Saturday, January 14, 2012

It's official our Habitat for Humanity of Kent County project at "335 Freyling Place SE" in Grand Rapids achieved LEED for Homes "Platinum" certification. This was Habitat's 300th home built in Kent County and most radical and energy efficient project they ever built! The goal was to reduce the amount of energy needed to power the home, then to produce enough energy to heat itself. This small affordable home is was built in partnership with GRCC Tassell M-TEC New Construction students in the revitalized, historic Wealthy Heights neighborhood near the corner of Wealthy and Diamond on the southeast side of the City of Grand Rapids.

Besides the LEED certification the home was GreenBuilt Michigan "Gold" certified and also received ZeroStep certification and was featured on the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Tour and in World Habitat Day 2011. Some of the unique feature of this Habitat home are

Super Insulated 18" Thick Exterior Wall.
Logix ICF Exterior walls.
SIP Panel Roof.
Advanced Framing.
Jeld-Wen Energy Star Windows.
Passive Solar Design.
Solar Hot-water.
Pre-Wired for Photovoltaic's
Passive Cooling.
Prison Built Cabinetry.
Pre-Cast Concrete Counter-tops.
CertainTeed Fiber Cement Board Siding.
Radiant Heat Floors.
Whirlpool CEE Tier III Energy Star Washer.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

It's official our Habitat for Humanity of Kent County project at "310 Indiana NW" in Grand Rapids achieved LEED for Homes "Platinum" certification. Although it's their first LEED for Homes "Platinum" project, they have built over 68 LEED certified home in the Grand Rapids area. It was built by student volunteers from Grand Rapids Public School Academy for Design and Construction which offered a tremendous opportunity for the students to learn cutting-edge green building and design. Not many students their age can say they help built a LEED Platinum Home!

Besides the LEED certification the home also received ZeroStep certification and was featured in the 2011 Spring Parade of Homes. Some of the unique feature of this Habitat home are

Logix ICF Foundation.
Advanced Framing.
SIP Panel Roof.
Energy Star Windows.
Cellulose Insulation.
Passive Solar Design.
Passive Cooling.
Prison Built Cabinetry.
Rain Barrels.
Food Garden.