Nextgen First to the Future Home

Location: Seattle

Owners: Rick and Refawne Acarregui

Developer: NextGen Home Experience

Project team: Anderson Construction Group, general and concrete contractor; Six Drafting, architect; Malsam Tsang Structural Engineering, structural engineer; Stoneway Concrete, ready-mix supplier

The NextGen First to the Future Home was designated “Fortified ... for safer living” by the Institute for Business & Home Safety, a group supported by 22 insurance groups. The NextGen house reportedly is the first in the Northwest to receive the designation from the institute.

NextGen’s house uses insulated concrete forms as its building system. ICFs were selected for their ability to resist damage from earthquakes, wind, wildfires and other natural causes. They also meet another project goal: To use environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products. With the help of the ICF system, the home was able achieve Energy Star and Built Green ratings.

Many of the building materials of the original home on the site were recycled. The old home was also made available to the local fire department for search-and-rescue training before it was demolished.

The project’s developer says there are three components that make a green product score high: How the product was made, what contributes to its lifecycle, and how it’s disposed of at the end of its use. Alternative fuels are often used to make Portland cement, a component of concrete; concrete’s carbon footprint is minimal; and concrete can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle.