GS Bronze Archives - Page 2 of 3 - GreenHome Institute

Creek Hill Custom Homes: New Home Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, New Home, Project Profile/by Brett Little

When Rick and Adrienne Harrison contacted Michael Hillesheim of Creek Hill Custom Homes Inc. to build their new home according to MN GreenStar qualifications, Mike eagerly accepted the opportunity to learn more about “Green” building hands on. Creek Hill Custom Homes has always built a great quality home for their buyer(s) but now the challenge was to build a home with respect to the future.

The building site/lot was formerly park land that had been used as a fill site. Soil corrections were accomplished by using the soil on site. The house was built with energy efficient walls. A metal roof was used as well as other energy efficient fixtures and building materials.

Our subcontractors were made more aware of environmental impact and material conservation. They have carried this awareness and conservation on into other new construction. Our framers now use materials more efficiently and conservatively after building a MN GreenStar house.

The Harrison’s and Creek Hill Custom Homes Inc. are proud of the achievement of building a certified MN GreenStar home and contributing to a better future for everyone.

By Barb Fisher, Creek Hill Custom Homes

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

Lumber One Cold Spring: New Home Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, New Home, Project Profile/by Brett Little

I remember becoming very excited about the possibility of being included in the MN GreenStar pilot program. Sustainability along with energy, water and resource conservation have always been a high priority for me and my family. My background includes growing up on a farm in Southwestern Minnesota. Learning how to best use natures resources was a high priority of my Dads. I remember being proud of him when he was featured in a local farm paper for his soil conservation/preservation practices i.e. contour terraces to keep the soil from being washed into the local watershed. Looking back he was well ahead of the EPA’s storm water programs.

My interest in science led me to St Cloud State University to study for a triple (comprehensive) major in biology, chemistry and physics. Prior to working in the home building and remodeling business I taught chemistry, biology and physics. While teaching I built my 2nd home utilizing advanced insulation techniques, one of the first 82% efficient furnaces along with one of the highest rated air conditioners being controlled by a set back thermos stat.

In 1982 I began my career as a new home salesperson with Lumber One Cold Spring. Since then I have helped nearly 600 families build their dream homes. From starter homes to executive homes to homes where families can age in place utilizing universal building techniques.

Working with everyone at MN GreenStar through out the planning, building and inspection and certification phases has been seamless. I finished my home just in time for the Central Minnesota Spring Tour of Homes in the spring of 2008. Since then I have had it open for the fall tour of 2008 and spring tour of 2009. I have had approximately 3000 people thru the home. When folks enter the home, I say welcome to my green built home. I get two responses, that is why I am here or what do you mean? A perfect opportunity to explain the complete process. When asked how much the “green” features added, the universal response was wow, that is less than I expected.

Thanks again for the opportunity of working with MN GreenStar on my 3rd party certified home. I look forward to utilizing as many of these concepts I can in all of my future custom built homes.

By Jim Green, Lumber One Cold Spring

For more information on this project visit www.lumber-one.com.

Pillar Homes: New Home Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, New Home, Project Profile/by Brett Little

Pillar Homes goal was a stunning new retro house that takes you back to a nostalgic era with memories of family farms. We wanted to purchase sustainable products, utilize energy saving systems and products, and minimize the footprint on the environment. We created a home and separate out building that integrate together on the site creating a very inviting and usable relationship.

The exterior green parts of the home:

“Cool roof” (a galvanized aluminum roof)
An intensive long-term prairie restoration project
Rain garden for roof runoff
Vegetable and flower garden
Cement fiber board siding

Energy saving aspects are the geothermal heating and cooling system, closed cell insulation, off-peak utility service, light bulbs, dimmers, and the Warmboard radiant subfloor system with hot water integrated in it. Radiant heat is also in the lower level.

The interior design is truly a showcase with a careful balance of the old mixed with new. The interior product showcases are:

Reclaimed wood throughout: Pine kitchen walls, antique Elm floors, fireplace mantles, fireplace doors, great room ceiling beams, and a suspended custom stairwell.
Hot water radiant floor heat on main and lower levels
Stained concrete floors in the lower level and main level
Cambria, Verazzo, Avonite, and Paperstone countertops
Enameled trim and MDF doors
Low VOC and no VOC paint
Master bedroom closet system with no urea formaldehyde

The end result gives our homeowner an updated nostalgic farm house reminiscent of the past with sustainable state-of-the-art products. It is truly an environmentally smart building project.

