Every year the U.S. Green Building Council recognizes the top projects, developers and home builders participating in its LEED program. “Healthy, high performing residential projects don’t have to cost more, and that is evidenced in many of this year’s winning projects” said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development, USGBC, in a press release. “LEED builders continue to push the envelope in areas of innovation and affordability, and so we tip our hats to the dedicated leaders represented in this year’s winners circle.” Check out this year’s 2011 LEED for Homes award recipients.
2011 LEED Project of the Year: The GO Home, Belfast, Maine
With a small but smart footprint of 1,500 square feet, the three-bedroom LEED Platinum GO Home uses minimal energy and was built at construction costs comparable to a building a standard home. As a net zero and passive house, The GO Home was designed to bring design and energy performance in line with affordability, and is designed to slash energy usage by 90 percent. The project will be replicated across a 36-home community in Maine.
Outstanding Single Family Project: Power Haus, Sarasota, Florida
Built by Josh Wynne Construction, the Power Haus home received the award for Outstanding Single Family Project. Passive ventilation, cooling and lighting, coupled with innovative use of cutting-edge technologies earned the Sarasota, Florida home the lowest Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score on record in the U.S. The high-design, high-performing home actually produces more energy than it consumes.
Outstanding Multifamily Project: Primera Terra, Playa Vista, California
Special attention was given to optimizing the 52-unit building’s envelope in order to maximize performance. KB Home controlled costs on the Primera Terra residential community by performing cost/value reviews and proved that a LEED Platinum project can be designed and built without a significant increase in construction costs.
Outstanding Production Builder: ActiveWest Builders, Meadow Ranch Development
ActiveWest Builders was recognized in the Production Builder category for its Meadow Ranch Development in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As a LEED for Neighborhood Development project, Meadow Ranch embodies the ideals of livable, healthy and efficient community design. ActiveWest Builders designed the project with an aging population in mind, as it was developed to meet the changing needs of active adults looking to downsize but maintain homeownership.
Outstanding Affordable Housing Project: Juneberry Lane, Clackamas Community Land Trust, Oregon City, Oregon
The LEED Platinum Juneberry Lane project, developed by Clackamas Community Land Trust, received the Outstanding Affordable Housing Project award. The project, built on a high density infill property, consists of 12 subdivisions of six duplexes, and provided permanently affordable homes for families with modest incomes in Oregon City, Oregon. Buyers are required to invest sweat equity towards landscaping and home maintenance projects, helping to sustain its aesthetics while building a cohesive community.