This South Minneapolis homeowner came to Heritage Builders, Inc. with a vision to expand and remodel the house left to him by his parents, using sustainable and locally sourced materials, converting the household mechanicals to energy efficient systems, and conserving or recycling materials wherever possible.

Some of the key elements of this project that qualified it for green certification were:

• Geothermal heating and cooling
• Cement based siding and exterior trim
• Energy Star rated appliances and lighting fixtures
• Low flow plumbing fixtures
• Advanced framing techniques that conserved on lumber usage
• Fingerjoint wall studs and engineered joists and beams to maximize the use of forest products
• High efficiency windows and exterior doors
• Reclaimed ceramic tile
• Advanced insulation techniques to increase R-values and eliminate air leakage
• No recessed fixtures penetrating unconditioned attic space
• 40 year shingles
• Low VOC paints and finishes
• Recycled materials and fixtures salvaged for the old house
• A Waste Management Plan to deal with all refuse.
• A rain barrel to collect water runoff from the roof, to be used to water the yard

By Mark Benzell, Heritage Builders

For more information on this project visit www.heritagebldrs.com.