Category: On-Demand Green Home Videos

SW/W Michigan Green MLS by adding sustainability features to home listings

Post author By admin
Post date September 9, 2013

The South West Michigan Regional Information Center (SWMRIC), who represents many of the regions Realtor associations “is addressing the “green features” in a residential property by adding a new “Green Features Section” to the Residential Data Input Form. This new section is divided into two parts: Green Features and Green Certification/Rating.” * To see the full list of all Green Features and Listed certifications please go to the SWMRIC link and scroll to page 4. http://www.swmrichelp.com/RESIdatainput.pdf

advocates for and helps Midwestern Realtor Associations find ways to incorporate green features and certification in their listings for appropriate valuation of Green Homes. These Green MLS upgrades are key in driving demand for affordable, healthy, durable and efficient home construction, remodeling and purchasing.

Currently we see many problematic issues facing undervalued green homes because local realtors, lenders and appraisers lack the education and awareness to properly assess value to these beyond code practices. The local Habitat for Humanity in Kent County that has committed to all LEED silver Homes since 2007 but has yet to have their home properly valued in comparison to non green homes in the neighborhood. I can also think of my own home which recently was certified Bronze under the MI GreenStar Program by adding $25,000 of green upgrades into a $75k house and increasing Energy/Water efficiency and improving Indoor Air Quality, only to be given less than 1% increase in home value.

Thanks to demand from the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Home Builders Associations, SWMRIC has decided to take this progressive approach and follow in the footsteps of places such as Chicago, Colorado, Florida, Traverse City and the recent Greening of the MLS in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.

Looking to Green your local MLS? Reach out to today to learn how we can help shape your program. 616 458 6733 ext 1 or info@allianceES.org

*Information pulled for this release can be seen here

Tags green MLS

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LEED Homes: New Energy Pathway & Program Market Share

Post author By admin
Post date August 8, 2013

“Starting with the LEED NC program, multifamily adoption of LEED really took off when the LEED for Homes and LEED Midrise programs were

launched in 2008. With only 4,000 units participating as of 2009, the LEED for Homes (and LEED Midrise) programs have grown to include over 117,000 units pursuing certification today. Much of this adoption has been in the multifamily market. Nearly 90% of the units in the residential LEED programs are from multifamily buildings and as far as market share goes, during 2012 over 10% of all new US multifamily units chose LEED certification. “ Read More – Taken from USGBC.org

Based on the National Association of Home Builders Housing Start Data in the Midwest – LEED for Homes program market share has 2.1% of all new housing starts in 2012 including Multi Family and Single Family and was 1.3% of from Jan – May in 2013 (Included a 10K + Housing start increase). This really shows that those who choose LEED for Homes as their path are the top leaders in their field.

Out of the 40 Providers in the country has remained around the 10th for LEED for Homes Project Registrations & Certifications, with over 2,600 units certified and 6,000 + registered. You might be saying so what? What is the points of registration? Registration under LEED expresses intent. First off, it is not free and likely someone will not be paying to register until they have thought about the basic principals of LEED; Energy / Water / Location Efficiency, Improved Indoor Air Quality, Durability, Waste Reduction, Materials Choice and Education/Awareness. Most projects that have registered have engaged design, construction and energy/green rater professionals in order to think differently about their project and design for above code success. Whether they certify or not, we are excited about the upfront work and thought that leads to registration, finding the first step to be noteworthy.

USGBC nationally has now certified just over 40,000 units or a 3rd of all registered projects. Certification means the project team has subjected it self to 3rd party onsite visual verification and performance energy testing with Energy Star for Homes and the Home Energy Rating Score. Certification is not easy and shows the team has taken the steps to ensure their project is more sustainable and the house will be Energy Efficient, Healthy for Occupants, Built to Last and Attainable by Anyone.

Why are we so excited?

At we celebrate all certified projects by show casing their accomplishments. This happens through helping set up tours to educate the public, documenting post occupancy success based on utility data / indoor air quality studies and overall comfort and homeowner satisfaction. After following up with homeowners and contractors we are showing others how they could accomplish LEED best practices and ideal certification at an affordable manner.

