MN GreenStar

Todd at Summit Design-Build (our GreenStar guru!) submitted our documentation package last week to the crew at Minnesota GreenStar. Jason and I just got to review the package and it was almost as exciting as seeing our final floorplans! It looks like we will be able to reach Bronze level at this stage in the game. I would like to see what we need to do to achieve Silver status. Hopefully we should receive feedback from them soon so we can start digging!

Unfortunately, budget does not allow for the most obvious interpretations of green home building: solar, geothermal, solar water heating and greywater collection. I would like to know more about greywater collection though. I wonder what it involves? Is it something you can do at a later date or does it need to be created now?

Some of the green building items we are doing include:
- Passive solar
- Cool metal roofing (white)
- White EPDM membrane roofing
- Energy Star appliances
- High Efficiency HVAC system
- Low-flow toilets from Kohler
- FSC-certified wood flooring
- Rain barrels (two)
- Tankless water heater
- Programmable thermostat
- Spray foam insulation (walls and ceilings)
- Fiber-cement siding
- Marvin low-e argon aluminum-clad windows
- Low VOC paints
- Possible Rain Garden and native plantings