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Minnesota GreenStar Certified Green Homes and Remodeling
9/24/2008
There’s definitely an emphasis on Green these days. As the cost of fuel is going through the roof, Global Warming concerns are rising, and landfills are no one’s idea of a great use of property. Americans are becoming Greener all the time. But what exactly is Green and why are people interested?
Choosing Green can mean saving money on gas when you trade in the big SUV for a fuel-efficient sedan. It can mean creating a healthier lifestyle for your family as you choose organic foods. And it can mean reducing your water bill by collecting rain water for irrigating the garden. But every family has a different definition of Green and how to best apply it to their own lives.
The same is true about Green remodeling. Some families will pay more now to save big on energy over the years. Others will want recycled and locally manufactured materials that reduce their impact on the environment. Some families will choose to downsize, others to use only materials that ensure pristine indoor air quality for their asthmatic child. Some will want to go totally Green and have it all. And that’s the beauty of Minnesota’s own new certification program, MN GreenStar.
This exciting new program allows homeowners who remodel to choose the most important aspects of Green for their home. With three certification levels and four project types, MN GreenStar is designed to ensure each level meets stringent goals yet allows a wide range of flexibility and options. The MN GreenStar standards and certification program applies a whole house, systems approach within the five key concepts of Green building: energy efficiency, resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water conservation, plus site and community impact. These Green concepts are each applied across the eight traditional components of the building process (high performance building envelope and systems, mechanicals, electrical, finishes and trim, waste management, outdoor and site, water and plumbing, as well as innovation.
MN GreenStar was developed by a unique group of professionals that included environmental and building science experts, home builders, and remodelers. The originating partnership included the Green Institute (a nationally-recognized leader in the green building movement), the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, and the National Association of Remodeling Industry - Minnesota. Experts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the University of Minnesota, and Xcel Energy were also tapped to help develop the program.
Today, Twin Cities’ residents can choose to have their remodeling project certified as a MN GreenStar project and be assured that it has been constructed under a regionally-appropriate green building standard that embraces our unique climate concerns, building codes and energy, materials and natural resources. Each project is subject to an objective, third-party verification system that assures it performs as promised. Additionally, remodelers are required to attend mandatory educational programs prior to beginning their MN GreenStar project.
“We are thrilled to see more and more remodeling projects registering and being certified with MN GreenStar,” commented Mike Williams, executive director of MN GreenStar. “Finally, homeowners have a Minnesota-specific green remodeling standard to insure their remodel is truly green.”
Both the new home and remodeling programs have completed the pilot phase and are now available for Minnesota families through their builders and remodelers. For more information visit their website www.mngreenstar.org.
These Remodeled Homes featured on the Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM have received MN GreenStar certification or are pending certification:
#34, Building Arts Sustainable Architecture + Construction LLC
95 Mackubin Street, St. Paul, Whole House
95 Mackubin is a green remodeling and update of an historic Victorian house in Ramsey Hill. Our intent has been to bring this house up to date using the most current green thinking, therefore making it one of the pilot projects in the MN GreenStar remodeling program. In this beautiful, historic yet contemporary home, you will see features such as geothermal heating/cooling; closed cell foam insulation/air barrier; dense-pack cellulose insulation; recycled floors and tile; water saving appliances; energy saving lighting; new James Hardie® (fiber cement) siding to match the existing; FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) framing materials, flooring and cabinets; and reused lumber.
#46, RRR Construction Co.
3641 47th Avenue S., Minneapolis, Whole House
This is an excellent example of 1930’s charm, enhanced by 2008 green improvements. New dormers add light, height and character, plus make room for a full bath with walk-in shower. A small kitchen addition eliminated awkward staircases and allowed for best design. Lower-level daylight windows brighten the home office, keeping space use flexible. Trex decks, a recycled plastic, are both Green and durable. The sidewalk reuses patio block, and the new two-car garage has a paver driveway to reduce runoff. The home’s exterior features stucco and cement board, while remnant granite and purchased reused materials further enhanced this home’s Green credentials.
