Seattle Tech co. builds World’s First ‘Net Zero Energy’ High-Rise Building
Sustainable Living Innovations, a Seattle tech company that’s created a new way to build commercial structures, broke ground on a 15-story development that’s pegged as the world’s first “net zero energy” high-rise apartment building. The 112-unit building will run off of solar power and batteries, and includes 27 affordable apartments. It’s being constructed with a patented design that uses panels manufactured at a plant in Tacoma, Wash. that come preloaded with electrical wiring, plumbing and mechanical equipment. The design features radiant heat floors and floor-to-ceiling glass walls. It saves water by capturing rainfall and recycling gray water from sinks and showers. The approach eschews environmentally wasteful, mold-prone materials including paint, carpeting and drywall. The energy-smart high-rises cost less than a traditionally built structure in Seattle, Collins said. Much of the savings comes from using the modular panels that allow for quicker construction. The 303 Battery building will use 900 panels of 10 primary panel types. Collins didn’t provide exact numbers on cost. The building is being certified by the International Living Futures Institute, which awarded Seattle’s Bullitt Center — a global leader in sustainable buildings — its eco-bona fides. In order to generate as much energy as it uses, 303 Battery will include solar panels on its roof, exterior walls and balconies. Its basement will house a bank of lithium batteries to store power that can be used at night and when solar isn’t available. The building includes various smart technologies such as sensors to adjust thermostats and lights to conserve energy.
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