A recent project in Chicago has garnered national media attention. Here are links to a few of the highlights: FOX – Chicago NBC – Chicago
NBC – Chicago
Tag: LEED Platinum
Chicago Magazine recently profiled a gut rehab home that achieved LEED Platinum certification, and included a photo tour of the Helenowski residence. The home “now energy-neutral or better, meaning it generates enough power to meet its own needs and to sell excess into the power grid.”
Also featured is an affordable green home remodel selling for $150,000.
View details and the photo tour at the Chicago Magazine online blog.
The project began with the deconstruction of a 40 year old summer cottage that we enjoyed using for many years. During the deconstruction phase, we were able to salvage most, over 90%, of the wood from the walls and ceiling.
The remainder of the house was recycled through Chef Container, our salvage
and recycling service provider. During the building process we used environmentally friendly materials such as low VOC adhesives, sealants, solvents and paints. In addition, our friendly lumber and supply contractor, Standale Lumber, was able to provide locally harvested materials whenever possible.
Watt Project Profile LEED Platinum Certified South Haven Michigan Green Construction
Great Lakes Superior Wall Basement
Advanced framing construction
Dow Insulated Structural Sheathing
Geothermal Heating System with Energy Recovery Ventilator and
MERV 13 air filtration
Blown cellulose insulation
Energy star rated appliances, fixtures and compact fluorescent lights
The Sustainable House is one of the worlds’ highest ranked and highest rated home for: LEED for Homes®, Energy Star® and Minnesota GreenStar® programs. It is incorporates a Permaculture designed landscape, utilizes a Xeriscape criteria for landscaping, it utilizes the criteria for Century Design Shelters, American Lung Association healthy home criteria, Universal Living criteria and Smart House criteria. This 1948 remodel in Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA was created by 7 teams of 248 individuals in 2007 and 2008.
View & Download Project Profile PDF
The House Basics
In order to achieve LEED Platinum status, Live Green Live Smart/The Sustainable House™ must meet a rigorous set of guidelines that require exceptional attention and innovation on the part of the builders and designers.
Sustainable Energy Systems
The most conspicuous innovations are in the ways the House actively uses (or doesn’t use) energy. Because this is a demonstration project, the House incorporates many redundant energy supplies – it is important for us to show how not just one, but many, systems work and how they work side-by-side.
- Solar panels provide both electricity for the home and energy to heat water.
- The Honda/Climate Energy Freewatt™ “combined heat and power” (CHP) system provides, via a generator and furnace run on natural gas, co-generating electricity and forced-air heat.
- Underneath the House’s front walkway are four 135-foot-deep geothermal wells, which circulate a non-toxic solution through pipes to capture the stable temperatures beneath the surface. The energy of the Earth’s heat is transferred to a WaterFurnace™, which can heat the home in the winter and provide air conditioning in the summer.
Environmentally-Conscious Applications
The green building materials and techniques as applied to the House are less conspicuous than alternative energy sources, but no less important to our Platinum remodel.
- Efficient insulation and an air transfer system ensure that none of the heat or cold generated goes to waste, and that the air inside the home stays clean and breathable.
- Solatubes provide natural sunlight all day long, even in the basement, reducing electricity needs.
- Every lightbulb in the house is an energy-efficient compact fluorescent or LED.
- Low-voltage radiant in-floor heating is an efficient way to reduce furnace needs.
- Greywater is collected from the showers for reuse in the double-flush toilets.
- Windows are triple-glazed and argon-filled to reduce heat transfer.
- Appliances are EnergyStar rated, and an induction stove is used for cooking.
- All electrical energy purchased from the grid is the product of windfarming – no coal-fueled energy will be used in the House.
Conservation and Pollution Control
Remodeling an existing home instead of building a new one allows us to keep our construction footprint to a minimum. Remodeling when more usable living space is needed also preserves untouched land, reducing the land and resources needed for specific construction.
- To rebuild the home we have reused as many of the original components as possible – including the 2×6 studs reused to extend the eaves out from the house to save energy needed for cooling, and to protect sidewalls and windows from Minnesota’s weather extremes.
