Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Thomas McGrath, owner of this gut-rehab in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Before talking, I figured the home was like many others seeking LEED Platinum certification. It has energy-efficient appliances, modern finishes, and on-site green power. But there’s really a lot more to it. This is a fascinating case study of salvage and reuse.
About a year ago we mentioned the construction of the H4 prototype home by BRIO54. The development firm describes the modern residence as a work of art — bright, spacious, natural, and functional — that you get the opportunity to live in. Indeed, it’s a fascinating home with a bold exterior of black and white stripes, state-of-the-art green finishes, and a minimalist yet cozy form of interior design.
A little over a year ago, I wrote about this Green Concept Home in Bellevue, Washington. The modern residence was finished under budget and according to schedule, and the owners are now working on obtaining LEED for Homes and Built Green certification. Modus V Studio Architects designed and built Green Concept Home with a number of noteworthy green elements.
In Fraser, Colorado, there’s a new net-zero energy house that was designed with impressive active and passive building technologies. It’s grid-tied and all-electric, using no fossil fuels thanks to the solar photovoltaics and evacuated tube solar thermal array. But the house isn’t the only thing powered by the sun. The 17-kW array also powers two all-electric plug-in vehicles.
Earth Bound Homes is involved with several ultra-green homes and this one in California deserves a mention. It was designed by Bill Leddy, LMS Architects, and built by Earth Bound Homes for David and Stephania Kaneda, receiving a Green Point Rated score of 268 and LEED Platinum certification.
Project Profiles
