June 2014 - GreenHome Institute

126 Apartments LEED Gold Certified in East Lansing

June 23, 2014/0 Comments/in Local, Affordable Housing, Certified Homes, LEED Gold, Michigan, Multi-Family Projects, Project Type/by Brett Little

The 126 apartments that were renovated for this project were made possible by the Hometown Housing Partnership (HHP) of East Lansing. HHP is a nonprofit that has been providing access to affordable housing for over 20 years, and was formerly known as East Lansing Housing and Neighborhood services. In 2012 HHP became the managing general partner of 126 units of affordable housing at Deerpath Apartments and partnered with Hollander Development to complete renovate the townhomes.

A large amount of materials were reused in rehabbing the home including: exterior framing and siding, foundation, cabinets, counters, roof framing, and the roof, floor, and 2/3 the wall sheathing. A 800 watt solar photovoltaic collector system is installed on top of the carports, which provides electricity for the lighting of the carports. All interior and exterior paints used are water based, low VOC, latex paints. Each apartment is outfitted with Energy Star certified appliances and energy efficient lighting.

    Project Details:
Type                               Multifamily
Conditioned Space   (126) 988 sq. ft. apartments
Bedrooms                     2
Bathrooms                   1
Lot Type                       Previously Developed
Construction Type   Affordable
   Key Features:
Air Filtration             MERV 10
Roof Insulation        R50
Wall Insulation         R15
HVAC Efficiency       94% AFUE
800 Watt Solar Panels installed on the carport
Efficient Outdoor LED and Indoor Lighting

Renae Hesselink Muskegon Homeowner goes solar!

June 17, 2014/0 Comments/in Local, Green Home Institute, Michigan/by Brett Little

Renae Hesselink is the first in West Michigan homeowner to sign up for the program and just completed her panel install Monday May 19^th. Renae served as the past Chair of the US Green Building Council West Michigan (USGBCWM) and is a local sustainability leader.

Tell us about the process

“Finally after months of waiting, mostly due to the weather, Srinergy along with a local electrician team has installed the 5Kw solar system on my home. I will be sharing the entire journey soon. I will have access via the web to see what my panels are generating by hour, by day, by week, month, annually. My goal is to help educate the many people out there that solar does work in Michigan and it is affordable. It should produce nearly the amount of electricity that I use on an annual basis with a return on investment”

“I turned on my solar panels around 5:00 p.m. on May 23rd – that was roughly 25 days ago. To date it has produced 554.9 Kwh an average of 23+ Kwh per day. From mid-April until Mid-May I used 434 total Kwh of electricity. This system has produced above and beyond what I will use in a month’s time for sunnier months so far.”

What is the Pay back?

“My Solar PV will have an estimated return on investment of close to 10 years, increase my home value and allow me to take part in the sustainability movement to get away from fossil fuels”.

What about your home energy use?

Before going solar Renae worked with to get home energy audit and a Residential Energy Performance Score and is currently looking at ways to improve her energy efficiency and comfort.

Renae currently is the Vice President of Sustainability at Nichols in Muskegon and is exploring this application for their corporate headquarters and distribution centers.

Stay tuned for case studies

Here is a photo of the first panel going up

YouthBuild Akron Ohio LEED Platinum Rehab

June 13, 2014/0 Comments/in Local, Gut Rehab, LEED Platinum, Ohio, Single-Family Projects/by Brett Little

Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. (Akron YouthBuild) partnered with Saint-Gobain through the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation with support from the Saint-Gobain family of companies, to complete a green renovation at 887 Garfield Street in Akron, OH. Saint-Gobain was founded in 1665 to manufacture glass for the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France. They are the Worlds largest building materials company. Recognized as a 2009 & 2010 Energy Star partner of the year by the US EPA, Saint-Gobain earned the 2011, 2012, & 2013 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The YouthBuild program started in 1978 in East Harlem, New York. The program concentrates on youths aged 16-24 who work full-time for 6-24 months while working toward their GED’s or High School Diplomas while at the same time learning job skills by building affordable housing in their communities.

The Garfield Project is the first YouthBuild Akron home to achieve the prestigious LEED Platinum certification. Saint-Gobain and its family of companies have donated a range of building materials and many hours of on-site support from CertainTeed Building Scientists to complete the green home renovation. The home features a heat recovery system and very efficient CertaSpray Closed Cell Foam Insulation which contribute to its energy efficiency. The home received a HERS score of 65 meaning that it is 35% more efficient than other comparable homes. In addition to energy efficiency measures the home incorporates several landscaping features that reduce it’s irrigation needs. For example, drought tolerant plants were installed along with a slow-growing grass that needs no fertilizers, little mowing, and relatively little water. The home harvests rainwater from its roof. These aspects have accumulated a 59% water reduction due to the sites landscape architecture alone.