- Anything that cannot be reused is recycled – such as the House’s old stucco – and anything that cannot be recycled is handled by responsible disposal to reduce pollution of air, soil, and water.
- Studs for the new additions (foyer and garage) are 2×4 instead of the standard 2×6. They are also spaced farther apart – 24 inches on center – providing about a 30% savings in new lumber used.
- Most new wood is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified to come from sustainable forests.
- Furniture, cabinetry, and countertops are made with recycled or sustainably-harvested materials, and are free of harmful chemicals.
- Paints and varnishes are free of harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde.
- The highly efficient insulation is no-VOC, and an energy heel enclosed in an interior soffit minimizes cold and hot air import by protecting the jointure of walls and roofline.
- Foundation concrete is made with 40% fly ash – recycled sooty waste from coal plants – which is less expensive and more durable than a standard Portland cement mixture.
- Potable water from municipal supply is further filtered with a purification system.
- Water-saving devices include automatic on-off faucets, the batteries of which are recharged by water flow through the supply valves, and double-flush toilets that flush once for liquids and twice for solid waste.
Land Management
In meeting conservation and efficiency requirements, what goes on outside the House is equally as important as what goes on inside the House.
- Rain gardens planted with native plants collect rainwater and allow percolation back into the ground instead of runoff into storm drains. Cisterns collect additional rainwater from the roof and gutters of the House – a two-inch rainfall provides a month of plant and lawn watering.
- Native plants requiring less water are established, with an emphasis on those especially suited for the local climate and the House’s particular site.
- Reduction of turf grass area means a reduction in lawn maintenance needs.
- Behind the house a permaculture microclimate and intensive garden allow the homeowners to grow and enjoy their own fruits and vegetables.
- Hardscapes are paved with permeable materials to reduce run-off into storm sewers and waterways.
More Details and project journal can be found here
A new home along the Kenilworth Lagoon – reminiscent of a modest Arts and Crafts bungalow – is scaled to fit the specific needs of the homeowner and tailored to match the scale and character of the neighborhood. Designed by Domain Architecture & Design®, Minneapolis, MN, the interior of this single-family, detached bungalow feels large and spacious, despite it small footprint. This LEED for Homes registered project also benefited from a whole-structure, whole-site, integrated design approach utilizing emerging, as well as proven, sustainable technologies and construction systems. Sustainable design strategies were integrated in ways that harmonize cutting-edge technologies with a traditional aesthetic.In September, the Project’s strengths were acknowledged through its selection to the prestigious ’09 AIA-MN Homes By Architects Tour. A distinguishing feature of the home is its construction from structural insulated panels (SIPs). These panels, which were custom built off-site, sandwich insulation between a structural skin of two sheets of OSB
(oriented strand board) structural skin. This eliminates on-site waste common with typical wood framing, increases construction efficiency, and creates a high performance building that is stronger, quieter and considerably more energy efficient than homes of traditional construction. The use of SIPs, as well as high-efficiency windows, appliances, fixtures, and heating and air conditioning systems, will drastically reduce energy use and energy bills. In fact, with a HERS Index of 49, this home is projected to be 51% more energy efficient than its built-to-code-standard analogue would be. Moreover, the indoor air quality of the home should far exceed that of a conventional home, thanks to the use of low-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free cabinetry, and integrated moisture control measures that will limit mold and mildew build-up. The landscape design retains and infiltrates 100% of an ‘average’ rainfall onsite, allowing the owner to defray costs via municipal stormwater abatement credits and minimizing use of the site’s high efficiency irrigation system. This is the result of utilizing only no-mow turf; non-invasive, drought-tolerant,native flora; numerous infiltration devices; and pervious-concrete ‘trapping’ strategies in the driveway.For every square foot of impervious concrete hardscape found within the site, there is a square foot of pervious (permeable) concrete offsetting it. Domain is committed to green building, with designers that are LEED accredited, and completed projects that have been recognized for excellence in sustainable design – such as the renovation of the Pillsbury Library in Northeast Minneapolis (LEED-NC v2.2 Gold). For more information on building a new home or renovating your existing home in a way that reduces energy use, limits waste, and provides a healthy indoor environment, please go to the Domain website at www.domainarch.com
Project Particulars
Total Property Area: (in Square Feet) 5570
Gross Home Square Footage: (in Square Feet) 3633
Total Home Footprint: (in Square Feet) 1337
Surface parking spaces: 0
Structure Parking Spaces: 2
Undisturbed Site Area: 0
Site Context/Setting: Urban
Site Conditions: Previously Developed
Green features and highlights:
Fly Ash (recycled from coal power plants) used to strengthen the foundation concrete.
SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) used for the exterior envelope (walls and roof).
Interior walls constructed with finger-jointed studs; and floor trusses are open-web type.
Cabinetry & moldings constructed from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and urea-formaldehyde free wood products.
Project’s waste management plan facilitated a 67% landfill diversion rate for construction waste removals.
Appliances, ceiling fans, and bathroom fans are Energy Star rated.
Lighting circuits are dimmable, and 80% of the lamps are Energy Star CFL’s.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN®
domain
The plumbing system utilizes a central-manifold plumbing system to conserve water and to equalize pressure throughout system. Plumbing fixtures (lavatories, showerheads, and toilets) are all high efficiency fixtures. A heat recovery system provides continuous ventilation of fresh exterior air into the home. Individual forced-air registers are pneumatically controlled from the furnace room to balance airflow throughout the home. The fireplace and energy efficient furnace are direct-vented, and the energy savingr water heater is power-vented. Landscaping includes three rain gardens, drought resistant flora, and no-mow turf. The driveway’s outer concrete bands slope inward, directing water to the permeable center section, with a crushed rock field below. Water then percolates into the lower rain garden. The irrigation system includes a zone controller, drip irrigation, and a rain delay controller.
Exterior General Information:
Roof Shingles: Barkwood by GAF-ELK
Front Door: TruStile
Front Door Hardware: Baldwin
Garage Doors: 9700 Series by Wayne Dalton
Exterior Material: James Hardie Lap Siding
Mechanical System: Paul Stafford Electric
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): Extreme Panel Technologies
Interior General Information:
Floors: Hickory by Schaefer Hardwood Floors
Cabinets/Millwork: Timber Creek Cabinets
Paint Colors: BEN by Benjamin Moore
Fireplace: Sweet Dreams by Lopi
Fireplace Surround: Meredith Tile
Interior Door Hardware: Baldwin
Tile – Fireplace Surround and Kitchen Backsplash: Meredith Tile
Tile – Entry Hall, Mud Room, and Bathrooms: Baoding Slate, Copper Rust slate, Jinshan Bone, Jinshan
Caramel Baoding Crème Yuma, and Banning Listello by Tile Shop
Bathroom Fixtures: Kohler
Toilets: Karsten by Sterling Kitchen
Range: Kenmore
Hood: Vent-A-Hood, Stainless Steel
Microwave: Kenmore
Dishwasher: Bosch Integra 500 series
Ref/Freezer: Kenmore
Kitchen Sink: Blancowave Plus by Blanco
Countertops: Maple Butcherblock by John Boos
Laundry Washer/Dryer: Epic by Maytag
Countertop and backsplash: LG, Confetti Quartz
Design Team: Domain Architecture & Design®, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
LEED Consultant / Project Team Leader: Mike Everson, LEED AP BD+C
Landscape Architect: Brubaker Landscape Designs
General Contractor: Reuter Walton Construction
Chicago’s green consumer magazine, Mindful Metropolis, released their January issue with an article focusing on the first prefabricated LEED home in the city of Chicago. The project, which toured in December, is the focus of a two-page cover story discussing the evolution of prefab homes as an affordable green alternative. The magazine has an interview with the architecture team of Jeff Sommers and Kate Votava, of Square Root Architecture, and their plan to replicate prefab homes across Chicagoland. Download the full article.
Another Chicago project was recently in the news, filmed by the ABC (Channel 7) News team. Tom McGrath’s Elemental Building is a gut-rehab project transformed into a high-end LEED Platinum home right in the heart of Bucktown. The project’s first move was to build a solar garage that could provide power for the construction team, and has some innovative reuse of materials. Watch the video.
