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July Tour: Completed LEED Platinum Home in Wilmette

The Gworek Residence is a new home constructed in the historic neighborhood of Wilmette, IL, planning for LEED Platinum certification. The home was designed for a family of four and is meant to optimize energy efficiency, while respecting the scale and character of the neighborhood.

Designed by Holbert and Associates Architects and built by Scott Simpson Builders, the house is oriented towards the south to maximize passive solar gain, and the overall massing is broken down to provide three sources of natural light in each room. This also allows for a vegetative green roof over part of the home.

Material choices in the home were made to optimize resource efficiency and long term durability. These materials include concrete with 30% fly ash content, a FSC-certified cedar rainscreen, metal roofing made with high recycled content, and reclaimed pine flooring. The heating/cooling system is geo-thermal for both radiant flooring and forced air. The primary source for radiant heating and domestic hot water are roof-mounted solar thermal panels. The home also features roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels for electricity.

The house is completed, and the homeowners have graciously offered to open their doors for a LEED Home tour on Friday, July 30. Reserve yourself spot to see this unique home or learn more at their web site.

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New Resource! 1-page LEED for Homes Snapshot Card

The graphic designers at USGBC have done it again and created a great, handy resource for anyone looking for a 1-page overview of their LEED for Homes project.

This one-page PDF file breaks down the main credit categories of LEED into color-coded areas, goes through each category credit-by-credit, and shows where each of the 136 points in LEED for Homes falls.

I can see this being an incredibly useful tool when a project team is doing an initial scoring of their project, as a guide during a LEED design charrette, and as a good takeaway for educational events.

Download our LEED for Homes Snapshot Card

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HUD to use LEED ND for Grant Selections

Reminder: A LEED for Homes development located in a LEED ND project area will receive full points for the “Locations and Linkages (LL)” category (learn more).  This also pertains to the new Sustainable Communities regional planning grant NOFA announced June 24.

Federal agency encourages smart growth, location efficiency and green communities

The federal government took a major step toward its mission to advance sustainability practices among buildings and communities when U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that LEED® for Neighborhood Development will be used to score the location efficiency of grant applications. HUD will apply this criteria to grant submissions to the upcoming Sustainable Communities Planning Grants and others, totaling $3.25 billion in available grant funds.

“Using the ‘LEED-ND’ green neighborhood rating system…it’s time that federal dollars stopped encouraging sprawl and started lowering the barriers to the kind of sustainable development our country needs and our communities want,” said Secretary Donovan.

LEED for Neighborhood Development, which launched in April as the benchmark for healthy green communities, integrates green building into community development, helping to reduce sprawl, increase transportation choices, decrease automobile dependence, encourage healthy living and protect threatened species.

“The federal government has been a pioneer in the green building movement – not only seeking high-performance from its own buildings, but through incentives and grants that encourage environmental stewardship,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “HUD has been a powerful voice in encouraging and creating sustainable communities in which residents will have access to alternative transportation, jobs, and an increased quality of life. LEED for Neighborhood Development serves as an important tool to help evaluate and fund these new communities.”

The imperative for sustainable communities is made even more urgent in this economy as housing and transportation are the two biggest expenses for families, constituting for more than 50% of the average American household budget. Green communities, as defined by HUD, are “economically competitive, healthy and opportunity-rich” and provide an important component of community development to local, state and national economies.

Secretary Donovan stated the “housing and economic crisis has reaffirmed the need for federal leadership in this area,” drawing the correlation between foreclosure rates and access to transportation, good schools and economic opportunity.

LEED for Neighborhood Development, which was created in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), acknowledges the link between transit-oriented development and proximity to services, amenities and jobs to human health benefits and economic capital, an important correlation confirmed in numerous studies and advocated for by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Connectivity to neighboring communities and their amenities and services through transit corridors and a well-connected street network, greatly benefits the citizens, businesses and local economy of a new neighborhood development, the surrounding community, and ultimately the region.

“…We live in a changing world where cities, suburbs and the rural areas that surround them share an economic future. Metropolitan regions are the engines of our economy…people are voting with their feet more and more — in search of walkable neighborhoods with transportation options,” said Secretary Donovan.

To read Secretary Donovan’s complete remarks, click here and to learn more about LEED for Neighborhood Development, visit www.usgbc.org/leed/nd.

Adapted from a USGBC Press Release.

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Testimonials from LEED Homeowners

Check out this new video that explains the benefits of living in a LEED-certified home from homeowners that are doing so.