By KC Chermak, Pillar Homes

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

College City Homes: New Home Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, New Home, Project Profile/by Brett Little

College City Homes

We built our certified green home in Shakopee and enjoyed being part of shaping the pilot program. At College City Companies we feel it is our social responsibility to understand how to build green homes and green remodeling projects and present these ideas to our customers.

We discovered during the process different ways to do things that were cost effective. One of these ideas was different ways to insulate a home. We have been able to use this idea and present to new customers on ways to improve the efficiency of their home. As we went through the program we have found other situations like this that someone might not be doing a certified project, but we could bring green aspects to the project by understanding better ways of doing things.

Since completing the project we have presented green seminars with our Trade Partners to potential customers, designers, realtors, and mortgage officers. What we found is there is a great variation in people’s knowledge and the expectations of what a green home should be. Many of them have a greater understanding that all green homes do not have to have geo thermal, solar power and wind generators, to be considered to be green. Even though these are viable alternatives there are many different ways to do a green project.

By Steve McDonald, College City Homes

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

McDonald Construction: New Home Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, New Home, Project Profile/by Brett Little

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

Stonehearth Custom Homes, Inc.: Remodel Type IV Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, Project Profile, Type IV/by Brett Little

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

Lake Country Builders: Remodel Type 1 Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, Project Profile, Type I/by Brett Little

The arts and crafts-style home, in the Lynhurst neighborhood of Minneapolis, features a renovated kitchen, powder room, and sitting area. An eco-friendly design respects the home’s historical character while integrating the modern elements of today’s kitchen amenities. This efficient use of space features craftsman details in the cabinetry and millwork. Recycled glass, cork flooring, and low VOC paints join a variety of other ‘green’ materials honoring our clients sensitivity to the environment.

There were some interesting challenges in designing the project. We had to conceal plumbing lines coming down from the upstairs bathroom as well as hide the support beam that divided the pantry space from the kitchen. The solution was to create an arch that housed both problems. Viola! The powder bathroom on the main level was a wish list item and we creatively built under the stair. A Perfect fit! Another wish list item was to open up the stair well to the living room. The clients commented that everyone who visits is amazed at how original to the home it looks. Like it was always there!

By Sue & Pete Jacobson, Lake Country Builders

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

Castle Building & Remodeling: Remodel Type 1 Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, Project Profile, Type I/by Brett Little

Castle Building & Remodeling

This project is in the home of two adults and three children. The owners wanted an open gathering space with informal dining, a mudroom/entry area, a remodeled powder room, and provisions for a future laundry facility. Because they cared so much about the environment and the health of their family, they specifically wanted it to be “green” for energy-efficiency, earth-friendly, and health-conscious reasons.

A great deal of planning, preparation, and creative design was required to fulfill the homeowners’ “green dream.” The project included a blower door test to measure air tightness, weather-stripping of existing doors, the use of reclaimed lumber for framing, formaldehyde-free insulation, compact fluorescent light bulbs and sheetrock with recycled paper content as well as the re-use of millwork and the laundry chute. As part of the project, a low-flow toilet and a mix of reclaimed birch countertops and Cambria countertops, which are fabricated with a low-petroleum method, was installed. Energy-Star appliances, a high-efficiency water heater, and low-flow aerators were all put to use in this home. In addition, handmade tiles composed of recycled material were installed in the kitchen, tile with recycled content was used in the bathroom, and a recycling center was added in the kitchen. The design also incorporated the refinishing of the existing hardwood floors with a less toxic water-based stain in lieu of installing new flooring. All construction waste on-site, such as salvageable metals and wood, was sent to a recycling center that reclaims many materials.

Other sustainable design elements included in this project are the use of dimmer switches and timers on electric lights, the avoidance of recessed lights, the installation of a HEPA filter and the use of a refrigerator with a bottom-mount freezer. Low or no-VOC paint and wood finishes were also used.

