SingleFamily Green Building:

1
Single-Family Green Building Challenges and
Solutions Community Housing Development
Corporation
2

• CHDCs Green Building Projects 2008
• Green Demonstration Home at 1347 Forest Avenue
• 1622 Forest Avenue

3
Community Housing Development Corporations
Greenth Street
An Affordable, Green, LEED Certified,
Demonstration Home
4
Affordability Goal and Budgetary Constraints

• Sources of Funds
• Anticipated Sales Price 125,000
• Development Gap (HOME) 30,000
• Green Gap (PCHTF) 15,000
• CHDO Proceeds 5,000
• Metro Waste Authority 2,500
• TOTAL 177,500
• Uses of Funds
• Construction 157,500
• PreDevel and Soft Costs 20,000
• In addition, CHDC has received approximately
  30,000 in donated services, products and land.

5
Silver LEED Certification

• U.S. Green Building Council offers Leadership in
  Energy and Environmental Design certification
• LEED suggests Green Building Goals/Guidelines
  that address
• Innovation and Design Processes
• Location and Linkages
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Air Quality
• Awareness and Education

Photo from www.remodelingrecon.com
6
The Site 1347 Forest Avenue
7
The Design Wells Associates
8
Innovation and Design

• Design charrettes
• Natural lighting in every room
• Public awareness COSC workshops, site blog
• Porch design and roof profile
• Jamie Malloy, LEED AP architect with Wells
  Associates

9
Location Linkages

• Infill lot
• Across the street from Forest Avenue Public
  Library
• Across the street from Evelyn Davis Park
• Within a block of DART bus stop
• Within ½ mile of other basic community resources
  such as
• YMCA
• Places of worship
• King Elementary School
• Day care centers
• Senior center
• Salvation Army Community Center
• Laundry facilities
• Convenience store
• Within 1 mile of Drake University

10
Sustainable Sites

• Erosion control during construction
• Drought-tolerant native planting
• Minimize local heat island effects through
  light-colored hardscapes
• Manage roof runoff

11
Water Efficiency

• Rainwater harvesting system
• Rain barrels
• Rain gardens
• High-efficiency toilets 1.3 gpf
• Very high-efficiency fixtures and fittings
• faucets 1.5 gpm
• Shower 1.75 gpm

12
Energy Atmosphere

• Energy Star appliances ceiling fans
• 5 IECC climate zone
• 85 HERS index
• Efficient HVAC
• Energy Star lighting
• Windows meet Energy Star BOP specifications

13
Materials Resources

• Framing efficiency--reduce waste
• Bamboo flooring throughout first floor
• Limited carpet green label plus
• FSC certified tropical woods
• Waste management--onsite separation and recycling

14
Indoor Environmental Quality

• Energy Star Indoor Air Package
• HVAC with dehumidifier
• Air filtration system
• Radon-resistant construction
• Return air-flow forced-air
• Detached garage (pad)

15
Awareness Education

• Design charrettes
• King Irving Neighborhood Association
• Collaboration of businesses and organizations
• Capri
• Cenergy
• Center on Sustainable Communities
• City of Des Moines
• Double D Construction
• Fireplace Stone Center
• Flooring Gallery
• LEE Engineers Surveyors
• Menards
• Metro Waste Authority
• Polk County Housing Trust Fund
• Signs Plus
• TEAM Services
• Waste Management
• Wells Associates
• Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) public
  workshops

16
Awareness Education

• Blog for public comments
• http//greenthstreet.blogspot.com

17
1622 Forest Avenue Green Design and Energy
Efficient Construction
18
1622 Forest Design and Energy Features

• Open floor plan with a switchback staircase that
  encourages cross ventilation, aiding in heating
  and cooling the house
• Living spaces are on the east side of the house
  with utilities on the west
• Windows on all four sidesnatural light
• Large porch on the south side
• All electric utilities
• Advanced blown in insulation
• Energy Rating85 HERS

19
Affordability Budget

• Sources of Funds
• Anticipated Sales Price 124,000
• Development Gap (HOME) 30,000
• Green Gap (PCHTF) 9,500
• TOTAL 163,500
• Uses of Funds
• Construction 146,000
• PreDevel and Soft Costs 17,500

20
Lessons Learned

• CHOOSE Your Focus
• Energy Efficiency
• Sustainable Practices and Materials
• It takes TIME to be resourceful
• Be prepared to EDUCATE yourself and everyone who
  works on the project
• Get CREATIVE
• Be FLEXIBLE

21
Challenges for the Housing Community

• Defining Green Building
• Understand there is more than one right way
• Historic, Green and Affordable

22

• QUESTIONS?
• CHDCs Website
• www.chdcdesmoines.org
• Blog for public comments
• http//greenthstreet.blogspot.com

23
Going for a Medal LEED

• Guaranteed Watt Savers (GWS), Oklahoma City, OK
• Several step process
• Preliminary submission and processing fees
• LEED for Homes Checklist
• Homes Cost Proposal and Project Team Member Form
• Builder Profile Form
• House plans
• GWS reviews materials determines if LEED goals
  are attainable
• Secondary submissions for main LEED criteria
• Inspection Phase
• LEED Green Rater
• HERS Rater
• Completion Phase
• Accountability Forms
• Certification

Photo from www.remodelingrecon.com
24
Costs Can Green, LEED Builds be Affordable?

• GWS LEED costs covered by COSC
• 0.18/Livable SF for Plan Analysis
• 45/hr Modeling, Tax Credits, Index, LH Points (2
  hr. minimum)
• 45/hr reanalysis of plans if changed
• 450 GWS LEED for Homes Processing
• 125 Expanded Checklist Review with Engineer
• 190 0.55/mile first inspection
• 450 0.55/mile final inspection
• USGBC registration and certification fees waived
  due to projects Affordable Housing status
• Approximate total LEED 1,500 travel expenses