Architectural Resource Announces Behind the Drywall Tour in Ann Arbor: "The Visible Green House"
Architectural Resource LLC and Meadowlark Builders have teamed with homeowners Scott Ward and Kathleen Folger to offer the public a rare hands-on opportunity to visit and view their in-progress "Deep Green" whole house gut-rehab remodeling project of their Ann Arbor home. The tour will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 9am to 5pm at 1303 Brooks Street. Register by visiting www. behindthedrywall. com.
Ann Arbor, Mich. (PRWEB) August 17, 2009
Architectural Resource LLC and Meadowlark Builders have teamed with homeowners Scott Ward and Kathleen Folger to offer the public a rare hands-on opportunity to visit and view the in-progress "Deep Green" whole house gut-rehab remodeling project of their Ann Arbor home. The tour will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 9am to 5pm at 1303 Brooks Street. The event is free, however pre-registration is required by visiting www. behindthedrywall. com.
Attendees will be able to glimpse what makes up the core of a 'Deep Green' remodeling/addition project and take away new insights and inspirations that they can apply to their own homes and pending projects.
This comprehensive green remodel is a pending LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-level project. This represents the highest attainable level of green performance rating and is positioned to be the third remodel to achieve this coveted status in Michigan. Architectural Resource and Meadowlark Builders are responsible for the first and second similarly-honored projects, also in Ann Arbor.
The tour will present a plethora of the latest cutting-edge Green design and building strategies. Some of the highlights include Advanced Framing Techniques for optimal structural material and insulative value engineering; state of the art spray polyurethane foam insulation; an advanced thermal envelope wall and roof assembly; geothermal heating and cooling system, recycled and reclaimed materials from demolition; specially designed "future ready" building energy systems and accessibility options; ultra low water use strategy; advanced interior air quality techniques; and "not-so-big house" design strategies that enhance living environments while maximizing efficient space use through intelligent design.
Why Green Remodeling Matters
Considering our dwindling energy and material resources and our planet's ecological distress, each of us as homeowners has a unique and important role to play to make a change for the better. According to the USDOE, the residential sector accounts for 22% of the total energy consumed in the US and 74% of the water. 21% of U. S. carbon dioxide emissions are contributed by the residential sector. Indoor air pollutants can often be four to five times as high as outdoor levels of the same irritants. Green home design and building addresses these issues by creating homes that have a much higher performance level than conventional homes. There are currently more than 107 million existing residential units in the U. S., and the Brookings Institute has estimated that 75% of all buildings that will be in use by 2050 are already built. If we are to reach carbon neutral goals, these existing buildings, our homes, represent the greatest opportunity to meet those goals by reducing resource use while providing greater health and comfort to all inhabitants. Come and see how.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
The U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has established LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as system to define and measure "Green Buildings." The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, market-driven building rating system based on existing proven technology that derives market strength and credibility through industry-wide development of the LEED products. The LEED for Homes Rating System provides a basis for quantifying the benefits of green homes, thereby facilitating a wider adoption of this more sustainable approach to home building. The LEED for Homes rating system uses eight different resource categories to measure the overall performance of a home. By awarding credits for different aspects of each of the eight categories the level of a home's performance can be separated into four performance tiers: Certified; Silver; Gold; and Platinum, with Platinum being the most difficult and highest level attainable.
About Architectural Resource
Architectural Resource, headed by Michael Klement A. I.A., N. C.A. R.B., is a full-service, national award-winning, Ann Arbor-based architectural design firm specializing exclusively in fine residential design of new homes, cottages, additions, remodels, and renovations. Since the firm's inception in 1991, creating healthy and energy efficient buildings has been a fundamental aspect of its core mission.
Michael is a member of the American Institute of Architects, The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, The American Institute of Building Design, is a Certified Professional Building Designer through the National Council of Building Designers, and holds Certified Green Professional and Certified Aging in Place Specialist designations through the NAHB.
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