Z Works Design Build Earns Highest Rating for a Single-Family Home
Khair Zaman, owner of Z Works Design Build, didn't set out to build the highest rated green home in Austin. He began work on the Benavides' home in east-central Austin in 2005, and after completing a preliminary rating during the rough-in inspection, Rich MacMath, an architect with Austin Energy's Green Building Program, realized that this project was only a few points away from becoming the highest rated home in Austin. With 227 points, Zaman was about three points behind the existing highest rated project, a west Austin house designed by Barley + Pfeiffer and built by Oliver Custom Homes. "I always encourage our participants to get the highest rating they can," says MacMath.
Zaman says that he's not normally a competitive guy, but the lure of being the highest rated home was too much to resist. At the time of the preliminary rating, points for a planned, but not budgeted, PV system were not included so MacMath pretty much knew the project would eventually surpass the 230-point Barley + Pfeiffer house. However, Zaman wanted to be extra sure so he added a margin of points by implementing some simple and low-cost, yet often overlooked, options available on the rating. "I built a compost bin out of leftover pallets and used recycled materials to make the fence," says Zaman. "Rich's enthusiasm got me excited about having the highest rating, and it was all fun in a good-natured way."
Although Zaman had a lot of fun with the project, he says it was also very challenging even for an experienced green builder. A large part of what a green building professional does is to educate his or her clients about the available green options that meet their goals. "In the end, the most important thing is to have the right clients making the best decisions," says Zaman. "The Benavides' were very forward thinking -- they were able to think beyond their immediate needs, which is not easy." The Benavides' wanted a home that would be comfortable and accessible for all the generations of the family, and something that would last well beyond just their lifetimes. They also wanted Zaman to design the home in a way that considered several possible future efficiency measures. For example, orienting the roof properly to accomodate a future solar electric system, although funds for the PVs were not included in the construction budget. The home is also designed to accomodate a future rainwater harvesting system that will eventually irrigate a large gardening area.
After finishing construction within the budget, the Benavides' decided to take advantage of Austin Energy's Solar Rebate Program and contracted with Meridian Energy System's to install the PV system. "Understanding and coordinating the solar systems was a great learning experience for me," says Zaman. "Everything worked out very well and the owners are very pleased with the home's performance."
This home earned 239 points on the 7.2 rating; however, we don't expect that score to hold the top space for long. "This may not be the highest rated project for very long because there are currently several designers and custom builders working on 5-star projects," says MacMath. "Some of them definitely have their eye on the bar set by Z Works Design Build and are actively seeking to claim the highest-rated home title."
Read more about this house in the Green Building Case Study>>
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