LEED Certified Homes for the Middle-Class?

This manufactured home built in Cobb County, Georgia is the first home of it's type to get a platinum LEED certification. Once only thought to be available to the rich who can build custom homes with fancy and far-out green options, the builder New World Home has shown us that even manufactured homes can be built with the environment in mind.

Features of this home include:

* Spray foam insulated walls and rafter;
* FSC wood from sustainably harvest forests;
* Pre-cast, insulated concrete foundation;
* Energy Star rated doors, windows, roof, ceiling fans, and appliances;
* Low-flow WaterSense fixtures and tankless water heaters;
* Gutters that collect 100% of rainwater for irrigation;
* Low or no VOC paints, adhesives, and finishes; and
* Non-added formaldehyde cabinets, floors, and trim.

[via JetsonGreen]

Charles & Hudson | Comments () |

modular homes

Our company builds quality homes for the middle class.” ... Had we also not presented an affordable and LEED certified design!

Lesley LEED AP

I am not entirely surprised by this post. I know Lowe's Home Improvement is striving to create tools and fixtures that are as green as possible. It is one of their prime concerns. These tools should already be out in stores, or will be soon. LEED is currently a thing of the future, but I believe it will be very common very soon. I definitely believe LEED certified homes will be available, if not common, for the middle class.

Jeff

I agree with you Lesley. Changes are happening so fast that LEED being common is not that far away. This would greatly benefit us all.

DIYGene

Here in Oakland, Habitat for Humanity East Bay has been building low-income housing that's LEED Gold rated.

Charles & Hudson

Can any LEED AP's chime in on what makes the difference between Gold and Platinum certification? Thanks for sharing Gene.

Frank Robbins

It's a tough thing to put your finger on, it all comes down to points. There are a whole host of sections to LEED that one can gain points on. When I spoke with Mark Jupiter, one of the founders of New World Home, he mentioned that his homes come out of the factory somewhere between silver and gold certifiable. If we take that as true, I would say that the thing that makes this particular home LEED Platinum where the home is placed (Sustainable Sites) and how the landscaping is handled (low irrigation needs, native plants that need less or no watering etc.) Hope that was helpful.

Charles & Hudson

Thanks for clearing that up! Sometimes these certifications seem arbitrary but we tend to forget the exterior landscaping and the impact that can have on the rating. BTW Frank is a LEED AP and regularly contributes to JetsonGreen, he's also the author of a few green building books for children.

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