Anything less would be a failure to support our mission, we are not in the business to just certify homes but to use that certification as a success story.

As continues to pursue and celebrate LEED certification success with our community we are excited to see the USGBC continue to push the envelope.

“Continuous improvement ensures that the LEED rating systems stay relevant in a time when policies, technologies and the needs of the industry are constantly changing. In the last three years, residential construction energy codes rapidly have become more stringent, a trend we anticipate will continue. The updates in LEED v4 (the newest version of LEED for Homes) respond to these changes, and now USGBC aims to update the 2008 version of LEED for Homes by beginning an official update process. “

A ballot proposal is out to for “v2008 that will increase the stringency of the energy prerequisite by roughly 15%, approximately equivalent to the energy performance of ENERGY STAR v3, 15% above International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2009 and equivalent to IECC 2012. ” Before a HERS Score of 85 was acceptable on a LEED certified home but this would push it to require a HERS of 70 now starting on April 1st 2014

” Currently, over 90% of all certified projects are scoring lower than a HERS 70.” Learn more here

In order to keep the relevancy of the LEED for Homes program which has given a language to LEED. We celebrate registrations and certification, education and constant improvement is the direction to go.

Also see this report on Michigan

Click to access Green%20Building%20Market%20Brief%20and%20Snapshot_Michigan_0.pdf

Tags ESv3, Green Home Success, leed for homes

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Understanding the Living Building Challenge Midwest Fall Courses

Post author By admin
Post date July 23, 2013

Understanding the Living Building Challenge provides a 6-hour in-depth introduction to the Living Building Challenge. Attendees are the green building leaders in their community: design professionals, contractors, developers, owners, government officials and employees of public agencies. In short, anyone and everyone who can impact the development of the built environment.

Workshop Overview:

9:00-10:00 The Philosophy of the Living Building Challenge / Petal rationale + strategies: Site
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Petal rationale + strategies: Water, Energy, Health / Small Group Discussion
11:45-12:30 Lunch + Case Studies
12:30-2:00 Petal rationale + strategies: Materials, Equity, Beauty / Small Group Discussion
2:00-3:30 Breaking down Barriers / Community + Tools / Full Group Discussion /

Learning Objectives:

– Identify the key components of the Living Building Challenge
– Discuss the rationale for restorative design principles
– Understand successful strategies for compliance with each performance area
– Recognize financial, regulatory and behavioral barriers and incentives related to high performance design
– Describe the Living Building Challenge Community resources and certification process

Added Benefits:

– Applicable toward Living Future Accreditation
– Approved for 6 GBCI Continuing Education hours
– Approved for 6 AIA Learning Units
– Morning coffee and lunch included

Price*:

Ticket Type Registration

ILFI/Cascadia Members, Community subscribers, Ambassadors, Partners, Partner Org. Early Reg. $195
General Registration Early Registration $295

Non Early Bird

ILFI/Cascadia Members, Community subscribers, Ambassadors, Partners, Partner Org. Late $215
General Registration Late $345

*Registration Fee includes workshop materials, morning coffee and lunch.

Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Please contact development [at] living-future [dot] org for details.

Wed, Sep 25, 2013 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM	Understanding the Living Building Challenge 6 Hour Seminar Emanuel Community Center Cincinnati Ohio	6 AIA/GBCI
Mon, Oct 14, 2013 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM	Understanding the Living Building Challenge 6 Hour Seminar – Grand Rapids Herman Miller GreenHouse Holland Michigan	6 AIA/GBCI
Thu, Nov 7, 2013 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM	Understanding the Living Building Challenge 6 Hour Seminar Energy Center of Wisconsin Madison WI	6 AIA/GBCI

Our Expert Faculty: Richard Graves

Richard has extensive experience establishing and supporting green building programs in national and international settings. A registered architect with degrees from Rice University and Virginia Tech, Graves was the U.S. Green Building Council’s Senior Vice President of Community. He has over a decade of field experience working on leading-edge green building projects and is a staunch advocate for transparency and responsibility in the building industry.

