Learning More About LEED

Yesterday Ron (Riemco CM) and I attended a Residential Green Building Workshop class at Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) in Grand Rapids. Micheal Holcomb was an excellent presenter and a wealth of information on LEED and sustainable building. Maybe I am going out on a limb here, but if our HERS score is as low as we hope it to be; and based on past Image Design projects, we maybe able to achieve LEED Platinum.

Road Trip

Last weekend we were able to tour two homes designed by Eric (Image Design, LLC) and and built by Adam (Hybrid Homes). First, Adam gave us a tour of the Onekama home. This home is LEED Platinum and has won at least two national awards. The thermostat was set at 60, but it was 63 deg. inside with the shades drawn-and it was still morning with temperatures in the teens! We loved the main living area with the warm sun pouring through the windows. This is (something that we never experience at our current house in the winter-our garage is on the south side).

After lunch we went to Watercress in Pentwater with Adam, Eric, and Christy. This home is projected to be LEED Platimum and has already been featured on the cover of W&C Architect. Finishing work is still going on inside, but what can I say... it was a very cool cottage-inside and out. (I think we just picked out our ceiling fans).

We now are very excited about the possiblities for our new home and enthusiastic about using our home building process and final home to educate the public and promote "green building". We look forward with working with such an enthusiastic and inspiring team on our project.