March 23, 2017

Photo by Rachel Mamiya

Aaron Ackerman, LEED AP ID+C of Bowers + Kubota opened his home to SMPS Hawaii.  Joe Uno and Rachel Mamiya of JUA joined the tour of the “Greenest Single Family Residence in the World,” which meets the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge.

The Living Building Challenge is the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings.  It inspires buildings that give more than they take and are self-sufficient, able to remain within the resource limits of their site. Living Buildings produce more energy than they use and collect and treat all water on site.  Living Buildings need to be designed to operate for a hundred year’s time.

The residence, still under construction, was designed and built to be 100% self-sustaining, allowing its occupants to live off the land.  Striving to utilize construction materials already located in Hawaii, Aaron was able to reclaim used material that otherwise would have gone to waste, such as wood from buildings set for demolition.

 

Photo by Rachel Mamiya

Water conservation is also a high priority.  The design implements:

  • Net-Zero On-Site Wastewater Recycling
  • Net-Zero Renewable Energy Generation
  • Net-Zero Stormwater Management Ground Water Recharge
  • Net-Zero On-Site Rain Catchment Water Conservation

While water in a typical household is used once before going to the ocean, water at this residence can be used up to three times.

Visit the building’s “Living” website to learn more about the project: http://www.livingbuildingchallengehawaii.com/


Disclaimer: The information or opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of J. Uno & Associates, Inc. and its employees.