327 Freyling Place Starts Construction

327 Freyling Place SE, Grand Rapids, Mi.

Construction has also started on another Habitat for Humanity of Kent County project at 327 Freyling Place in the Weathy Heights neighborhood. This will be the third new LEED for Homes project we have designed on this street and neighborhood many of you might remember our first project on the street 335 Freyling Place which was the first LEED for Homes "Platinum" home in Grand Rapids and Habitat's 300th home they built. Habitat for Humanity is making a big difference in this part of town they are working with other to make this neighborhood a possible LEED ND project making it one of the first in Michigan. Please watch for more information on these project in up coming post on our web-log.

Simple, Decent, Affordable, Historic, LEED Certified.

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319 Freyling Place Under Construction

319 Freyling Place SE, Grand Rapids, Mi.

Construction has started on Habitat for Humanity of Kent County 100th LEED certified home a first for any habitat organization nationwide to their knowledge. We are proud to have designed the home which will be built at 319 Freyling Place SE in Grand Rapids historical  Wealthy Heights neighborhood these homes were some of the most challenging home I have designed do impart to all of the guidelines that we had to follow. These homes had to meet LEED for Homes, Energy Star, ZeroStep, Habitat for Humanity, MSHDA, HUD NSP1 , Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Local Historical Guidelines.

This home is designed to be historically correct for the Wealthy Heights neighborhood of homes built in the 1880's. The exterior blends flawlessly with the existing neighborhood homes while the interior are fresh and current and meet lifetime design principle with ZeroStep Certification. The construction will used the latest in affordable building technologies such as Superior Wall precast concrete wall foundation, Advanced Framing for the exterior walls with 1 1/2" of Dow Blueboard insulation to stop a thermal bridging, Air Sealing, Closed Cell Foam Insulation, Cellulose Insulation, Energy Star Jeld-Wen windows, Fiber Cement Siding and a Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV).

We are hoping to have a Image Design, LLC volunteer day on this project which will give any of you interested in working on a LEED certified home a chance to do so. If you are interested please let us know by emailing us. We will be finalizing the date with Habitat shortly.

Simple, Decent, Affordable, Historic, LEED Certified.

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Granite Hill Project For Sale in Kingsley, Michigan

LEED for Homes "Gold" Project For Sale

Many of you may remember our award winning  LEED for Homes "Gold" "Granite Hill Project" in Kingsley, Michigan. It was the first LEED certified home in Grand Traverse County and now its the first LEED Certified home for sale of the Traverse Area Association of Realtors  (TAAR) Green MLS.  It is list by Andrea Galloup of Century 21 real estate in Traverse City.

The home was the show home for the 2009 Michigan Energy Fair and the winner of the 2009/2010 ICFA Small Residential Gold Award and the 2009/2010 ICFA Sustainability Silver Award. Beside achieving  LEED for Homes "Gold" certification the home achieved 5+ Energy Star certification and a HERs score of 48. The 2010 and 2011 total utility bills averaged $1048 annually $87.38 monthly. This home has no mechanical HVAC, a Tulikivi Masonry Unit Heat provides radiant heat with backup electric baseboard heat. The entire house has been heated by roughly 7-10 face cords of hardwood firewood per winter. Wood was cut from the property (ash and suger maple), if purchased commercially this would has cost roughly $425.00 per winter. Only one fire a day is sufficient for 95% of the heating season. No constant stoking is required with these types of fireplaces. Below please find the key features of this home.

Key Feature of this Home are:

• 60 acres.
• 3 bedrooms, master on the main floor.
• 2 1/2 baths.
• Main Floor laundry.
• BuildBlock ICF exterior walls.
• Tulikivi Masonry Unit Heater (Model TTU2700 with bake oven).
• Programmable in floor radiant electric heat in all bathrooms.
• Automatic dog door.
• Andersen 400 Series Energy Star Windows.
• Soytherm open cell spray foam insulation.
• TOTO dual flush ADA complaint toilets. 
• Cement Board siding.
• Premium Kasselwood metal roof shingles.
• Energy Star ceiling fans provide all the "AC" you'll ever need.
• Passive solar designed.
• Maple, Tile and Polished concrete flooring throughout home.
• Solar Hot water system w/85 gallon insulated Marathon electric water heater.
• No-VOC Paints, floor treatments and caulks use in construction.
• Energy Star refrigerator and washing machine.
• Soapstone Countertops.
• 80% efficiency whole house Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV).
• Pre-wired for future wind turbine installation.
• External plug and wiring ready for a full size home generator.
• Detached 3 stall garage with a 12' x 12' basement and adjacent 12'x 12' stone floored ventilated root cellar.
• 24' x24' loft over the middle two stalls designed to be finished for guest quarters or home office.

The home is listed for $419,000.00 which is a steal for a home of this magnitude. 

Link to the Northern Express article on the house:
Leeding the way/Green Homes

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