SANTA MONICA, CA, August 3, 2006 - LivingHomes® (www.LivingHomes.us), a leading developer of modern prefab homes designed by world-class architects, has received the highest rating possible from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) new pilot, LEED® for homes rating system, making it the first residential project in the country to attain a Platinum rating and setting a new national standard in sustainable construction. The LivingHomes model home is a Zero Energy, Zero Water, Zero Waste, Zero Carbon, Zero Emissions residence, proving that less is indeed more.
"While the residential market is a new area for LEED and USGBC, the LEED for homes pilot program moves us closer towards our ultimate goal of transforming the built environment on all levels," said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC President, CEO & Founding Chair. "The LivingHomes' model home is expected to demonstrate that incorporating sustainable design into the construction process will help to lower operating costs, increase home value, reduce maintenance issues and improve indoor environmental quality in the long-term. With fewer than 20 LEED Platinum-certified commercial buildings nationwide, achieving Platinum certification is by no means a simple endeavor. LivingHomes demonstrates an unwavering commitment to sustainable design and will be pivotal in building awareness for the program."
In the 10-12 years of the LEED program's existence, 700 buildings have been certified and only 20 have achieved Platinum. No residences have received a Platinum rating to date, making LivingHomes the first homebuilder in the United State to reach such a level of environmental achievement. Through careful design, rigorous testing, and thorough integration of comprehensive environmental systems, LivingHomes has set the benchmark high for sustainable residential design.
LivingHomes is the first company to make LEED certified, prefab homes available to consumers nationwide. The first line of homes, designed by Ray Kappe, is available for purchase right now. The second line of homes, designed by David Hertz, is currently under development.
"We are honored to achieve LEED Platinum certification," said LivingHomes Founder and CEO Steve Glenn. "As a company, we're committed to building some of the healthiest, most ecologically considered production homes available and we will use LEED for homes both to clarify what we're doing and why - and to help our customers understand what's different and important vis-à-vis other production homes. The LEED Platinum certification is an appropriate, and much-appreciated acknowledgement, of our homes' comprehensive ecological considerations."
The USGBC, a non-profit organization, developed the LEED green building rating system as a set of voluntary, consensus-based national standards for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED for homes, which is scheduled for a full public launch early in 2007, is a voluntary initiative that promotes the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices and rewards the top green home builders who are the first to move in that direction. The program is meant to provide national consistency in defining the features of a green home and to enable builders anywhere in the country to obtain a 'green' rating on their homes. Builders of LEED certified homes will be able to differentiate their homes as the best homes in their markets, using a recognized national brand. Launched in 2005, the pilot program to date includes 125 builders and 725 units, with the numbers growing weekly.
Similar to the LEED program for new commercial construction, the LEED for homes pilot is based on a four-tiered rating system (Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum) that awards points to projects based on their efficient use of energy resources, water resources, building construction resources, land resources, and consideration of enhanced indoor environmental quality. The LivingHomes model home, designed by iconic Southern California architect Ray Kappe, FAIA, was awarded a total of 91 points out of 108, establishing the prefab developer as a leader in sustainable design.
To meet the high standards set by the USGBC and to respond to the market's appetite for healthy, sustainable living, each LivingHome is designed to attain at least a Silver LEED rating. The model home incorporated a unique level of sustainable materials and the innovative environmental systems, earning the Platinum designation. An archetype of environmentally sustainable design, the home's anticipated energy use is 80% more efficient than a conventional residence of similar size, the majority of which will be created through on-site photovoltaics. Water for irrigation will be reclaimed. Most of the materials in the home are reused or sustainably created. The home was produced with 75% less construction waste compared to traditional home construction. Sustainable features include: a photovoltaic system from Permacity/Gridpoint to produce the home's energy; solar water heating and radiant floors from ACME; a rooftop garden to divert stormwater and alleviate the heat island effect of conventional black roofs; and integrated stormwater management which includes sub-surface irrigation, a 3500-gallon cistern and grey water recycling system to divert sink and shower water, for irrigation. LivingHomes also uses double-paned, low e Solarban60 glazing on the from Fleetwood doors and windows and Polygal polycarbonate glazing fenestration that has greater thermal properties than regular glass, allowing the model home to sacrifice neither the aesthetic nor the practical.
Acknowledging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health and that recent studies show that the levels of many airborne pollutants may be 25 to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors, LivingHomes is one of the first home developers to take such proactive design measures to minimize the home's environmental impact, both inside and out. The home features formaldehyde- and urea-free millwork, no-or low-VOC paints, and a steel structure that does not support mold growth. A radiant heating system embedded in the floor of the home warms the space more efficiently and healthfully, rather than forcing air laden with contaminants through the home.
To reduce the use of virgin, non-renewable resources and carbon production, the home features a plethora of recycled materials including Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) wood for the millwork, ceiling, siding and exterior wood framing, Paperstone countertops, and Green Fiber 100% denim insulation to name a few. Also, through key partnerships with companies that are equally committed to sustainable design, the model home will showcase extremely energy- and water-efficient appliances by Bosch, LED lighting by PermaLight, , fixtures by Kohler, FSC lumber from Eco-Lumber Co-op, special roofing by Carlysle, an energy efficient spa by Jacuzzi, and furnishings by Design Within Reach, Herman Miller, and Henry Hall Design.
About LivingHomes®
LivingHomes® is a registered trademark. Founded by CEO Steve Glenn, LivingHomes is a premier developer of modern, prefabricated homes that combine world-class architecture with an unparalleled commitment to health and sustainable construction. All LivingHomes products are designed to achieve at least a LEED for Home "silver" accreditation and incorporate an environmental program that is among the most comprehensive of any production home. Designed by renowned architects and constructed using an unprecedented amount of natural and non-toxic materials and systems, LivingHomes successfully marries style and substance. The first line of homes is designed by Southern California icon and founder of SCI-ARC, Ray Kappe, FAIA. In April 2006, the model home was installed onto a concrete slab in 11 modules by a 350-ton crane over the space of eight hours. LivingHomes has also begun development on a community in Joshua Tree, also designed by Ray Kappe. For more information, visit www.livinghomes.us.
About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 6,300 member companies and organizations, a 75-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED® rating systems and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups.
About LEED®
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating SystemT is a performance-oriented, consensus-developed rating system under which credits are earned for satisfying specific green building criteria. The five major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each category. LEED can be applied to various building applications including new construction and renovations, commercial interiors, core & shell developments and existing building operations and maintenance. LEED programs are currently under development for neighborhood development and homes. LEED has been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and private corporations as the benchmark for leadership in sustainable building. For more information visit http://www.usgbc.org.
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