Edmonds residents David Kendall and Nobuko Mitsunaga are opening their Lake Ballinger-area home and its wide range of sustainability elements for the Northwest Green Home Tour this Sunday, April 26.
You can find a November 2014 interview with the couple and their commitment to the environment here. We also took an opportunity to ask David Kendall a few questions via email regarding the home, located at 23025 74th Ave. W., which was renovated to include rooftop solar panels; extensive weatherization; additional insulation; high efficiency ventilation fans, a heat pump and low-flow toilets, among other features.
MEN: Could you provide some background about yourself?
DK: I moved to Seattle in 1985, from the Southeast. My wife (Nobuko) and I live in the Lake Ballinger home, which we purchased in 2012.
MEN: What inspired you to travel down this sustainability path?
DK: I am a recently retired marine biologist, with a life-long passion for the environment. We have been moving toward a sustainable lifestyle since I got married in 2005. We downsized specifically with sustainability and solar in mind.
MEN: It appears you made a lot of changes to the home — did the project expand beyond your original intentions?
DK: Yes, I did not anticipate doing a cistern project until last year. All the improvements have made our home more sustainable, and we have no regrets about the things we have done..
MEN: What advice would you have to anyone who is considering ways to make their home more environmentally friendly?
DK: Consider doing a blower door test to show air leaks, and then do weatherization repairs to add more insulated as a first step, including replacing lights with LEDs, low-flush toilets, Energy Star appliances, and heat pump system. Solar works and I would strongly recommend adding solar if the homeowner has a home with the proper roof exposure.
MEN: Anything else you’d like to add?
DK: I have attached a few graphics that shows how incremental improvements to our home have reduced our energy footprint over time. I have also attached a fact sheet with information on vendors we utilized to make sustainability improvements to our home.
The Northwest Green Homes tour takes place over two days, Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Homes and Sustainability Stops in the South Seattle area, Central Seattle, and the Eastside are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday only. Homes and Sustainability Stops in the North Seattle area are open on Sunday only. You are welcome to browse the tour map and preview all of the homes online. The tour is self-guided, and you can start and end at any of the homes or businesses. Visit as many sites as you like.
You can learn more here.
This couple has done terrific work at their house to become energy self-sufficient++. A few months back I was part of the team that interviewed them on behalf of the Climate Protection Committee’s stories on Edmonds Sustainability Heroes (see the link in the article above). Speaking as one who has had the opportunity to see evidence of their efforts first hand and understand the passion driving their actions, I cannot offer enough encouragement to anyone participating in the NW Green Homes Tour to make their residence one of your stops. It will be well worth your time.