Tags lbc, Living Building Challenge, Net Zero, Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Water

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Green Your Home: HVAC Systems

Post author By admin
Post date July 18, 2013

In this day and age, everyone is crazy for “going green”—which is great, obviously. With all of us pulling together and changing the way we impact the environment, we can implement a positive change for good. When focusing on your daily routines for going green, your HVAC system is no exception, especially for areas with extreme inclement weather and harsh climate changes throughout the year. With my experience as a technician for Griffith Heating and Air for 23 years, I am here to help you not only gain the “eco-friendly” stamp, but also help you stay comfortable and cool in your home while doing it.

Reconsider how you regulate the temperature of your home. Most people immediately turn the temperature down to what they think is the necessary cooling they need for the house. But research shows that our comfort in an environment is equal parts mental as it is physical. In fact, many office buildings install dummy thermostats to give employees the impression that they’re adjusting the temperature – and it works, too. This is not to mention that each time you lower the temperature by one degree, it takes up 5% more energy to cool your house.

Use fans to help improve your airflow. Place them near the vents in your house, and use them as a way to spread the cool air around. This can keep your air conditioner at a lower level, and reduces the amount of energy used. For mild days, you might be able to avoid using your HVAC system altogether if you use window fans to pull in cooler air rather than constantly relying on your HVAC equipment for your climate control.

Seal gaps and cracks in your doors, windows, and floorboards to make sure that none of the energy you’re using is being wasted. Use weather-stripping on movable parts and caulk on inoperable areas to seal your home’s environment as cleanly as possible. Poor insulation, particularly in lofts or historical homes, can be a massive sink on your energy bill.

Adjust your blinds depending on the season. In the midst of winter, you can save your heater some work by letting the sun do its part on warming your environment. Likewise, closing the blinds and curtains during summer can deflect a great deal of heat generated by sunlight. The difference between a home with fully closed blinds and a home with open ones can make a substantial difference in shaping a comfortable environment.

Check the roof of your home for any causes in higher utility bills. A leaky, poorly insulated roof might be wasting a significant part of your energy cost. Another aspect to consider is if your roof is a darker color; particularly in warmer climates, this will lead to its absorbing more heat, resulting in you using your cooling system more frequently. Choose a lighter colored roof the next time your home is overdue for a roof retiling.

Change or clean the filters of your HVAC system regularly. It’s one of the easiest and most frequently overlooked aspects of maintaining a system. Depending on your environment (shedding pets, people with allergens, amount of dust in the area), you may need to perform filter maintenance between every 1-3 months. If your filter has a cardboard frame, it’s likely the replaceable variety. If not, vacuum the filter, rinse it with hot water, and allow it to air dry before returning. It’ll raise the quality of your indoor air and stop your system from having to wheeze around a thick carpet of dust to do its job – meaning better efficiency.

These are quick and simple tips to change the area of living in your home to be a more green and energy efficient space. By following these simple steps, you can see your bills lowered, and your carbon footprint several sizes smaller: a win-win for all.

Jason Wall is an HVAC technician who writes for Griffith Energy Services. When he isn’t working or writing, he can be found enjoying a good baseball game or spending time with his family.

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College of Saint Benedict Senior Housing, LEED Platinum Certified

Post author By admin
Post date July 9, 2013

The Centennial Commons townhouses were designed to be a sustainable part of the college’s landscape. The 32 townhouses were intended to be at least LEED Silver certified. The townhouse were originally considered in order to provide affordable housing for the 90% of students that live on campus, particularly the seniors. These townhouses were also built to represent the college’s commitment to sustainability, as well as the first college student housing in the state of Minnesota to have any LEED certification. Each townhouse has been outfitted with as many locally sourced materials, furniture, carpeting, and wood, as possible. The exterior is decorated with native plants and landscaping. Each townhouse is also individually metered for teaching students about their energy consumption and sustainability.