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June Tour: LEED Silver Home in Bloomingdale, IL

Want to see the first single-family home in Illinois to achieve LEED certification? A special tour has been arranged for this LEED Silver home on Saturday, June 26, and spaces are limited.

The Peluso Residence, 277 Pheasant, Bloomingdale, was designed and built as an efficient and modern green home by Alphonso and Michelle Peluso, co-founders of Vertex Architects, LLC, and owners of the home.

The construction cost was $115 per square foot, which is less than half the average on a new-construction home.

The home uses 20 percent less natural gas than the average home due to in-floor radiant heating from two tankless water heaters. A 1,700-gallon underground storage tank collects rooftop water that can be used for watering the yard. The insulation is both spray cell foam and recycled newspaper.

The 3,200-square-foot home offers 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and Energy Star appliances and lighting throughout.

Learn more about the home by viewing its Project Profile.

What: Tour of Peluso Residence ~ The first single-family home in Illinois to be achieve LEED certification

Where: 277 Pheasant, Bloomingdale

When: Saturday, June 26; 10 a.m.

Cost: Free

Register: www.leedforhomesillinois.org/events

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Building Deconstruction Workshop – Fri June 18

Many LEED for Homes projects use deconstruction. Come to an affordable ($25.00!) full-day workshop that will examine new business and employment opportunities springing up in Northern Illinois and nationally connected with the growing movement toward deconstruction and reuse of building materials.

Building Community Assets through Deconstruction and Material Reuse
9AM – 3 PM on Friday, June 18th, 2010
University Center of Lake County, Grayslake Campus

The presenters will explain how this “green” technology is influencing the design, construction and remodeling of residential and public housing, schools, hospitals, public facilities and commercial and industrial real estate and share their real-world experience in the field. The session will also engage participants in determining the role local government, non-profits, community institutions and real estate and building professionals can play in creating a positive business climate for deconstruction and building material reuse Lake County. Lunch will be provided.

Who Should Attend?

* Nonprofit economic development, workforce and job training representatives
* Developers, builders, contractors and real estate professionals
* Government officials, mayors, trustees and elected officials
* City planners, planning commissioners, building deparments

Register Now!
$25 per attendee. Lunch will be provided.

For more information contact: Dara Reiff, CLC Sustainability Coordinator at (847) 543-2643 or email: dreiff@clcillinois.edu

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Free USGBC Education on Greening Affordable Housing

Join USGBC for an important, free educational program – bringing you the tools you need to understand the intersection between green building and affordable housing. And then leverage the local incentives supporting sustainable affordable housing.

The Keys to Green Affordable Housing: A Guide for Existing Multi-family Properties is an online training designed to address key issues in the affordable housing sector, including:

  1. Green multi-family retrofit projects,
  2. Sustainable operations and maintenance of affordable housing buildings, and
  3. Financial and incentive aspects of affordable projects.

Each sessions is a 90-minute webinars, and offered at no cost for attendees. REGISTER NOW.

Inquiries in affordable housing certified as LEED for Homes projects are growing, especially with the many incentives and benefits available for those building green including:

  • Home Depot Foundation – grants for LEED-registered projects help with certification costs.
  • Enterprise Green Community – design charrette grants and occupant education programs.
  • LEED for Homes provides third-party verified accountability for funding sources.
  • State grants like IL Energy Efficient Affordable Housing program
  • Other incentives for efficiency and renewables outlined at DSIRE

With all of this support, it’s no wonder there is a burgeoning market for green affordable housing. The USGBC webinars are a great start, and if you’re looking to make your next project in the Midwest a sustainable and affordable development, contact for a proposal as a LEED for Homes supporting provider to help you through the process.

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Legal & Business Perspectives on Green Building

Here is an event many LEED for Homes professionals may be interested in. Note: Early bird registration ends on Friday, May 21.

Green/LEED Real Estate Conference – Grand Rapids

Thinking about building green?  Hear from the experts who can help you do it right.  Discuss practical considerations from a business and legal perspective.

Warner Norcross & Judd attorneys join representatives from Comerica Bank, URS Corporation and FirstMetrix Corporation to discuss financing, building, leasing and insuring green projects.

Cost:

$55; or only $40 if you register by May 21.

