About - GreenHome Institute

About The

GreenHome Institute

The mission of the GreenHome Institute is to empower people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live.

The GreenHome Institute (GHI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live. We work towards achieving our mission through three primary activities: Project Management Services. Our services guide consumers and housing professionals through new construction and renovation residential projects by helping to ensure their home/multi-unit dwelling is healthy, energy efficient, and eligible for sustainable certification through LEED, GreenStar, Enterprise Green Communities, and other green programs. GHI has certified thousands of housing units through LEED, GreenStar, and Enterprise Green Communities Programs. Education and Training. GHI trains persons seeking certification as LEED Green Raters / Green Associates and Accredited Professionals, DOE Home Energy Score Assessors, GHI GreenHome professionals, and Inspectors. We offer weekly free continuing education opportunities that fulfill requirements for many professionals. GHI has educated thousands of professionals and homeowners on residential green building topics, strategies, concepts, and programs through our educational services. Public Policy. GHI also understands that the promotion of sustainable housing is achievable through legislative and public policy evolution. Therefore, we strive to connect with legislators and policy makers to encourage the adoption of legislation that lead to the development of sustainable housing. GHI began in 2000 and has since become a LEED for Homes Provider since 2005, Enterprise Green Building Technical Assistance Partners since 2008, USGBC Education Partners, and DOE Home Energy Partners since 2014. Over the last decade, we have worked with multiple cities on home energy programs. GHI is a small but mighty team, comprised of three staff members and 15 volunteer board members from around the US representing residential housing professionals and industry representatives. Additionally, we have nearly 300 individual and company members around the globe interested in advancing residential green building. Our work is supported through fees earned through training, project management, and certification services. Additionally, we receive additional funding through donations, memberships, and sponsorships.

Our Current
Board of Directors

Our Current
Board of
Directors

Meet the GHI Staff & Support

Brendan Molony, Vice President

Board member of Bike Friendly Kalamazoo

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Brendan Molony is a graduate of Aquinas College with a bachelor’s degree in sustainable business and for the last six years has led the sustainability program at Bronson Healthcare Group. Brendan has a passion to drive organizational and community development while taking into account the people, planet, and financial success. Focusing on waste reduction, mobility, green building design, local/healthy food, green cleaning, and smarter purchasing, Brendan has helped Bronson become one of the top 50 Green hospitals in the United States as rated by the Becker Review, while also saving the organization over $2million annually. Brendan has served as past chair of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association’s Green Healthcare Committee, is also a founding board member of Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, and board president of the South West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. He currently serves on the board of Community Homeworks as secretary and the Vine Neighborhood Association as vice president. When not working on sustainability issues, you can find Brendan running on trails throughout Kalamazoo.

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Ralf Scharnowski, Treasurer

Operations Manager, Air & Waterproofing at tesa tape

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Ralf is passionate about climate sustainability and social justice. As a board member of the GreenHome Institute, Ralf looks forward to applying his extensive entrepreneurial and business experience to promoting and supporting the organization’s mission. Ralf works as Operations Manager for Air & Waterproofing products at Grand Rapids MI-based tesa tape, focused on manufacturing products for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.

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Julie Roth, CGHP

Energy Manager City Of Ann Arbor

Julie Roth is the Energy Manager for the City of Ann Arbor's Office of Sustainability and Innovations. She leads a team whose work focuses on the creation, implementation, and management of programs to facilitate community-wide adoption of solar, building electrification, and energy efficiency; networked geothermal; commercial and residential building benchmarking; and greenhouse gas accounting. She has been recognized as a Crain's Detroit 2023 Leader in Energy, and has received awards from the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and the Sierra Club for her work on renewables. She is also a GreenHome Institute Certified GreenHome Professional. Learn more at www.a2gov.org/sustainability.

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Meghan Cruse

Marketing professional for Doyle Homes

Meghan Cruse is a residential Real Estate Agent, Farmer Florist, and Marketing professional for Doyle Homes in Howell, Michigan, as well as a wife, and mother of two. Since completing her graduate degree in Construction Management, she has committed to becoming an expert in designing for health and wellness, and obtaining her Living Future Accreditation As an entrepreneur at heart, her mind and schedule are often busy, but she still finds a way to embody a wellness-first lifestyle that focuses on family, sustainable living, and locally grown meals. She hopes to share her passion for living her values with the masses and to create impactful change across the residential construction industry.