The 2-story townhouses were designed for a durable 100-year life and to be as efficient as possible. The townhouses provide housing for 125 students, accommodating 3-4 students in 4 bedrooms, with 2 full bathrooms. Each townhouse also has two bathrooms, laundry room, living room, kitchen and front porch. Also included in this project was the Commons Building to provide the community with a gathering space, study rooms, computer lab, kitchen and a multi-purpose room.

The townhouses are clustered for a compact development within half a mile of community resources; churches, libraries, convenience stores, fitness centers and shops. The building site was selected as it was not a habitat for endangered or threatened species, a wetland or public parkland. The townhouses also utilize outdoor LED lighting, non-toxic pest control and low flow plumbing inside. During construction 37% of waste was diverted, documented, and recycled while erosion control was also put into action in designing and installing the landscape.

One unique feature, according to Judy Purman, CSB’s Director of Sustainability, is that each unit is individually metered for gas, electricity and water usage. Judy Purman also stated, “Each apartment will receive a ‘mock’ bill so that the residents will understand what their actual usage is,” which in turn provides a “life skills learning opportunity. We’re integrating an educational component so that they will understand what it’s like to pay gas, water and electricity bills when they leave campus.”

Project Details

Project Type                Custom
Conditioned Space     1,492 sq ft. per townhouse, 11,936 sq ft per building, 52,167 sq ft total (32 units), 4,423 sq ft (Commonss Building)
Bedrooms                     3
Bathrooms                   2
Lot Type                       Edge
Construction Type    New Construction

Key Features

Natural Lighting
Merv 8 HVAC Efficiency
Provides Community Space and Access to Amenities
Provides Housing for Higher Education Students
Teaching Tool for Sustainability

Project Team

DLR and Associates
-Architect
Sand Companies Incorporated
-General Contractor
Judy Purman
-CSB’s Director of Sustainability/Project Team Leader
NEC: Neighborhood Energy Connection
-Green Rater

CSB Centennial Commons Project Profile

St. Cloud Times Article on CSB Townhomes

College of Saint Benedict’s Official Page for the Centennial Commons

Tags College, featured, HERS, LEED Platinum, Minnesota, senior housing, st. benedict

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Metro Detroit’s 1st LEED Platinum Gut Rehab Home

Post author By admin
Post date July 9, 2013

The Ferndale home is 45.6% more efficient in its energy use in comparison to an average 2,000 sq. ft. existing Michigan home. The average is 3,948 kWh a month, while the Ferndale house used only 2,195 kWh. The overall cost for the electric use in the Ferndale residence is $74.56 a month, using 603 kWh, which is 34% less than the average, which costs $121 a month and uses 908 kWh. Heating for the Ferndale home uses 5.3 MCF and costs $23.85 a month, while the average uses 10.1 MCF and costs $127.46 a month. Altogether, the operation costs are 32% less than the average household to heat.

*The project team attempted to get actual past utility bills to determine the success of the upgrades. However, they did not know who the previous homeowners were, and since, DTE and Consumers Energy have outdated privacy laws, they do not allow for the retrieval of data without homeowner permission.See full Ferndale Home Energy Report

The purpose of this project was to revitalize an abandoned home in disrepair, and through environmentally-friendly construction practices, to transform it into an energy-efficient home. The house is 95 years old, had gone into foreclosure and had been vandalized while sitting empty, so it required a complete overhaul. Lee Purches, HP3 Group and project Green Rater helped ensure the quality and sustainability success of this home. Lee connected the owner with Herzog Homes, which was willing to pursue LEED certification with some budgetary constraints. The goal of this project was to restore this old house, but also make it better through green building design and LEED certification. The design team followed LEED protocol for local labor and materials, using renewable or sustainable products in aiming for Gold LEED certification.

The result is an efficient, practical, and affordable home that is no longer an eyesore in an established neighborhood. This home is the first of its kind in metro Detroit, setting an example for others to invest in Green Homes and to restore existing homes rather than build new. The home has been enlarged and now has a freestanding garage that also serves to capture water. The house also has its own high-efficiency controlled irrigation system that evenly distributes water in the front and back yards.The backyard contains a 200 square foot vegetable garden, which includes fruit trees. The garden benefits from the irrigation system and passive water collection to yield produce four to six months out of the year. The indoor air quality 10 times better due to the ERV and high efficiency furnace. The furnace is a two stage furnace that only runs at high capacity when necessary, and is 97% efficient.