Have a newsworthy project you’re working on? Be sure you’re on our Project List page and send us information.
Imagine that every building maintained the ecological balance needed to sustain life on earth. Then, imagine all of humanity motivated to take action, to make this dream a reality. An immensely complicated goal? Maybe. But if we put our fears of failure at the back of the bus, we will maximize the possibility of success.
View & Download Project Profile Here
An immensely complicated goal? Maybe. But if we put our fears of failure at the back of the bus, we will maximize the possibility of success.
Nature has provided us with many examples of “buildings” that achieve an ecological balance. If we follow her example, it is indeed realistic to believe we can prevail.
An Ecologically Balanced Building (EBB), then, is the most advanced building possible for our times because it strives to replicate the ecological balance found in nature.
An EBB incorporates a multitude of interrelated, smart design choices, resulting in a building that virtually lives and breathes, is beautifully balanced, aesthetically pleasing, and is socially responsible and sustainable. It must meet the following criteria:
1. Generate more clean energy than it uses.
2. Sustainably manage the use of water.
3. Waste nothing.
4. Adapt to new conditions.
5. Work symbiotically with all other living things.
6. Eliminate toxins and pollutants.
7. Add beauty & justice to our world
We have the technology and the building science to achieve these lofty imperatives. Fortunately, we are also able to monitor, measure, and verify claims that a building actually accomplishes its intended goals. If we can’t prove our claims, they are meaningless.
The Isabella EBB Project’s initial goal was to create the most environmentally conscious building possible. It targeted integrating all seven design criteria listed above. Additionally, each criterion is monitored, measured and verified to prove, we can indeed live in balance with nature. Following is a description of how the Isabella EBB Project integrated the design criteria:
1. The Isabella EBB Project was designed to consume an annual energy load of 4.5 kBTU/sq-ft. It achieved Passive House Certification, (HERS rating of 3), as the design method to achieve this extremely low energy use index. This is similar to having a 200 MPG car in lieu of our standard a 25 MPG car. There are 9,700 Heating Degree Days in this climate zone & 189 Cooling Degree Days. This was accomplished through the design and construction of thermally broken/R 55 walls and R 90 roof, the use of high performance windows with glazing selected specifically to optimize the solar gain for each orientation and an air tightness of .5 air changes per hour. Using BTU meters on the heating distribution system, the system is to telling us if the design loads are being met.
2. Because extreme measures were taken to reduce the energy loads for this building, renewable energy generation produces more energy than is needed to operate the building. An 11,000 kWH per year PV system/8.4 kw peak load and 92 solar heat collecting vacuum tubes averaging 172,500 BTUs per day collect renewable energy. An experimental long term solar storage area using 16 inches of EPS insulation on all six sides contains both waste taconite from mines and sand. Excess solar heat collection in the summer, fall and spring are stored in this solar storage containment area under the building. The monitoriong system is gathering temperatures of the containment area, the Kwh generated and used and kBTUs for the collection system. We hope to prove that we are producing more clean energy than we use and that this solar storage system can be scaled down for use in other buildings.
3. Two additional areas used for solar storage: a 500 gallon water tank and an 80 gallon domestic hot water tank. These are also being monitor and measured to tell us how hot they are and how many days of cloudy conditions depletes the stored energy supply.
4. A small electric boiler is used for backup energy should the building need it due to depletion of solar energy. This boiler is also being monitor to tell us if it is being powered on. This has already proven to be a great diagnostic tool, as it told us that the relays and sensors were not properly sequenced because the boiler was turning on whenever the domestic hot water dropped a few degrees.
5. A Heat Recovery Ventilation System makes sure that the building and occupants are receiving the right amount of fresh air at the right temperature. An innovative ground loop heat recovery system is connected to the HRV to preheat the outside air prior to being heated by the exhaust air from the building. The success of preheating the incoming sub zero temperature fresh air with heated water from the ground near the footings of the building is being gathered by the monitoring system. We hope to discover a 10 to 15 degree preheating of temperature through this system.
