Atherton Woods Green Apartment Rehabilitation, 2013
Vancouver, Washington
Mark R. Blubaugh, architect

Blue Brook Architecture designed a Green apartment rehabilitation for Atherton Woods Apartments. Green Design features in the apartments include water conserving shower heads, lavatory faucets, and kitchen sinks, WaterSense toilets which are only 1.1 gallon per flush. The lighting is compact fluorescent, using natural warm color lamps. The refrigerators and dishwashers are Energy Star rated. All adhesives and paints used in construction were low or no VOC. Water heaters were upgraded to a 0.93 energy factor. The units were air-sealed to less than five air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure differential. To prevent the accumulation of indoor air pollution, all units have very quiet and energy efficient continuous run exhaust fans in one bathroom, which operate at an increased level of ventilation when the resident flips a switch. The master bathrooms and laundry closets are equipped with very quiet and energy efficient exhaust fans with integral motion detectors so the operate whenever the room is in use, preventing mold problems. Some apartments tested at a slightly elevated radon level and were upgraded with a continuous run active radon removal system.

Exterior improvements included raised vegetable garden planters for the residents to grow their own produce, all new plantings were native our adaptive species which do not need irrigation, the irrigation system was upgraded with moisture sensors and a new controller to prevent over-watering, and catch basins were stenciled so the residents would know not to dump any hazardous material down them because they drain to a nearby stream. The exterior site lighting was replaced with new, more energy efficient fixtures which direct light only toward the ground, to minimize light pollution of the night sky. The roofing was upgraded to Energy Star rated roofing to reduce the property’s contribution to the heat island effect in the area. The contractor achieved a 76% construction waste reduction.

Major Considerations: The owner, who was purchasing the property, wanted to renovate it in as cost-effectively as possible, and at the same time incorporate as many green building features as possible. With our strong green building background, we were able to assist them in making the most cost-effective green building choices. With a couple of the last green building items to be added to the project, we enlisted the contractor’s help in verifying our recommendations. When submitting the proposals to their subcontractors, the contractor confirmed the recommendations we made were the most cost-effective approach.