About the author:

Mark Robert Johnson – FAIA / CKD / AIBD mark’s image

Mark Johnson is Principal of MARKITECT, a consulting firm serving the design and building industry. He has led efforts for two Fortune 500 Companies, Whirlpool Corporation and CertainTeed Corporation, to reach the design community, garnering three AIA Continuing Education System Awards for Excellence. Mr. Johnson collaborates with industry leaders like Google, Apple and McGraw-Hill Construction to bring Web 2.0 design tools and continuing education to the industry. Prior to his corporate career, he practiced as a licensed architect, working for top firms including HOK and Moore Ruble Yudell. Mr. Johnson writes and speaks internationally on subjects ranging from sustainable design and technology to design trends in architecture.
Mr. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, NKBA Educator for the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Certified Kitchen Designer and a Professional Building Designer with the American Institute of Building Design. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis, as well as a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from UCLA.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Green Design Guide – Habitat for Humanity’s First LEED Platinum Home

This week we’re traveling to Southern California to tour the first LEED Platinum home built by Habitat for Humanity. The local mayor calls it the greenest home in Riverside, the desert community where I grew up. Very exciting indeed that a home built to be affordable for low-income families can also attain the highest sustainable home rating offered by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

Jon Dougal, Sustainability Director for Habitat for Humanity, leads our tour. You’ll hear from Jon about the many aspects of this home that earned point values towards LEED Platinum. I know the area well and especially like the way the home’s location on an in-town urban infill lot qualifies for LEED points based on close proximity to a park, shopping and even Metrolink, Southern California’s commuter rail system. That makes walking to local and regional services an option for the Suarez family while reducing their personal carbon footprint.

The home combines practical low-tech energy and water saving features well suited to the desert with state-of-the-art technology for its mechanical systems. I also like Jon’s description of linoleum, a product invented almost 150 years ago in England, and how it’s been rediscovered as a green product and used in the Habitat home. In particular, linoleum’s rapidly renewable “short term harvest ingredients”, linseed oil, wood flour and cork dust, are interesting to hear about. Click here to learn about Linoleumville, New York, at Wikipedia.

The attic and roof design are fascinating. The design uses a common whole house fan to optimize an evaporative cooling system for the house in combination with a solar panel system mounted on the garage.

So join Jon and other green experts in this Podcast to learn how a Habitat for Humanity home can be so energy efficient that it provides power back to the grid. Who knew that affordable housing could give back to the environment in such enriching ways. Click here to watch and learn!

Come back next week for another conversation, and share GreenDesignGuide with a friend. If you’d like to comment now or after watching the video, I’d appreciate your feedback. Please suggest ideas or topics you’d like to hear about. Thanks for reading, watching, and commenting… it’s all good.
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Posted by AEC Daily at 10:24 PM
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