Tour of a West Michigan Passive Solar, Earth Sheltered, Green Roof Residence and Design Studio

Tom Newhouse and his wife Jill designed and personally built their unconventional Grand Rapids, Michigan home and industrial design studio in 1978. Their goal was to “live softly on the earth”….in a passive solar, earth integrated residence with a green roof, and an integral “atelier” (industrial design studio and workshop). The course will be a detailed tour of this low energy consumption, sustainable building, specifically designed to the ecological and climatic realities of West Michigan, at 42 degrees North latitude. After almost 40 years living in this unique structure, Tom will relate the joys and challenges of living in such an unconventional structure.

Lessons Learned

1. Know the unique ecological and welfare aspects of living and working in a passive solar, earth integrated, green roof building.

2. Articulate the health advantages of a housing site which is xeriscaped (has no conventional grass lawn).

3. Know where to find out more about wildlife friendly general landscaping, and the unique green roof, which is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.

4. Witness the safety aspects of living in an earth sheltered building, in a tornado and severe thunderstorm prone region of the country.

Continuing Education Units (CEUS)

1 hour in

GBCI
AIA(HSW)
Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
AIBD
Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP)
State Architect / Builder License may be applicable

Can you guess where the house is_ Upoad this file to, to USGBC and GHI website

Instructor: Tom Newhouse

Tom Newhouse and his wife Jill designed and personally built their unconventional Grand Rapids, Michigan home and industrial design studio in 1978. Their goal was to “live softly on the earth”….in a passive solar, earth integrated residence with a green roof, and an integral “atelier” (industrial design studio and workshop). The course will be a detailed tour of this low energy consumption, sustainable building, specifically designed to the ecological and climatic realities of West Michigan, at 42 degrees North latitude. After almost 40 years living in this unique structure, Tom will relate the joys, challenges and energy savings of living in such an unconventional structure.