The house is fully enclosed with open cell spray icynene insulation, from the basement wall all the way up through both floors to and the roof deck. The interior finishes, walls and trim contains almost no VOC other than the drywall glue and paint, which have low VOC ratings below 100. New Jeld-Wen windows were also installed with a U-factor and solar heat gain of 31 for additional energy performance and reduced air leakage.

Take a tour! August 3rd! Sign up Here!

Project Details

Project Type               Single Family
Conditioned Space   2,027 sq ft.
Bedrooms                     3
Bathrooms                   2
Lot Type                       Infill
Construction Type   Gut Rehab

Key Features

Air Filtration              MERV 13
Insulation                    R20
Window U-Value       31
HVAC Efficiency        97%
3.5 Air Leakage Rate in ACH50
Backyard Garden

Ferndale Project Profile

Herzog Homes

Check out the gallery for some before and after pictures of this LEED Platinum home.

Tags featured, HERS, leed for homes, LEED Platinum, michigan, Single-Family Projects

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It may be big but did you see the energy bills?

Post author By admin
Post date June 27, 2013

This home was constructed with environmentally friendly materials and products. The goal was to build a home that didn’t have a negative impact on the environment and would contribute to the home’s overall efficiency.

The result is beautiful home outfitted with natural bamboo hardwood floors, geothermal heating and cooling, superior insulation and Anderson Triple Pane Windows. The house’s construction, due to its part being pre-fabricated offsite, diverted almost all waste from landfills.

The home has greatly reduced utilities due to its design, costing $150 a month or $1,700 a year due to temperature moderation, Energy Star certified ceiling fans in all rooms, water conserving (Water Sense) faucets, and low flow 1.28GP toilets.

This home utilizes geothermal heating and cooling, which brings up 55 degree air from the earth’s crust, to effectively moderate the home’s temperature. The house also has Structure insulated panels (SIP) installed for throughout the entire house, reducing the amount of onsite wastes and greatly increasing insulation. The Kitchen, Foyer, and Great Room, all have insulation with an R-value of 40, while all other rooms are at R24. The attic, garage, and roof have an insulation of R40, but utilize spray foam insulation.

The Superior Wall Foundation was precast in Michigan with moisture resistant 5,000 psi concrete and placed on crushed stone footing to redirect water away from the foundation. The foundation itself also includes R17 insulation to further reduce air leakage in the home.

Due the concrete foundation and sealing of cracks and joints in the foundation, the house has good protection against pests like termites. The house also has a significantly reduced air leakage envelope, which is rated at 5.0 air changes per hour at 50 pascals (5.0 ACH50) All ducts were installed in conditioned space, so there is no leakages withing duct work. The lawn consists of “No Mow Grass” which does not require fertilizer, mowing, or watering in its maintenance.

Project Details

Type                              Single Family
Conditioned Space     7,160 sq ft
Bedrooms                     6
Bathrooms                   4
Lot Type                       Infill
Construction Type    New

Key To Success

Air Filtration                     MERV 10
Roof Insulation Value      R40
Insulation                           SIP Channels: R24
HVAC                                  Geothermal
Reduced Envelope Leakage of 5.0 ACH50
Natural Bamboo Flooring

Greenview Project Profile

Photos courtesy of Ihab Riad, Green Park Construction, LLC.

Tags energy and atmosphere, featured, geothermal heating, green home, HERS, Illinois, leed for homes, nortbrook, Single-Family Projects

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GreenStar Remodeling Certification Introduction – Free Webinar

Post author By admin
Post date June 26, 2013

and Minnesota GreenStar (MNGS) have teamed up to deliver the GreenStar remodeling certification to the Midwest and US at large. The program is backed by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) as part of their Green Certified Professional (GCP) program and is incorporated into the training.

Why GreenStar Remodeling?

