High efficiency gas fireplace and thermostat. One-hundred percent of The Evergreen's heat is provided by a gas fireplace, the
Mantis - the world's more efficient at 93%.
A motion-sensing thermostat tied to an online automation system keeps the Cabin comfortable (between 68F - 72F) between 6am and 12am; between midnight and 6am, the fireplace stays off to conserve energy. An override switch on the front of the fireplace will allow you to turn on and off the front burner of the fireplace if you'd like to enjoy a fire on demand, while the thermostat allows you to temporarily customize the indoor temperature to be higher or lower, depending on your personal preferences. When the Cabin is unoccupied, the thermostat tells the fireplace to operate in 'vacation mode', using the minimal amount of heat needed to maintain the integrity of the plumbing and finishings.
Increased insulation. Code requires minimum insulation values for floors, walls, and ceilings. The Evergreen's insulation vastly exceeded code - including 12" of rigid insulation in the ceiling - in order to capitalize on the efficiency of the fireplace and thermostat. Because The Evergreen is well insulated, the indoor temperature remains at the desired level for longer, requiring less energy.
High efficiency windows, doors, and skylights. High efficiency windows, doors, and skylights help prevent heat loss. The Evergreen uses windows, doors, and skylights that meet or exceed the guidelines set by the
Northwest Energy Star program.
Envelop tightness. A tight envelop decreases drafts and leaks, further improving the efficiency of the Cabin's heating system and maintaining stable indoor temperatures. To make The Evergreen's envelop as tight as possible, the drywall was sealed, insulation was inspected to ensure no gaps, and the exterior wrap was taped. Additionally, a blower-door test was performed to verify envelop tightness.
Skylights for increased daylighting. Although excessive use of glass can reduce a home's envelop efficiency, appropriate use and placing can decrease energy use by decreasing the need for electrical lighting by increasing naturally provided daylight. The Evergreen added skylights so that lights can stay off during daylight hours as much as possible.
Insulating window treatments. The Evergreen's cellular shades by
Graber insulate the cabin when drawn. If you want the Cabin to stay toasty warm overnight while the fire's out, draw the shades.
Tankless water heater. The Evergreen uses a tankless water heater, meaning that hot water is available on demand. By not heating water around the clock, The Evergreen saves energy. And you have an endless supply of hot water when you need it.
Energy Star appliances and lighting. The Evergreen uses
Energy Star certified appliances and lighting to ensure that energy used by the Cabin and its guests is as efficient as possible.
High efficiency washer/dryer. The Evergreen features a combined washer/dryer unit by
LG. Besides saving space - essential in a small cabin like The Evergreen - the LG is condensing (as opposed to vented), meaning that heat is directed back into the washing and drying process rather than ejected into the atmosphere.
LED, solar, and compact fluorescent technologies. When you drive all the way to the beach, you expect to experience the elements first hand; during the winter, that can mean power outages. During a power outage, our emergency LED lights will automatically turn on, providing supplementary light. They can also be removed from the wall and used as flashlights. Compared to conventional flashlights, LEDs last 50 times longer than conventional bulbs and don't use disposable batteries, but long-lasting renewables instead. Also, the path to the hot tub is lined with small solar lanterns that are photo-sensitive, meaning they only illuminate after sundown; thus, besides using solar energy, they use solar energy efficienctly. Also, all light bulbs in the cabin are
compact fluorescents, using roughly 75% less energy than standard incandescents.
Carbon offsets. Still feel bad about the energy required for your trip to and from the beach? Don't! The Evergreen offsets your travel by purchasing carbon-offsets through
CarbonFund.org. The Evergreen purchases 0.25 tons of carbon-offsets for each rental - effectively offsetting a 300-mile roundtrip drive. Enjoy your vacation guilt free!
Reused / reclaimed furniture and finishes. Sometimes the greenest thing you can do it not buy anything new. Which is why The Evergreen features a lot of reused furniture. The leather couch and ottoman came from our best friend's living room and the table is an antique from local importer
David Smith. Also many of the pots, pans, cutlery, and kitchen utensils came from our own kitchen back in Seattle. Lastly, the chairs are made from reclaimed teak; two are in the living room, and another two can be found in the bedroom closet if friends come over for dinner or games.
Durability measures. We built The Evergreen knowing that we'd be sharing it with you - hopefully many of you. As such, we tried to ensure that we used materials and finishes that would be durable and extend the life of the cabin. The Evergreen features wood beadboard throughout to protect the drywall, FSC-certified cherry floors (an extremely dense and durable hardwood to stand up to the rigors of beach living), porcelain tile work in the bathroom and laundry room, and a drain pan beneath the washer/dryer to prevent accidental water damage. The area rug in the living room is made up of
modular FLOR tiles, meaning that if one area of the rug becomes damaged, just that portion can be replaced. Also, our wine glasses are restaurant-quality Luigi Bormiolis: chip- and break-resistant!