6. A rain water collection system and vegetative roof assures that water continues to perform its job of replenishing the aquifers and supporting plants and animals that conversely support an ecologically balanced building.
7. Information being stored through the use of the monitoring system is allowing the building to be adapted to new conditions and future improvements. Security alarms, for example, are sent when power, pumps, temperatures or water levels are not performing as intended. Historical data gives us the ability to adjust and improve the performance due to accessibility to baseline and historical data.
8. An extreme waste and material management system was incorporated in this EBB. Sustainable & reclaimed wood products, fast growing bio-fiber products, repurposed materials (e.g., old doors for ceilings, old radiators fins for guard rails, old wine barrels for chairs, old chalk boards for sills, and reclaimed tile), contribute to achieving zero waste and low life cycle assessment values.
9. Two highly recognized environmental third party auditing/certifications (LEED and Passive House) were achieved for this project, certifying the project at it the highest level possible. This achievement summarizes that there were many other features, to lengthy to describe for this entry, that make this project one of the most advanced ecologically balanced buildings of our times.
10. Social justice and beauty are parts of ecology that acknowledge the value of spiritually engaging people through art while also supporting the notion of providing equal access and opportunities to all people. The Isabella EBB project embraced adding beauty through the creation of a place that is welcoming, educational, inspiring, healthful, intriguing and fun. The importance of social justice was a goal that surfaced during the learning experiences of the project. Consequently, the project will be willed to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, as an extension of their educational mission of teaching and influencing students the importance of living in balance with nature.
Isabella EBB Project Team
The critical success factors for the project team included:
1. keeping the integrated design process alive and well throughout the entire projects development,
2. checking boiler plate designs at the door,
3. if the project team achieved the goals stated above the points would follow and certification would provide the auditing needed to further validate our assumptions.
3. understanding that everyone was on a ecological educational journey
4. that fearless, open and honest communication was mandatory, (typical passive/aggressive northern climate personality styles would keep innovation from reaching its potential).
Owner: John Eckfeldt eckfe001@umn.edu
Architect/Owner: Nancy Schultz, AIA LEED AP, nschultz@compassrose-inc.com
Energy Conservation Specialist: Mikeal LeBeau, Conservation Technologies, Inc. mlebeau@conservtech.com
Builder: Brad Holmes, Rod and Sons Carpentry, mooshed2@msn.com
Electrician/Designer: Justin Bartuss, voltage@q.com
Mechanical Engineer: Bill Gausman PE, Monitoring and Verification System, bill.gausman@peopleselectric.com
HVAC & Plumbing Contractor: John Hill, Heating Plus, heatplus@frontiernet.net
Landscape Architect: Gus Blumer, SEH, gblumer@sehinc.com
Green Rater: Jimmie Sparks, The Neighborhood Energy Connection, jimmie@thenec.com
LEED Provider: Mike Holcomb, Green Home Institute, mike@homeinspectorgeneral.com
Nestled in South Western Michigan’s wine country this home is located next to a vineyard in Paw Paw, Michigan, thus the project name. This home is a site specific, Passive Solar Prairie style home built with BuildBlock ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) from foundation to the roof. The exterior elevations of the home were designed with deeper roof overhangs, determined by using solar calculations, to both maximize and minimize the sun exposure based on the time of year. In addition, solar awnings on the lower level windows further shade the South-facing windows. The exterior used two of our favorite products CertainTeed FiberCement Siding and Andersen 400 series casement and awning windows. The interior of the home has stained concrete floor on all levels which makes for great thermal mass. The home was also designed with lifetime design principles and has zero step entries. Click here to view the project profile
art of the site specific design was to locate the garage to act as a wind break, to stop snow drifting from the northwest prevailing winds that we have here in Michigan. Part of the passive solar design is to have very little windows on the north side of the home, to keep heat from escaping through them. That is why this homes attention to detail is spent on the Southside of the home, where most of the homes windows face south. In the winter, the sun will warm the living space during the day and shine on the concrete floors on both levels which will store some of the heat gained, for gradual release. The roof overhang will shade the house from excessive solar heat gain in the summer, and west-facing glass is minimized to reduce cooling needs in the summer. ICF construction was perfect for this project because with ICF’s there are no concerns with noise and wind.
