Rob Harrison
This workshop and garage in Seattle, designed by Harrison Archit…
Green Philosophy: “The learning curve is the challenge in green building. Once builders get through that learning curve, it’s hard to change back.”
Jon Alexander , founder and owner of Seattle-based Sunshine Construction, believes in sharing information. That’s why he co-founded the still-thriving Northwest EcoBuilding Guild back in 1991. He also helped create Seattle’s Built Green certification system and has played a major role in its evolution. In fact, he constructed the program’s first 5-star new house, as well as its first 5-star remodel.
Currently, Alexander is remodeling a house for the founder of Home Performance Washington, a statewide association of energy retrofitters. He also has embarked on a new venture, teaming with three colleagues to form an environmental building training, management, and consulting company called TM4 Group . TM4 organizes workshops on complying with the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule, as well as courses on indoor air quality. The group hopes to expand its offerings in the future, using a blend of online and in-person training to reach a wider swath of building professionals.
In Alexander’s own work, energy efficiency is a top priority. “The biggest impact of our homes on the environment is in their energy consumption,” he says. He frequently uses power-conserving items such as photovoltaics, radiant heat, and SIPs. And he’s become well versed in rainwater collection and green roofs. Sunshine Construction salvages and recycles as much jobsite waste as it can, typically around 80 percent.
As a fourth-generation contractor, Alexander takes great pride in his work. For him, building green and building well are inextricably linked. According to Seattle architect Rob Harrison, “The thing about working with Jon is that it’s never a conflict about whether to do it green or not. It’s always how green can we make it.”
Sunshine Construction, Seattle
www.sunshineconstruction.biz
Years in business: 27
Employees: 3
2009 volume: $127,000
2009 starts: 1
Years of focusing on sustainable building: 19