#47, EnterSpace Professional Design & Quality Construction
3552 - 45th Avenue S., Minneapolis, Addition, Bedroom
The client, in a late Arts and Crafts house, asked to have the kitchen and dining room joined while keeping the integrity of the formal dining room. They also requested a full screen porch, a second-floor bedroom, and first-floor mud room. The screen porch is inspired by the 1920’s porches transforming to a full screen porch in the summer and a heated family room in the winter. The final result looks great and meets MN GreenStar standards.
#49, Buck Brothers Construction Co. Inc.
2605 40th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Whole House
A must-see for the urban homeowner seeking to create more livable space! Set on West River Road in South Minneapolis, the home features a unique lot in a great neighborhood. It truly was a gem of a mid-century rambler. The only problem…space. Solution: A seamless second-story addition featuring two bedrooms, an owners’ suite, laundry room, and home office -- plus assuring minimal impact on neighbors and utility bills. Come take a look. Buck Brothers is proud to have built this addition as a MN GreenStar pilot project. MN GreenStar is a green building and certification program designed to provide standards for building more healthy, sustainable, and better homes.
#70, Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build, LLC
2415 W. 22nd Street, Minneapolis, Whole House
This masterpiece combines high-end design with the latest in green building to create a home that is beautiful, spacious, refined, healthy, and efficient. The addition blends seamlessly with the fully remodeled home giving new life to this 1913 home. A sun-filled kitchen and library, luxurious master suite, wrap-around second-floor deck, and dozens of intricate design details create a sense of refinement and class. The geothermal heat, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) finishes, water conserving fixtures, and dozens of features make this a healthy Green house. Come and see how we make Green look Great!
#71, Open Air Concepts, Inc.
1724 Colfax Avenue South, Minneapolis, Whole House
A Builders Outreach Foundation Dream Remodeled Home, $5.00 Donation Requested at the Door
We invite you to experience the luxury of a Lowry Hill green renovation. This historically significant Queen Ann Victorian was renovated following the LEED certification program as well as pending certification under the MN GreenStar program. Highlights include a two-and-one-half-story turret staircase; a rooftop terrace overlooking the Minneapolis skyline; an indoor gym and theater and a stunning addition that blends original charm with modern use. The details are spectacular from the craftsmanship and fixtures to the building techniques and design.
#80, Stonehearth Custom Homes, Inc.
5113 West 59th Street, Edina, Whole House
This Minnesota GreenStar certified and 5+ star Energy Star home sits on a 1/3-acre lot in prime Countryside. The main level features a gorgeous black walnut kitchen, bamboo hardwoods, white enameled trim and doors, and a fabulous stone fireplace. The lower level is highlighted by an alder wet bar and a second stone fireplace. This home was constructed using recycled content tile and carpet, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, low-flow fixtures, and Energy Star lighting.
#93, Mike Otto Construction, Inc.
2248 Drew Avenue S, St. Louis Park, Addition, Family Room
Owners of a 1959 split-level home wanted a Green addition to provide more family and storage space. The project was part of a MN GreenStar pilot program launched in 2007. Green materials were used indoors and out: cabinets built of sustainable harvested maple; wine-red recycled paper countertops; blonde bamboo floors; low-VOC paint; rain barrels to collect runoff for gardening; low-maintenance lawn. The addition provides a family room, dining room, office, four-season porch, and basement with mud room, all seamlessly blending in with the existing house.
#132, Showcase Renovations, Inc.
9000 - 100th Street, Monticello, Whole House
By replacing an energy-inefficient and structurally deficient home, this new residence advances the practice of sustainable construction while evoking the drama of its site along the Mississippi River with asymmetrical forms and vernacular details. This 2,040 square-foot home, a MN GreenStar new home pilot participant, employs simple concepts in sustainability, including solar orientation for passive heating and cooling benefits, use (and re-use) of durable and recyclable materials, reduced energy consumption, improved indoor air quality, and increased attention to water management and conservation.
Top Companies Support MN GreenStar
Getting behind the new MN GreenStar certification program are some of the area’s top manufacturers and suppliers. We’d like to thank these exceptional firms for their sponsorship support.
MN GreenStar Partners:
New Morning Windows
Pella Windows and Doors
MN GreenStar Friends:
The Builders Journal, Minnesota Edition
Marvin Windows and Doors
Shaw/Stewart Lumber
MN GreenStar Supporters:
Roth Distributing
Sala Architects
Verified Green
Boise Wood Products
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