Using innovative design and construction methods, Chattanooga green building pioneers have designed and built a sustainable development that has received LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Rating System. The Madison Street homes are Chattanooga's first LEED certified homes as well as the first LEED platinum homes in Tennessee.
May 20, 2009
The Madison Street development in Jefferson Heights recently became Chattanooga's first LEED Certified residential properties. Designed by developer Christian Rushing and built by Collier Construction, the Madison Street homes are the first homes in Tennessee to earn a Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council's LEED rating system.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides rigorous standards in the certification of green homes, and platinum certification is the highest certification level a property can earn. Homes that are certified through LEED complete a verification process that includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections.
Mr. Rushing and Collier Construction teamed up last year to pioneer the Madison Street development which was also awarded "Green Development of the Year" by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association in October 2008.
Guided by principles of energy efficiency and sustainability, Mr. Rushing designed the three homes as a modern interpretation of the vernacular architecture of Chattanooga's Southside. The homes feature a unique architectural design. And the exterior mix of aluminum, fiber-cement and larch cladding help these sustainable urban dwellings stand out as innovative 21st Century structures.
Collier Construction applied a Whole Systems Approach to the construction of the homes. "A Whole Systems Approach means that we are building a better performing home--a home that consumes less energy and water; a home that resists rot, mold, mildew, termite damage; a home that stands up against the elements and lasts twice as long as a home built with traditional methods," says Ethan Collier, president and CEO of Collier Construction.
Collier Construction used material efficient advanced framing methods to reduce energy loss through the home's walls, and the company also insulated the crawl space and attic to move temperature differential to the exterior of the home, thus preventing mold, mildew, bugs and rot. Also, the sealed air barrier and the rain screen siding system help stop both air and moisture from penetrating the home's shell. "Green construction gives us a home that has a significantly lesser impact on the environment," Mr. Collier explains.
Mr. Collier goes on to say that "by using green construction methods, we can build higher quality homes with reduced energy and maintenance costs."
And Mr. Rushing maintains that a green home does not cost more to build. It simply requires better decisions and a smarter skill set. He explains that homebuyers should factor reduced energy and maintenance costs into their monthly mortgage as well as their view of long term value.
In addition to the passive solar, the designs include:
Specification of locally manufactured and harvested materials;
Renewable and durable flooring materials (cork, concrete, bamboo);
Durable cladding (fiber-cement board, larch, aluminum shingles);
Metal roof made of materials that are both recycled and recyclable;
Aluminum shingles that are 100% recycled and recyclable;
Efficient, argon-filled Low EII insulated windows;
Native, non-invasive groundcovers; and
Pervious paving materials for the hardscapes.
Mr. Rushing lives in one of the three homes. The other two homes are on the market for $242,500 and $249,500 before the $10,000 homebuyer incentive.
http://www.madisonmoderns.com
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