By Katie Jaydan, Castle Building & Remodeling

Castle Building & Remodeling Before Castle Building & Remodeling In Progress

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

Rinnovare, Inc.: Remodel Type IV Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, Project Profile, Type IV/by Brett Little

Affordable Green

This family was growing. They had a small turn of the century home in the Macalister Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul. They enjoyed their neighbors, were walking distance from their church and local shops. They didn’t want to move, but could no longer squeeze into their 2 bedroom 1 bath house – especially with a 2nd baby on the way.

Initial design discussions were focused on listening to the client and understanding their needs and desires. After many design iterations, we landed on a perfect fit. We proposed enlarging their home while optimizing space to accommodate their growing family which allowed them to stay in the neighborhood they loved. Nearing the close of design, Rinnovare learned about the MN GreenStar pilot program just being released. After talking with the client, they supported green, wanted to learn more, but could not afford to pay a premium to the total project for any green upgrades.

Rinnovare accepted the challenge and modified the design, specs and methods to build green and to meet the existing budget. To Rinnovare’s credit, many of its standard building practices had green attributes – spray foam insulation, protecting the site during excavation, hydronic radiant heat and others. But thanks to MN GreenStar, many more practices were learned and shared with not only the client, but it’s partnership of subcontractors. Things like caulking top plates before drywall, creating a waste management plan, using low VOC paint, low flow faucets, reclaimed doors, countertop remnants and pre-finished North American hardwood flooring, extensive use of informal passive cooling and thorough project documentation became new standards of performance.

The end result was a Bronze certified addition, that exceeded the clients expectations, met the original budget and provided a healthy and energy efficient home for years to come.

By Mike Williams, Rinnovare Inc.

Rinnovare Dining Room

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

Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build: Remodel Type I Bronze

May 29, 2014/in GS Bronze, Minnesota, Project Profile, Type I/by Brett Little

FROM THE HOMEOWNERS:

Our 1978 house had a unique feature which we hadn’t seen in other homes built in the same era: a vaulted ceiling which leads up to the living room framed by soaring arches. There was one Achilles heel, however. The connected kitchen was very small and even worse, was enclosed on 3 sides by walls, further limiting the usable space. It also had only an arm’s length worth of counter space, which could only lead to marital strife during team-cooking sessions!

We enlisted the help of Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build, who were able to design a spectacular space within the existing footprint while somehow transforming the entire house! We now have wonderful storage, counter space, clever built-ins and custom- designed Cambria countertops and bar. When you step past the front door, your eye follows the striking angles of the tile floor through the kitchen and the natural elm floors, up the stairs to the modern black iron railings, which complete the flow of the house. The best part is how much strife was avoided by our investment!

FROM THE REMODELER:

When homeowners Eric and Christina purchased their split level home in Mounds View, they loved the neighborhood and the additional square footage. However, the kitchen was an eyesore. Upon entering the home, one was confronted with a small, dark enclosed kitchen cut off from the rest of the house. Whenever the family wanted to entertain, the cook would be isolated from the guests and excitement. The awkward situation prompted them to call Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build for an eco-friendly design solution that better fit the family’s lifestyle.

The homeowners wanted a contemporary kitchen that possessed optimal storage solutions, supported the entertaining of guests and allowed for an abundance of natural light. They desired all of this without adding to the original footprint of the home. It was also important that this project have energy efficient appliances and use sustainable materials.

Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build dramatically improved the function and flow of the entire first floor by removing the interior walls of the kitchen, brightening the area during the day and creating multiple opportunities for hosting in the evening. Now the kitchen is open to the dining room and even to the living room beyond. Bar seating allows the chef and guests to interact. A narrow free standing wall placed between the entryway and the kitchen creates an entry space on one side and a well situated storage center on the other while both areas feel open and spacious.

Proving that green design can be cool and stylish as well as functional, the project boasts eco-resin panels set within the cabinets add a clean vertical counterpoint to the horizontal rift-cut wood and sleek minimalist hardware pulls. The white Cambria split counter block diverges from the straight line of the cabinet wall and adds personality and flare to the home.

Our firm’s Green solution includes cabinets which are custom-made locally with FSC-certified no-formaldehyde-added white oak. The floor is locally reclaimed elm (from trees felled by Dutch Elm Disease). We used recycled-content tile and locally produced Cambria countertops. All paints and stains used were low VOC. The appliances are all Energy Star rated.