Harned / Ritzau Residence
Hailey, ID

The Harned / Ritzau residence has an attractive constructed wetland for treating all of the black and grey water from their home. The wetland is set just steps from their front door and is an attractive part of their native landscaping. Even though constructed wetlands have been used to treat wastewater for decades throughout the U.S. and the world, this constructed wetland is the first in the state of Idaho for treating residential wastewater. The EPA published design guidelines for constructed wetlands over twenty years ago recognizing them as providing a high level of tertiary treatment suitable for water reuse.  The Harned / Ritzau residence achieved the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification and received multiple credits related to water for their installation of a constructed wetland for treating their blackwater and grey water to reuse standards. Designed prior to the Living Building Challenge (www.cascadiagbc.org/lbc) the Harned / Ritzau residence was nonetheless designed with many of the LBC intents in mind – in particular the two most challenging:  Zero Energy and treating all water before it leaves the site. Whole Water Systems sister company Whole Energy Solar (www.WholeEnergySolar.com) designed a solar electric system intended to meet all of their electrical needs with an average 24 kWh/day budget. Architectural designer Rebecca F. Bundy (www.rfbundydesign.com) designed a very passive solar house with a long list of other sustainable green features.

Picture taken after wetland plant growth

Picture taken immediately after installation, before wetland plants have grown in