This is the second home that I have verified for the LEED for Homes program. It was designed by Eric Hughes of Image Design LLC and built by Joel Diotte and the crew at Frontier Construction. This is one of only 86 LEED certified homes in Michigan (so far), the 27th home in Michigan to achieve LEED "Gold" certification, and the first LEED certified home in Grand Traverse County. Located on 60 acres just east of Kingsley, this home has many interesting features that are part of its green certification.
First of all, this home is very efficient. It received a 5+ star Energy Star certification and a HERS score of 52. This means that this home will be approximately 48% more efficient than a typical home of the same size. Some of the energy efficiency features of this home include:
- Site specific passive solar design including proper positioning of thermal mass (to store heat from the sun) and correct overhang sizing (to allow in winter sun and exclude the summer sun).
- BuildBlock Insulated Concrete Forms for all of the bearing walls.
- High efficiency windows.
- Energy Star LED and CFL lighting
- Soy-based open cell wall and attic insulation.
- Solar hot water.
- House totally heated by a Tulikivi masonry unit heater.
- Barrier free design
- Energy Star rated metal roof shingle (30% recycled content)
- Concrete countertops
- Locally harvested hardwood floors
- Pre-wired for future PV and wind generator
- No-VOC paints and primers
- Low-VOC caulks and sealants
- FSC certified woods and kitchen cabinets
This is truly a great house and it was a privilege to see it built and perform the LEED verification on.