Many looking for authentic 3rd party verification/certification on their remodels find programs such as LEED for Homes, National Green Building Standard, Green Communities as well as any local state program within the Midwest & North East can be cost prohibitive, require major guts, are exclusive based on membership and/or are lacking any remodeling component.

Not anymore – GreenStar can certify without requiring expensive energy modeling and kitchen, bathroom, whole house or landscape remodeling projects can qualify under the program.

Take 1 hour to learn about the program navigation, case studies, requirements, qualification/credentialing, up coming courses and how you can get involved locally to jump start GreenStar in your city or State.

Learning Outcomes

Basic Knowledge of How to get started with the GreenStar program locally in your state
Introduction to the GreenStar Checklist, Manual and Online Submittal Process
Run through an actual certified Green Retrofit from Start to Finish
Know where to get more knowledge for education, training, membership in your state or how to be a local champion

View it Here

Please take a quick Survey Here – When Completed – 1 AIA/GBCI/NARI Green Credit will be given at this time too.

Presenters

Brett Little, LEED GA, GreenStar Professional

Executive Director, Green Home Institute(). A Graduate of the Aquinas College Sustainable Business Bachelors Program,

Brett has been working with for 5 years now helping homeowners, builders, architects and developers find more sustainable ways in their processes and verify it through 3rd party over-site through programs like the LEED for Homes rating system. Brett is the Secretary of the Lansing Passive House Alliance, sits on the USGBC West Michigan Board and a Living Building Ambassador. Living in Grand Rapids and newly married he has invested in a 1920s home in the City and certified it as Michigan’s first GreenStar “Green Moderate Retrofit” which reduced energy use by 50% and improved the indoor air quality significantly. Brett loves supporting the local economy, kayaking, the Harry Potter Series, microbreweries, walking/biking/busing, board games and living the Grand Rapids Dream.

& Dan Taddei, Director of Education & Certification @ NARI National

ABOUT MINNESOTA GREENSTAR

Founded in 2007, Minnesota GreenStar is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has developed a leading residential building standards and certification program created to promote healthy, durable, high-performance design and construction for both new and existing homes. An objective, third-party verification system assures consumers that the new home or remodeling project meets the program requirements and is constructed as designed. A whole-systems approach applies the five (5) key concepts of green building programs – Energy Efficiency, Resource Efficiency (including durability), Indoor Environmental Quality, Water Conservation, Site and Community – to the traditional building process. The MNGS program improves the impact of green building programs on individuals, their families, the community, and the environment.

Tags greenstar, gut rehab

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Matchbox House LEED Platinum Certified – Ann Arbor

Post author By admin
Post date June 24, 2013

The project started out with an intent to design LEED certified which is reflected in its unconventional design. The project was modeled after a matchbox and was designed to have four inner quadrants that slip past on another withing the out sleeve of the house, all on top of a raised foundation. The Matchbox’s compact design contributed to it’s LEED Platinum certification as there was less conditioned area to work on. The architect gathered information from other contractors experienced in green building practices in order to produce a home outside the norm. The result was distinctive, efficient, and compact home surrounded by natural, permeable turf minimizing the impact of the house on the surrounding environment.

2216 Hickman Ann Arbor, Michigan

The house has four bedrooms, 1,738 sf of conditioned space and a one car garage. It has received LEED Platinum Certification. It has a HERS rating of 47 and many notable features, including FSC wood, reclaimed trim from demolished Michigan barns in the region, no conventional turf (no irrigation) and low flow plumbing fixtures. The house has no attic or basement so upstairs rooms have dramatic ceilings that begin at 3’-0” and end at 16’-0” with an angle ceiling matching that angle of the roof.

No conventional turf or irrigation system was installed around the home, and all fixtures and fittings (toilet, faucets, and showers) are very high efficiency, reducing the site’s water demand by 78%. The wood used in the cabinets, stairs, closets, doors, and upstairs floors are all FSC certified. The house itself is much more compact than a standard house, so much that the LEED threshold dropped by 10 points. The kitchen counter tops and decking are constructed are composite from recycled materials.