The “Vineyard Project” is a Zero Energy Home (ZEH) thanks to the Passive Solar Design, 3.3 kW of Photovoltaic, Solar Hot Water and the Geo-Thermal heating and cooling system. The home is also pre-wired for future installation of a Wind Generator. This home only uses about 600 kWh of electricity per month and has been generating a minimum of 20 kWh of electricity per day with many days’ net-metering backwards since the home was completed. The home was built for $134.00 per square foot (before the 30% rebates from the Solar Hot Water, Photovoltaic and Geo-thermal systems) making it more affordable for the general public.
Besides the pending LEED for Homes “Platinum” certification this home received 5+ Energy Star certification and a HERS score of 34. This is the lowest score every tested in the State of Michigan making it the most energy efficient house in Michigan. This home will be 66% more efficient than typical construction of a similar home of this size. In addition this homes toilets, faucets and shower heads are super low-flow for superior water efficiency. The home also has low-VOC paints, adhesives and finishes and uses recycled content for the flooring, decking, foundation and siding.
certified another LEED Platinum home in Wisconsin that features a picture-perfect location on Lake Michigan’s west shore in Racine, Wisconsin. The Scekic-Osborne home is a three-bedroom, 1900 square foot home — an example of the recent trend of home sizes retreating to more reasonable levels rather than the McMansions of yesteryear. The home, designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects of Milwaukee, mixes modern architecture with a growing design trend known as “micro architecture,” which places a premium on petiteness, design and sustainability.
Download Scekic-Osborne Residence Profile
The home’s modern exterior features exposed steel beams and concrete walls, with expanses of glass offering views through the home to Lake Michigan. Large glazing areas necessitate efficient windows (.29 U-value) as a critical component to the home’s energy performance. The windows give expansive views, but are also a source of energy loss. To make up for this, the home’s design eliminated windows on the north wall and included a number of energy-efficiency strategies to keep the home comfortable:
- Exterior walls are 2×6 with full cavity R-34 foam insulation
- Cathedral ceilings/roofs are R-53 foam insulation
- Foundation walls are R-10 full height exterior insulation
- Frame floors are R-54 full cavity foam insulation
- Final blower door test: 298 cfm@50 pascals, which translates to a significantly low 0.06 natural air changes per hour
- Heating and cooling is provided by a geothermal ground source heat pump
- Water heater is a tankless gas unit with 0.98 EF rating
- The house also has active solar hot water system and 4.2 kw solar photovoltaic system
- Whole house ventilation is provided by a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) at 110 cfm
With the impressively low air leakage rate, these energy systems combined to help the home achieve a HERS score of 33, representing that the Scekic-Osborne residence uses 67% less energy than a new home constructed to building code standards.
To learn more about this unique house – just the second LEED Platinum home in Wisconsin – read the informative article from Sept. 26 edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, or download our one page PDF Project Profile on the home.
The land and building was purchased from the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The building was renovated into approximately 16 efficiency apartments with individual bathrooms and kitchenettes for homeless survivors of domestic violence. The name for the project is Bridge Street Place. It is permanent supportive housing project, serving single persons at 60% AMI The project has 16 project based housing vouchers provided by the Supportive Housing Division of MSHDA. Referrals and support services are provided by the YWCA West Central Michigan.
The building was renovated from a high content of recycled and reused materials, products that are within a 500 mile radius of the project site, rainwater falling on the roof is harvested to irrigate the landscape, plant materials are drought resistant and the irrigation system is high efficiency. All plumbing fixtures have water conserving fixtures, kitchen appliances are energy star rated, light bulbs are compact fluorescent, roof and patio materials are highly reflective and reduce urban island effect. The building envelope has been improved, reducing on-going energy consumption through reduced air infiltration.
Rockford Construction –
General contractors and construction managers building new and restoring old projects across 41 States.
Dwelling Place – is all about providing affordable housing, supportive
services and revitalizing neighborhoods.
Financed with low income housing tax credit equity.
