The Desert Rain home, a Living Building Challenge project that is under construction in Bend, is forging new frontiers in sustainable design. In addition to being net-zero energy, the home will collect and process all of its water needs. An ADU is being constructed on the property, next to the main house, which is also being built to meet the criteria of the Living Building Challenge.

Sustainable Northwest Wood is proud to be the provider of the FSC lumber for this project, in partnership with Parr Lumber Company. A site visit today showed the FSC certified Doug fir framing in full glory, as well as the sill plate, for which FSC Western Red Cedar was chosen.

Cedar isn't typically used for sill plate; contractors most often work with pressure-treated fir. In this project, though, cedar was chosen because it is naturally durable without the need for any added synthetic chemicals -- it will bear the weight of this home while naturally preventing the decay of its most sensitive structural components. 

This FSC 100% Western Red Cedar was sourced from Zigzag, OR, where it was super-selectively harvested as part of a restorative forestry management program at the Homestead Girl Scout Camp. 

The Desert Rain home was designed by Tozer Design and is being built by Timberline Construction. 

Photos: Top, FSC 100% Cedar sill plate; bottom, the ADU's interior gets framed.