FSC-Certified wood floors. FSC-Certified wood is harvested sustainably and verified by an international third-party: the
Forest Stewardship Council. The Evergreen features FSC-Certified wood floors by
EcoTimber.
Local materials. Using local materials supports the local economy and reduces a material's carbon footprint, by reducing the distance the product had to travel. The Evergreen features all locally harvested and manufactured framing, siding, and cabinetry, and the
Paperstone countertop was manufactured down the street in Hoquiam.
Natural and biodegradable materials. The Evergreen uses many natural and biodegradable materials. For example, the
Earth Weave carpet in the loft is 100% wool with a cotton and hemp backing, making it 100% biodegradable after the useful life of the product. The throw on the sofa is organic cotton, and the bed in the downstairs bedroom is a
Simmons Natural Care Bed, made with natural rubber (tree-based) latex, with a soy-based support foam. In the kitchen, our
sponges are made from agave fiber and recycled paper and our cutting boards contain flax husks, an agricultural byproduct. Our interior doormat is natural coir (coconut husk) and dyed with non-toxic dyes, also making it 100% biodegradable. Finally the outdoor furniture is made from salvaged Northern White Cedar.
Recycled / recyclable materials. The Evergreen's countertops are
Paperstone and 100% recycled paper; the cutting boards are 100% recycled food-grade plastic; the exterior doormat is 100% recycled rubber; the garbage bags stocked under the sink are 65% recycled plastic; the area rug in the living room is 37% recycled content; the house's foundation is 30% recycled fly-ash; the dog bed is made of recycled Levi's jeans; the coasters are made from recycled vinyl records; and the glasses are made from recycled Bordeaux wine bottles. Other products in the The Evergreen are recyclable: for example, every component of the blinds and carpet can be composted or recycled.
Recycling. The Evergreen makes recycling easy by providing both garbage and recycling containers. Seabrook Cottage Rentals will recycle your commingled recyclables for you, and dispose of your trash.
Increased indoor air quality. The Evergreen promotes a healthy indoor environment by not allowing shoes inside, minimizing the use of carpet, eliminating ductwork for heating, and providing whole-house ventilation. Additionally, when in use the fireplace regulates humidity to ensure that the air inside the Cabin never gets too dry.
Low VOC paints, stains, sealants, and adhesives. All paints, primers, wood stains, adhesives, and sealants used inside The Evergreen meet the low-toxicity standards of the
U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes program. Using products with low to no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provides better air quality for construction workers during installation and occupants after project completion.
Non-toxic cleaning agents. Though we can't always control the cleaning agents that Seabrook Cottage Rentals will use and make available for use, we only stock non-toxic hand soaps, all-purpose cleaners, dishwashing soap and detergent, etc., usually
Method and
Seventh Generation brands.
Proper ventilation. The Evergreen meets the strict guidelines set by the
USGBC for ventilation; this means that The Evergreen is constantly being flushed with fresh air from outside to ensure that occupants get the best indoor air quality. Additionally, all exhaust fans have been tested by a third-party verifier to ensure that they are performing to LEED standards. The bathroom features a special exhaust that automatically turns on when humidity is sensed (i.e. you take a hot shower), for maximum energy efficiency; there is also a manual override for the bathroom exhaust for odor control, etc.
Low-flow water fixtures. In addition to a dual-flush toilet, The Evergreen features a low-flow shower-head and bathroom sink faucet. While these two features alone reduce water use by 55%, we bet you won't even notice; the
Kohler Forte shower-head provides a very luxurious shower experience without the guilt.
Dual-flush toilet. The Evergreen features a
Caroma Caravelle dual-flush toilet. A dual-flush toilet conserves water by only using what's necessary - a half-flush for liquids, a full-flush for solids.
Native landscaping and stormwater management. The Evergreen manages 100% of its stormwater onsite, using only plants native to Grays Harbor County for landscaping. Besides needing no irrigation (and thus inherently conserving water), The Evergreen's landscape design provides habitat for local species. Our bird houses provide additional accommodations for neighborhood birds.
Cabin size. According to NPR, the average single-family home size has grown from 983 sq ft in 1950 to 2,349 sq ft in 2004. During this same time, the average family size remained relatively constant, from 3.0 people in 1950 to 3.14 according to the US Census. Built principally for couples, The Evergreen will help you rekindle the closeness that families were meant to share at just under 500 sq ft. Also, having a smaller footprint means that fewer resources are (were) required to build and operate it.