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John Pady

Chief Expansion/Program Officer at Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, IL

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

A picture containing screenshot, text, green, rectangle Description automatically generated As the Chief Expansion/Program Officer at CEDA John is seasoned professional in the field of Home/Building Performance, with a passion for net zero construction with a strong emphasis on equity, indoor air quality, and project management. With extensive experience and expertise in the industry, John has consistently demonstrated his commitment to sustainable building practices that minimize environmental impact and promote energy efficiency. Throughout his career, John has played a key role in leading and managing projects that prioritize equity, ensuring that communities have access to high-quality, energy-efficient homes. His deep understanding of the importance of indoor air quality has driven him to implement solutions and technologies that create healthy living environments for occupants in marginalized and disinvested communities. With a passion for net zero construction and a dedication to sustainability, John stays at the forefront of industry trends and innovations. He is a strong advocate for incorporating renewable energy systems, energy-efficient materials, and advanced building techniques to achieve optimal energy performance in residential and commercial buildings. In addition to his professional accomplishments, John is actively involved in professional organizations related to Home/Building Performance. He is a respected member of the industry and serves on the board of directors for the Building Performance Association and is dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices and promoting equity in the industry.

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Debbie Coleman

Architect – Sun Plans Inc.

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

A GreenHome Institute member since 2018 she is as a licensed architect for over 30 years. Debbie has designed hundreds of low-energy passive solar homes for clients across the United States and Canada in many climate zones. She obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona and has been a licensed architect for over 30 years. In 2002, she founded Sun Plans Inc. which specializes in internet-based, sun-inspired, passive solar home design. Debbie authored The Sun-Inspired House: home designs warmed and brightened by the sun which is available in the ever-expanding eBook from Sun Plans with over 150 house designs. Her design philosophies incorporate Passive Solar Design Strategies; Guidelines for Home Building developed by NREL and are continuously evolving to adapt to the ever-changing low-energy construction methods and climate changes as well as other housing and energy technologies related to green building. She believes in efficiency first and building as small as possible as prerequisites to good house design. Her work has been published in Solar Today, Mother Earth News, Fine Homebuilding, Home Power, and Home Energy. In December 2022, she presented The Basics of Passive Solar Home Design webinar for GHI. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNEBqgmYx6I) As a member of the American Institute of Architects, she understands architects, but with her typical services, her services align well with designers, draftsmen, engineers, and builders. Debbie has worked in construction, been the general contractor on her previous home, and coordinated a renovation on her current home. She is a LEED-GA and an active member of the American Solar Energy Society where she serves on the board of directors, the solar buildings technical committee, and the committee for the National Solar Tour that showcases many forms of sustainable living and buildings across all 50 states. Debbie is passionate about how the sun can warm and brighten the interior of homes but enjoys being outside more than inside. She works very hard at connecting the two by bringing in the outdoors with careful attention to window placement which varies with each climate, piece of land, and family preferences with custom designs. Debbie has lived in a variety of places with cold, moderate, warm, humid, and dry climates. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places from the mountains to the sea, and being with others who share her love of the sun.

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Rob Derksen

Director of Business Development, Enertech

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Rob Derksen has spent the past 34 years in the Geothermal heating and cooling industry. Rob is the Director of Business Development for Enertech Global LLC, a Geothermal and Air to Water Heat Pump Manufacturer. Rob was also a Co-owner of Michigan Energy Services for 25 Years. (an HVAC company specializing in Geothermal heat pump installations). In 2017, Rob started D4 Consulting to develop a much-needed software package that simplifies the design and sales process for HVAC systems. This software allows HVAC Contractors to deliver onsite proposals in a single home visit as well as provides energy and economic life cycle comparisons of Geothermal and other HVAC systems to homeowners. Rob’s well-rounded understanding of the home as a system, and his passion for education-based selling helps Customers choose products and processes that truly match their wants, needs and goals. Rob joined GHI during our residential net zero conference to discuss his net zero home, you can learn more https://youtu.be/57WM-HEDMYo [youtu.be]

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Parth Vaishnav

Assistant Professor of Sustainable Systems School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

I am an Assistant Professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. My work aims to understand how technology can help solve social problems. Much of my research addresses the environmental and human health consequences of energy production and use. I employ quantitative decision analysis, buttressed by qualitative insight, to understand how economic, political, and operational realities constrain technology deployment. In particular, this research focuses on finding strategies to decarbonize the economy, and to adapt to the warming that has and will occur even if we cut greenhouse gas emissions very rapidly. I am keenly interested in finding ways to make both mitigation and adaptation equitable.

