Using the Sun’s Energy

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Jan 26, 2023

Sean & Jaimi Hegstad’s new home

The 33-panel system installed on Sean & Jaimi’s house will create an average of 25 kWh every day. With electric appliances and heat, it’s not clear how much energy the Hegstad family will use annually. But with rebates currently available, the Hegstads will receive an annual check from PSE based on the kWh their panels produced.

New tech

Solar panel technology has come a long way in the past few years. Previously, it was only recommended to install solar panels exposed to the south and propped at an angle equal to your latitude. For us here in the Northwest, that means 45 degrees (or a 12:12 roof pitch), which is steep. On the Hegstad Residence there are three locations of solar panels: one catching the suns energy from the east, one from the south, and one from the west. And they’re not at a very steep slope either.

2023 Summer Internship – Part I

This June 2023, Haven Design Workshop brought in Josiah Redburg from St. Andrews College in Michigan for a summer internship. He is going into his 5th year of study where upon completion he will attain his Master’s degree. We took some time recently to sit down and...

Whatcom Housing Alliance – ADU Competition

The Whatcom Housing Alliance recently opened a public competition to source ideas for the design of accessory dwelling units. The purpose is to increase awareness of the ADUs. They believe hosting a competition with foster ideas about what an ADU can be and to give...

Haven Plays Pickleball

Hey All! Consider this an informal invitation to come play pickleball with your favorite Bellingham architects this summer. Last week the office took the court for some competitive (and at times sloppy) pickleball. A few people came prepared, playing warm up matches...

Reaction – Stockholm Wood City

Stockholm, Sweden has developed a masterplan for a new neighborhood that will consist of all wood buildings! A few weeks ago, many architectural journals and magazines were publishing articles about this effort that is being undertaken. Stockholm has an area of vacant...

An ADU Primer

Accessory Dwelling units, or ADU’s, are a growing building type in America. Wander through the neighborhoods of most West Coast cities and you will begin to spot them. This primer will outline some of the reasons that ADU’s are beneficial for homeowners, communities,...

Why We Draw by Hand

AKA the benefits of slow design. Spend any time at a modern architecture firm, and you'll quickly realize just how integral computer aided design (CAD) systems are to the process of creating and documenting any new project. From the earliest days of their integration,...

MATERIAL BRIEF: THERMOWOOD BY LUNAWOOD

Innovation is a near-constant in the materials industry, with novel products popping up on a regular basis. That said, the typical direction of said innovation is toward a more technologically-heavy built world, with highly processed assemblies eclipsing the more...

Norman Foster on Sustainability

At this point, just about everybody in the building industry is on board with the idea that sustainable practices are critical to ensuring a better future for our world. However, achieving a built environment that is good for both the environment, the inhabitants, and...

Right to Repair, Volume 1

This will be the first in a series of thoughts on the state of serviceability and repair in the products we consume. If it feels like the thing you bought last week is appreciably worse than the same product was 10 years ago, you’re probably right. Whether it’s...

Bringing the outdoors in

Bringing the outdoors in Our client wanted a modern home in a forested property that would allow an open view of the outdoors with a large patio for entertaining.