a (hopefully) LEED-certified Home  -  Team page

a LEED-certified home is definitely a team effort.

Unless you happen to be an architect, mechanical engineer, energy modeler, green rater, general contractor, solar design expert and landscape architect all in one, you’re probably going to need some professional help in designing, building, and certifying your LEED home.

Just as LEED for Homes’ requirements cover a broad array of design and construction disciplines, expert advice in each of those areas is really required to utilize your construction dollars effectively and to end up with a successfully integrated result.

We feel very lucky in being able to put together a wonderful team that is not just technically competent, but individuals who are also truly dedicated to helping other people build a greener tomorrow.

In order of appearance (not of importance):

Bernie Wolf and Doug Campbell are the soon-to-be proud owners of the Urban Cottage and Cailie, their Sheltie, is the team mascot.  Together they designed and then drew up the plans (by hand!) for the house.  Lots of decisions, but lots of fun too.  You can contact them at:  urban_cottage@att.net

Mike Figura, of Mosaic Realty, has generously shared his energy and as well as his knowledge of the local real estate market and experience with green developments with us throughout the entire process.  We learned how important it is to have an emotionally unattached perspective in your decision-making process.  It was through him that we were able to make a number of other valuable contacts to help us along the way.

Without the help of Amy Musser, Ph.D., P.E., of Vandemusser Design, we would still be at page one of the LEED energy, HVAC, and indoor environmental quality requirements.  She has patiently explained (and re-explained) the multitude of heating and cooling options for a green house – and the long-range impact and trade-offs of each.  Her skill in energy modeling has helped us enormously in deciding how to allocate a limited budget to get the biggest energy reduction possible for our investment.  www.vandemusser.com

Our general contractor, Jody Guokas, of JAG and Associates, is a brave soul to willingly take on an architect as a client.  But to do it with an architect embarking on his first venture into green design goes beyond words.  The knowledge and experience he as gained in becoming one of the most respected “green” residential contractors in our area has been ours to draw on.  We are looking forward to learning so much watching him bring our design to reality.

www.jaggreenbuilders.com

Independent third-party inspection and testing of completed systems and installed materials lies at the heart of many LEED for Homes requirements.  Matt Vande, of Vandemusser Design, is our green-rater and well as our tireless demystifier of LEED terminology.  His organizational skills have provided us with a crystal clear path for the otherwise overwhelming amount of documentation required for LEED-certification. 

The entire LEED for Homes process starts with a local representative of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).  Our project is very fortunate to have Maggie Leslie, of the WNC Green Building Council, located right here in West Asheville. She led us through the entire 26-page checklist with professional ease and real-world expertise.  We very much appreciate her assistance in understanding many of the complex LEED requirements.

Grant Gosh, of First Light Solar, is out to help us (and the rest of world) harness the sun for our peaceful, i.e., domestic, needs.  Utilizing the good solar exposure of our site to the greatest extent possible has been our goal since day one.  Grant’s knowledge of solar collection and storage technology has produced a system to both heat our hot water and provide space heating assistance at a reasonable cost.

In Asheville it’s unanimous – nobody builds and installer tighter ductwork than Henry Vance, of Clyde Heating and Cooling.  His many years of experience have truly tamed the demon of so many green homes – leaky ducts.  The results from his duct tests are a fine tribute to his artisanship, and an energy-saver for the home owner.

When you’re trying to put a walk-out basement on a small lot with street drainage and storm run-off issues and still accommodate on-site parking – you need a talented site designer.  Matthew Sprouse, ALSA, of Sitework Studios, stepped in to fill those shoes with ease and grace.  His design has brought together all of our often conflicting site requirements into a beautiful and environmentally sound site plan.

Yes, it is undoubtedly a big team for a very small house.  Yes, there are budget consequences for having so many cooks in the kitchen.  We strongly believe that something worth doing is worth doing well.  It’s not original, but it’s true.  We know this house will serve us well for many, many years.  We feel good knowing that in every one of those years it will be paying us back in so many ways.