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Madeline Walker Miller

Founder and CEO of NexTiles

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Madeline Walker Miller is the Founder and CEO of NexTiles, a Detroit-based textile recycling company that converts textile waste into building insulation. Her professional background focuses on reducing textile waste and its harmful impacts to our natural environment. Her company specializes in creating secondary uses for textiles and engaging more Detroiters in creating circular economy solutions. She is an alumna of Spelman College and earned a master’s degree in Coastal Zone Management from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Madeline’s passion lies in empowering young Black people and people of color to embrace environmentally sustainable behaviors. In her spare time, she enjoys family outings and playing with her boxer, Maximus. Learn more about Madeline here.

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Kaylee Swanson

Hazardous Materials & Waste Safety Specialist at Spectrum Health

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Kaylee Swanson works as the Hazardous Materials & Waste Safety Specialist at Spectrum Health and is responsible for educating team members on how to handle hazardous materials from cradle to grave. In her previous role working for the Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, she worked with major donors and planned events to raise funds for various programs in need. She has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Business from Aquinas College and Bachelor’s degree in Public and Non-Profit Administration from Grand Valley State University and is passionate about living and working sustainably. When she is not working you can find her hiking, doing yoga or cooking.

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Adewale Adesanya, Ph.D.

Founder/CEO Havenergy Consulting Inc.

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Dr. Adewale Adesanya is an energy and environmental consultant with wealth of experience in the energy sector across the globe. His expertise spans researching, energy systems modeling, energy justice, energy policy analysis, and climate advocacy towards clean and renewable energy transition. Dr. Adesanya has worked extensively on clean energy systems development in the context of technology, project management, public engagement, and policy dimensions. He has about two decades industrial working and researching experience across the globe, including in the U.S., Germany, Scotland, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tuvalu in the production, oil and gas, renewable energy and public service regulatory sectors. Dr. Adesanya has worked and is still working in collaboration with utilities, stakeholders, community members, and various state energy regulators and authorities to develop pathways to renewable energy transition, net zero emission economy, and energy efficiency. Dr. Adesanya received a Ph.D. degree in Environmental and Energy Policy from Michigan Technological University, where he worked extensively on the analysis of pathways to just 100 percent renewable energy in the U.S. He holds a Master of Engineering degree in Energy and Environmental Management from Europa Universität Flensburg, Germany and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Production Engineering at University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Dr. Adesanya is an associate member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), one of the awardees of the prestigious 40 under 40 Energy News Network for the year 2020 and an En-ROADS Climate Ambassador.

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Brad Keuning

Assistant Professor of Accounting at Aquinas College

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Brad Keuning is Assistant Professor of Accounting at Aquinas College, bringing nearly twenty years of industry experience into the classroom. Prior to Aquinas, Brad held various accounting and finance roles at Ernst & Young, General Electric and Herman Miller. For the last six years, Brad has served on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), holding the role of Treasurer for the last three. Brad is originally from Holland and lives in the Grand Rapids area with his wife and three school-aged children. Among other things, the family enjoys spending time outdoors at their cabin up-north. Brad is committed to protecting the environment for his children and generations to come. Brad’s current term at GHI is June 2020 – May 2022

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Kay T. Rose

At Large Board Member

February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments / in Green Home Institute / by Brett Little

Kay Rose, a West Michigan native, has an extensive background in professional administration and customer service in both for and non-profit sectors. After experiencing a layoff, she launched a virtual assistant business. She brings an overall understanding of business and a passion for being environmentally conscious to the Board. She has served on the Executive Team as Secretary and now serves as President. She is excited to continue supporting GHI’s efforts to educate and encourage residents, and contractors, to explore greener building alternatives. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, exploring the outdoors, hiking, and camping.

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GHI is also supported by our hundreds of members who allow us to do what we do. Go here to learn more about each one and get connected to collaborate and expand residential green building.

Become A Member

The GreenHome Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded by members who support the residential green building movement. Becoming a member helps support our mission and keeps us going, and you can also receive several benefits.

The GreenHome Institute is a non-profit organization that empowers people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live.

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