals for LCLT. Natural materials and no added formaldehyde finish materials are emphasized in the design. The first level floors are the concrete slabs and the upstairs loft has natural linoleum flooring. Most importantly these cottages do a lot to make you feel at home with a supportive community. Gardens and shared spaces wind through the whole development and neighbors share the management of them, often at the ready to help or greet each other. The short walk to Lopez village helps ensure a very livable community.