Agenda:

7:30-8:00 Registration & breakfast
8:00-8:20 Introduction & Overview (Alison Waske, WNJ Sustainability Manager)
8:20-9:45 You’ve Decided to Build Green: Now Learn How to Finance the Project – LEED Legislation and other Financial Incentives (John Byl, WNJ attorney)
Financing Issues, including ASTM and BEPA (Scott Beckerman, Comerica Corp.)
Performance Contracting (Ashley Arvin, URS Corp., and Janet Mann, FirstMetrix Corp.)
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-10:40 Managing the Risks Associated with Green Buildings (Chris Predko and Dave Whitfield, WNJ attorneys)
10:40-11:10 Contracting for a Green Building (Melissa Collar, WNJ attorney)
11:10-11:30 Insurance Issues Facing the Green Building Community (Jason Byrne, WNJ attorney)
11:30-12:00 Green Leases (Meg Van Meter, WNJ attorney)

Registration:

Contact Alison Waske at awaske@wnj.com or 616-752-2462

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Affordable LEED Home to be Built in Rockford

The first residential LEED project within the City of Rockford, Illinois is now underway and being constructed by Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS).

Rockford’s Affordable LEED Home

Originally formed as a non-profit organization to provide community-based services to individuals in the criminal justice system, CCS has grown to include a diversity of human service and affordable housing programs. Recently, CCS has explored many possibilities for building a net-zero energy home, but due to budget constraints they were unable to begin a project with this ambitious goal.

After scaling back their plans, CCS researched and found an affordable green home plan that fit well as part of the organization’s overall green efforts.   CCS is planning to achieve LEED Certified with this home, and plan to move forward with additional LEED certified homes in the future, as LEED provides third-party verification and accountability for the organization’s funding sources.

The home at 913 Rockton includes 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms at approximately 1,770 square feet. The home is a two-story design, and is located on a lot close to jobs, transportation, and other amenities needed for a family.   The home will be energy efficient in all areas, beginning with increased insulation and the design of the HVAC system. View floor plan.

The home is being built with funds from the City of Rockford HOME funds, and from a construction loan from Neighborhood Housing Services of Freeport, Illinois.   The home will be sold to a low to moderate income buyer in accordance with HOME program rules.  This would be a family which meets the 80% area median income (AMI).   Downpayment assistance is also part of the City of Rockford’s funding.

The overall project at 913 Rockton will be the first LEED home in the City of Rockford, and it is an affordable home.  The price to purchase will be $85,000.00 for a five bedroom, two car garage, all appliances and energy efficient home that will be move-in ready.

This is the first LEED residential project within the City of Rockford, Illinois.   CCS, Inc. has explored many possibilities including a zero net energy home, but due to budget constraints were unable to start that project.  We scaled back and as part of the overall green efforts of CCS, Inc. we researched and found this home to be a good fit for CCS, Inc.   We are going for the LEED certification with this home, and plan to move forward with more after completion of this home.   The features of this home are that it is 5 bedrooms, two story and sits on a lot close to all amenities needed for a family.   It is energy efficient in all areas, HVAC, increased insulation and design.  We did not utilize solar on this home.   The home is being built with funds from the City of Rockford HOME funds, and from a construction loan from Neighborhood Housing Services of Freeport, Illinois.   The home will be sold to a low to moderate income buyer in accordance with HOME program rules.  This would be a family which meets the 80%AMI.   Downpayment assistance is also part of the City of Rockford’s funding.   The overall project is unique that again it is the first in the City of Rockford, and it is an affordable home.  The price to purchase will be 85,000.00 for a five bedroom, two car garage, all appliances and energy efficient home that will be move in ready.

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Platinum LEED Homes use 51% less heating energy

Initial results from an analysis of LEED Platinum homes certified by the Alliance shows projects located throughout the Midwest use half as much energy as the typical baseline home.

Performance of LEED Platinum homes vs Baseline homes

From January through April, participated in the Intern InMichiganInternship Initiative. which provided a grant to fund an intern that helped collect data for research on an Energy Efficiency LEED™ for Homes Case Study. The research compiled information from computer modeling of 150 LEED-certified projects that were located in the Midwest from climate zones ranging as far south from Cincinnati to as far north as Minneapolis. The Data shows that Platinum LEED certified projects potentially use 51% less heating energy in pre-occupancy than baseline average homes measured by the same modeling system.

Of course, pre-occupancy energy modeling is only part of the picture. This data is part of a larger research project being undertaken by . We are looking to release information based on project computer modeling results of LEED for Homes.  Check back with our Website at a later date for more information based post-occupancy use, cost of gas and electric for different certification levels and overall performance for LEED homes.