Situated on the picturesque Lake Union in Seattle, an innovative floating home has achieved Built Green 4-Star certification, a significant accomplishment by Nice Building Corp. The project, which blends eco-friendly design concepts with unique engineering solutions, demonstrates the incredible potential of environmentally conscious construction, even in one of the most challenging locations – on water!

Constructed under the 2018 Washington State Energy Code, this floating home utilized a variety of specialized solutions to meet various energy efficiency, air quality, and site requirements set by the Built Green program. Key features on this project include:

Durable, Non-Toxic Wood Siding and Decking: Nice Building Corp’s decision to use Accoya® Shou Sugi Ban for the project’s siding shows the home’s commitment to high environmental standards. The builder achieved points for utilizing wood siding that is third-party, FSC® COC certified, and for using thermally modified wood siding that does not require wood sealers. The project also achieved points for using Accoya® Decking with similar features. 

Mineral Wool Insulation: Owens Corning Thermafiber® mineral wool insulation was utilized in the home. This project achieved points for using low-emitting materials and this product contains a minimum 70% Recycled Content.

Low-Emitting Flooring: For the interior, the home features Preverco flooring, which is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, ensuring the materials used contribute to healthier indoor air quality and meet high environmental standards. The builder achieved points for pre-finished flooring that is third-party certified.  

No Concrete Used: A unique aspect of this project is the complete avoidance of concrete. Instead, the builders relied on the existing wood float pad for the foundation. The house is floating on 2 HDPE floats on the east side along with a steel cage to keep the floats in place. This allows for divers to adjust the air pressure depending on water depth and wind causability.

Smart Technology: Electronic shades and programmed lights were installed in the home, allowing for a more inclusive design. Utilizing smart features allows homeowners to live in their homes for longer without needing to change features of the home to accommodate lifestyle changes. 

Nice Building Corp’s floating home on Lake Union is a testament to both ingenuity and the power of environmentally conscious building practices. Achieving Built Green 4-Star certification demonstrates a commitment to sustainable design, even when faced with the complexities of building on water. By combining thoughtful design, commitment to energy efficiency, indoor air-quality, and material selection, this project highlights how innovative homes can integrate into their natural surroundings while minimizing environmental impacts.

Below is a breakdown of some of the significant credits this project was able to claim within the checklist:

Site and Water

• Re-use of existing floating home log raft to minimize volume of foundation material
• Netting utilized to keep pollutants out of water during construction
• Very strict BMPs in place for post-spill clean up procedures and use of non-toxic materials
• Achieved 44% total water use reduction

Energy Efficiency

• All electric building utilizing centralized ductless mini-split heat pump
• Induction cooktop
• All major appliances are ENERGY STAR® labeled, including heat-pump dryer

Health and Indoor Air Quality

• Low-VOC paint and non-toxic products utilized in building
• No carpet installed
• Minimum 70% Recycled Content mineral wool insulation
• Third-party certified pre-finished flooring

Materials Efficiency

• Reused floating foundation platform
• Collection of locally/regionally sourced products utilized
• Utilized multiple materials with DECLARE labels
• Third-party FSC certified, sustainably harvested siding
• Variety of products with recycled content installed in building
• Longer lasting materials used on and in the building

Equity and Social Justice

• Smart technology utilized around the home for inclusive design
• Implement priority elements of a project-specific ESJ plan
• Community connectivity to transit and essential services
• Use WMBE or MBE firms on the project
• At least 50% of labor hours from workers who reside in economically distressed zip codes
  

This home is not just another place to live – it’s an example of what future homebuilding can look like when innovation and environmentally-conscious are put at the forefront of design and construction.