Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is at the core of how we think about home building. By combining thoughtful insulation systems with high-efficiency equipment, we work to reduce the energy your home needs from the ground up. The result is a home that stays comfortable through cold winters and warm summers, runs quietly in the background, and gives you every reason to feel good about your monthly energy use.

*Features and certifications may vary by community.

Concerned about rising energy costs?

Utility bills in Washington and Oregon continue to climb. At Ichijo, we address this at the structural level before you ever move in, so you're not left making lifestyle tradeoffs just to stay comfortable.

An envelope built for the Pacific Northwest

A home's envelope is everything that separates the inside from the outside: walls, ceiling, windows, and floor. The tighter and better insulated that envelope is, the less energy your home needs to stay comfortable.

Where Does Heat Escape?

The wider the bar, the more heat lost. Compared to typical new construction and existing resale homes, Ichijo homes lose significantly less heat through every part of the building: wall, ceiling, window, and floor.

Dual-Layer Insulation

*Insulation types and availability may vary by community.

Advanced Wall Framing

By spacing studs wider apart than conventional construction, Ichijo homes have fewer points where heat can transfer through the wall. This means more room for insulation and less thermal bridging, resulting in a wall system that holds temperature more consistently and performs more efficiently overall.

Raised Heel Roof Trusses

By lifting the roof structure to create extra space at the roof edge, this design allows for fuller insulation coverage all the way to the edges. This prevents compression where insulation is typically at its thinnest, resulting in more consistent thermal performance throughout the entire ceiling.

Airtight Construction

Even small, unseen gaps can let conditioned air escape and put extra demand on your heating and cooling systems. Ichijo homes are built with airtightness in mind, reducing energy loss and creating a quieter, more comfortable place to live.

Energy-Saving Equipment

Ichijo homes are equipped with heat pumps that transfer heat from the outdoor air for efficient heating and cooling, alongside Energy Star certified equipment throughout. Combined with our high-performance insulation, every system works at its full potential. Features may vary by community.

Heat Pump System

Rather than generating heat directly, heat pumps transfer existing heat from the outdoor air to condition your home. This makes them far more efficient than conventional heating and cooling systems, using less energy to maintain the comfort level you want year round.

Heat Pump System

Heat Pump Water Heater

Instead of generating heat from scratch, heat pump water heaters pull warmth from the surrounding air to heat your water, using significantly less energy than a conventional electric water heater.

Solar Ready

Ichijo homes are designed with solar in mind, making it straightforward to add solar power generation and offset your home's total energy use.

A Home That Works From the Inside Out

The building envelope controls what stays in and what stays out. Energy-saving equipment controls how much your home consumes. When both are built to work together, the efficiency of the entire home rises to a level that neither could achieve on its own.

High Insulation Performance

Retains heat effectively across every surface, so your home stays comfortable without overworking your systems.

Airtight Construction

Minimizes air leakage throughout the entire envelope, keeping conditioned air in and outside air out where it belongs.

High-Efficiency Equipment

Heat pumps, Energy Star certified appliances, and smart systems work together to reduce how much energy your home consumes day to day.

Solar Ready

Ichijo homes are designed with solar in mind, making it straightforward to add solar power generation and offset your home's total energy use.

*Features may vary by community.

Homeowner Stories

Real stories from families who chose Ichijo. From the first walk-through to years of living in their homes, they share how our commitment to comfort, quality, and thoughtful design has shaped not only their houses but also the way they live every day.

"I originally came out here for another builder."

Keith

"We became big fans of Ichijo."

Kim and Danny

"I feel the Japanese style and craftsmanship."

Homma Family

"This was the home we found after looking for over three years."

Debbie

Lisa went above and beyond throughout my home-buying journey. Her responsiveness, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to finding me the right home set her apart from any sales representative I have ever worked with. I also want to recognize Ed, whose professionalism, expertise, and dedication to quality gave me complete confidence throughout the process. Together, Lisa and Ed represent the very best of what Ichijo has to offer. I could not be happier with my experience and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for a home.

Darrell Freeman

I am delighted to share my exceptional experience with Ichijo Home Builders. Throughout my initial interaction to the final walkthrough, their commitment to quality and craftsmanship was evident. The fusion of traditional Japanese design principles with modern American comforts created a truly unique and inviting home for my family. The attention to detail, superior materials, and efficient construction process exceeded my expectations. The team’s professionalism, transparency, and unwavering dedication ensured a smooth and stress-free building journey. We own more than one home built by Ichijo. I wholeheartedly recommend Ichijo Home Builders for their outstanding workmanship and personalized service.

Sarang Fegde and Yogini Joshi

We absolutely love our Ichijo house! More than that, we appreciate all of the time and effort they put into working with us. We recently purchased the Harrison Court home from it’s previous owners, as we were drawn to it’s exceptional quality, energy-saving construction, and superior design. It is clear the Ichijo teams puts thought into their work and it makes us feel good knowing we can reduce our environmental impact by living in a green home. When we moved in, the house needed some repairs on the windows and siding. We brought up some questions and concerns with the Ichijo team and they went above and beyond our expectations to get things fixed. They were responsive, communicative, professional, thorough, and extremely generous with their time and resources. My husband and I feel very thankful to have purchased a home built by builders who stand by their quality of work, especially over time.

Chelsea Oliver

I’m very happy with my Ichijo townhouse. The layout is bright, spacious and efficient. The technology and appliances are modern and work extremely well. The construction is solid, well insulated and shows Ichijo builders are craftsmen.

Edmund vonAllmen

This has been an incredible process. We feel so lucky to have the home that we do and to be in here enjoying it. We know that there aren’t a lot of folks, a lot of friends that have had this opportunity. It’s something that we are so thankful for. We had such a great experience working with Ichijo.

Nina and Andrew Harrison