CertainTeed (an affiliate of Saint-Gobain) donated many of the building materials. These materials contributed significantly to the overall efficiency and sustainability of the home. Grenite Engineered Stone Countertop’s were used and constructed with up to 85% post-consumer recycled content. Air-Renew Gypsum Board boasts industry only technology that removes VOC’s from the air and converts them into safe inert compounds, once they are captured in the board they cannot be released into the air. This Gypsum Board also aids in the reduction of moisture and mold. On the rooftop, LandMark Solaris – Solar Reflecting Roofing Shingles were utilized. They reflect the suns rays and reduce roof temperatures up to 20%.

Print and Share the Project Profile – PDF

Press Release

Video – Garfield Project

Saint-Gobain & YouthBuild Akron (Garfield House) – PDF

USGBC LEED® for Homes™ Green Rater Training

June 6, 2014/0 Comments/in Green Home Institute/by Brett Little

Co-sponsored with Priority Energy

There are currently over 140,000 registered LEED^® for Homes™ projects worldwide and over 50,000 certified with each project requires third-party on-site verification and performance testing by a LEED Green Rater. If you’re interested in filling this need as part of USGBC’s LEED for Homes Green Rater program, this training is for you!

The two-part LEED for Homes Green Rater Training is designed to prepare qualified participants to provide verification services on LEED for Homes projects.

Applicants must meet/submit initial qualifications and complete a two-part training (this two-day workshop and an online course component). Following the training, participants will take a computer-based exam provided by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) and complete a mentorship on real projects before earning the LEED for Homes Green Rater Certificate. Must register by August 1st to be accepted.

Learning Objectives

Identify responsibilities of a LEED for Homes Green Rater in each phase of a project
Manage and conduct verification activities
Effectively use the project checklist file
Communicate effectively with project teams and LEED for Homes Providers
Apply the sampling protocol on applicable projects
Prepare accurate and complete certification submittal packages
Speak to major changes when V4 for Homes is launched

Audience
This training is intended for professionals with a minimum of three years’ experience in the residential construction industry and basic residential green building knowledge who are interested in providing verification services on LEED for Homes projects. Those with a background in on-site verification and/or energy rating are particularly qualified. This program is being co-sponsored with Priority Energy, a RESNET and BPI training provider.

Prerequisites

Submit LEED for Homes Green Rater Eligibility Qualifications.

Continuing Education
This course, like all USGBC LEED education programs, meets GBCI eligibility requirements for the LEED Green Associate.

RESNET: 14 hours
BPI: 8.5 CEUs
GBCI CE: 14 hours (LEED Homes Specific)
AIA/CES: 14 HSW/SD Learning Units
BOMI: 14 (CPD)
CoreNet: 14 (CPD)
CSI: 1.6 (CEU)
NARI Green: 14 hours

Steps to Become a Green Rater

Step 1: Meet LEED for Homes Green Rater Eligibility Qualifications and submit application form to USGBC.
Step 2: Attend online live or recorded Implementing LEED for Homes Course ( LEED AP+Homes can skip step 2). There will be an offering the day before on Aug 26 for those interested.
Step 3: Once accepted, complete five self-guided online learning modules prior to participating in the two-day LEED for Homes Green Rater Training.
Step 4: Take and pass LEED for Homes Green Rater exam through GBCI.
Step 5: Complete Green Rater Mentorship with a LEED for Homes provider within 24 months.
Step 6: Receive LEED for Homes Green Rater Certificate.

If you have any questions about Green Rater eligibility or working with a LEED for Homes provider, please contact Brett Little,

Bonus! – Become a GreenStar rater and assist contractors, remodelers and DYI homeowner’s on Green Certified remodeling projects that do no qualify for LEED. The GreenStar checklist and program will be reviewed during this class to make you an official GreenStar Rater.

Instructors
Jason La Fleur, LEED AP+Homes and LEED for Homes Green Rater

Lodging
Discounted lodging is available rooms at:

Must reserve before ….

Registration problems? Contact info@alliancees.org or (616) 458-6733

Do you Qualify for a 10% Discount? Local chapter members below do!