2016 Green Home of the Year Awards Announced

On March 20, Green Builder Magazine announced the winners of the 2016 Green Home of the Year awards. These homes are not only notable for their sustainability but also for how they blend into the surrounding environment. The winners were chosen based on several criteria, including overall sustainability, synergy with the neighborhood, creativity, affordability, resilience and the use of building science.

Judges for the 2016 contest are as follows:

• Terry Beaubois – CEO, Building Knowledge Systems LLC
• Bob Kingery – Co-Founder, Southern Energy Management
• Anthony Maschmedt – Principal, Dwell Development
• Colby Swanson – Co-Founder and Partner, Momentum Innovation Group

Grand Overall Winner

The Grand Overall Winner of the 2016 Green Home of the Year awards is this hillside ranch house in Gallatin Gateway, Mont., built by Rob Evans and designed by Mike Wiseman, both of Constructive Solutions Inc.

The house was modeled after old homesteads and potato barns partially buried in the ground. Features include Energy Star certification and a HERS index score of 48, which was made possible by its efficient envelope. (pictured above)

Mainstream Green Winner

This simple, functional and well-planned house in Oak Park, Ill., wasdesigned by Tom Bassett-Dilly and built by Brandon Weiss of Evolutionary Home Builders. The house is certified LEED Platinum and PHIUS+, using 90 percent less energy than average.

Best Alternative Structure

The Best Alternative Structure is the Hale/Carpenter Residence in Vancouver, Wash., designed by Douglas Ewing of Ewing Architects Inc. and built by Thomas McKone of Corner Stone Construction Inc. Every area of the house was designed for energy efficiency. The walls are made of Cem-Clad fiber cement panels and the breathable envelope features 50 percent more insulation than required by code.

Best Demonstration Home

The Home of Innovation Demonstration House in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, takes home the award for Best Deomonstration Home. The house was designed by Zuhair Fayez Partnership with consulting from IBACOS and built by Joannou & Paraskevaides, Ltd. It is certified LEED Platinum and includes a 28-kWh solar array and a bank of 88 lithium-ion batteries.

Best Urban Infill Project

SolHaus in Seattle, Wash., takes the prize for Best Urban Infill Project. This small community that opened in 2016 consists of 10 townhouses designed around the theme of doing the greatest good for the greatest numbers. The project was designed by Bradley Khouri of b9 Architects and built by Sloan Rictchie of Cascade Build.

Best College Sustainability Project

rEvolve House at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., was designed by Samantha Morehead, developed by Santa Clara University Engineering School and built by a group of undergraduate students. Although this tiny house is only 238 square feet, it includes a host of green features that make it a net-zero-energy home.

Best Energy Efficiency

Madrona Passive House in Seattle, Wash., wins the award for Best Energy Efficiency. It was designed by Shed Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand. This house is owned by Jabe Blumenthal, the former program manager of Microsoft, and it was built as an example for others who are looking for a template to build an energy-efficient home.

Best Resilient Design

Sunset green Home in East Quoque, N.Y., in the Hamptons, was designed by Bill Heine of William F. Heine Architect and built by Chris Mensch of Coastal Management, LLC. The concept for this house came about as a direct result of the damage from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. This LEED Platinum house represents the apex of sustainable coastal living.