Sustainability Report

The Caju home employed a highly disciplined material strategy focused on naturalness, local sourcing, and recycled content to mitigate embodied carbon:

• Recycled Material Content: The project utilized Custom Fabricated Recycled Corten Steel Panels for the exterior facade and roof, significantly reducing the carbon associated with virgin steel production. Additionally, the concrete floors include recycled content.

• Sustainably Certified Wood: The structural wood, Larch (used for interior and exterior siding/ceilings), was milled from PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) trees grown in the Pacific Northwest, ensuring materials were sourced from sustainably managed forests and regionally appropriate.

• Extreme Longevity Materials: The use of Corten Steel (designed to last a lifetime) and Accoya wood (modified to last 50 years, used in bathrooms) directly addresses embodied carbon by eliminating the need for replacement materials for decades.

• Minimal Site Disturbance: The compact footprint and elevated bedroom wing reduced excavation and site disturbance, which limits the embodied carbon and emissions from heavy machinery and land remediation.

The home's operational strategy centered on creating a high-performance envelope to drastically reduce energy demand in the cold climate:

• High-Performance Envelope: The building envelope is described as "super insulated," minimizing thermal transfer between the interior and the harsh exterior environment.

• Advanced Glazing: The use of triple-paned windows provides superior thermal performance compared to standard double-glazing, maximizing solar gains while effectively inhibiting heat loss.

• High-Efficiency Heating: The primary heating source is Radiant Primary heat (usually highly efficient floor heating), supplemented by a Carrier Forced Air system for backup or cooling, resulting in a much lower energy intensity than conventional forced-air heating alone.

• Passive Strategies: The design incorporates natural ventilation and optimizes access to daylight, reducing the dependence on mechanical systems for climate control and electric lighting.

• Efficient Appliances: The project specified high-efficiency appliances (Subzero/Wolf Designer Series/M Series), ensuring low energy use in the kitchen.

The central strategy for reducing long-term service and maintenance emissions was the selection of materials that naturally age well and require minimal upkeep:

• "Living Finish" Materials: The Corten Steel exterior is designed to form a protective patina, requiring no painting, staining, or replacement over its lifespan, thus eliminating maintenance-related VOC emissions and labor.

• Extended Material Lifespan: Accoya wood's 50-year warranty, coupled with the natural durability of the Larch and concrete floors, ensures replacement cycles are minimized, leading to a much lower emissions impact from maintenance activities.

• Restraint and Cohesion: The use of built-in furniture and casework that is a continuation of the walls creates a simplified, highly durable interior that is less prone to damage or need for replacement compared to freestanding, complex millwork.