The home’s unconventional design earned it 1st Place in Detroit Home Magazine Design Awards 2013 for Contemporary House under 4,000 sq ft.

Project Details:

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Clients: Azar and Hormoz Alizadeh (the house currently is rented out to tenants, it is not currently occupied by the owners)

Project Type:                 Single Family
Conditioned Space:      1,738 sq ft.
Bedrooms:                      4
Bathroom:                   3
Lot Type:                        Infill
Construction Type:     Custom

HERS Rating of 46, expected savings of 54% with a 5 Star+ Energy Rating
44% of Construction Waste Diverted from Landfill

Key Features:

2 kw Solar Panel on roof, reducing energy costs by 18%
Wall Insulation R-Value of 29
Air Filtration rate, MERV 15
Reduced water demand by 76%
Compact home for minimal site impact
No irrigation system or conventional turf
FSC certified cabinetry, stairs, closets, doors, and upstairs flooring.
Energy Star certified appliances and light fixtures
2 ton heat pump/ERV
Appropriately sized 40,000 Btu furnace
Low flow toilets, faucets and showerheads

Project Team:

Brian Halprin (Green Building Services, Pllc)
Naseem Alizadeh (Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism)
Tad Krear (Landscape architect)
Cory Johnston (Structural engineer)
Matt Snider (Mechanical Engineer)

Photo gallery containing before, after, and during construction pictures:
The Matchbox House: Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism

Feature in Architect Lab’s Online Magazine

2216 Hickman (Matchbox House) Project Profile

Tags featured, HERS, leed for homes, LEED Platinum, michigan, Single-Family Projects, solar pv

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Webinar: Materials Matter – Design Trends for a Sustainable Future

Post author By admin
Post date June 17, 2013

Wood is an abundant, affordable and renewable, natural resource. Using scientific analysis through internationally standardized Life Cycle Assessment methodology, the significance of carbon is changing the way buildings are being built around the world. Greater objectivity in ‘green’ disclosure is being realized through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), resulting in greater recognition of wood’s benefits which include durability, fire performance, moisture resistance, and a positive impact on human health, in addition to sustainability. From six-story mid-rise, to 30-story wood composite structures, to Olympic ice arenas, and wood bridges with 100-year service lives, the world of wood today is an exciting display of creativity and innovation. Diverse projects from around the world demonstrate and inspire an unprecedented collaboration of materials destined to influence building professionals for decades to come.

Creator/Instructor

Cheryl A. Ciecko, AIA, ALA, LEED AP, CSI, GGP
Midwest Regional Director
WoodWorks USA

An architect for over 25 years and Senior Technical Director for the Wood Products Council non-profit initiative ‘WoodWorks’ since 2008, Cheryl is an experienced and dynamic speaker with a passion for excellence, innovation and informed sustainable design. Specialties include low carbon and sustainable design, green building rating systems, moisture, mold and decay issues in buildings, as well as wood products selection, technical wood resources and forest resources throughout the world.Cheryl is a licensed architect in Illinois, with a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Illinois with High Honors and a Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota. Cheryl has also studied in France and China. Cheryl is an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Licensed Architects in Illinois and appointed member on the Sustainability Committee for the International Code Council.Topic Specialties: Wood construction, moisture, mold and decay in buildings, Heavy Timber Construction/Timber Frame, Green Building Rating Systems, Worldwide Green Building initiatives, Wood/Forestry Industry & Green/Sustainable Design Solution

Continuing Education

1 GBCI – General
1 AIA – LU|HSW
1 NARI Green
1 MI Contractor (Code & Green)
1 MI Architect
If you need continuing education units for a license in another state, this course may apply. Please consult your state’s requirements.

This webinar is free to review. If you are interested in continuing education credits, you must follow the following steps:

1. Watch the webinar for FREE.

2. Take the 10 question quiz and score at least 80% to be approved. Please also post a comment below and help add to the conversation.

3. Pay the fee below to get your certificate and CEUs. You must be an member to pay the reduced member fee.

Webinar Pricing

Tags Education and Events, webinar, Wood

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