zHomes

            The zHomes, located in Issaquah was a beneficial site to visit because it enriched my thinking of ways to design sustainably and environmentally. The type of materials used throughout the homes and the amount of heat and energy that was saved throughout the design was incredible and something I was not fully aware of. Some of the most important aspects of the design that I retained were the use of reused materials such as the countertops made of recycled pickle barrel as well as the wood having FFC credit, meaning not deforestation or illegal. I also found the use of thicker walls to reduce need for heating was a tactical way of reducing the amount of heat used. Something I found interesting about the space was how small it was but how efficient everything was organized. The zHome proved to me it is possible to accommodate living in a tight space without feeling crammed. Their use of colors was also an interesting aspect of their design as the colors were neutral and earthy, which related to their concept of a sustainable design. I also found it interesting and informational that the owner of the home can use the device that is provided to understand and watch how much energy they are actually using and etc. The site visit was very beneficial because of how important designing environmentally is now and will continue to be in the future.