35 and 37 Wisdom Way Solar Village
(Greenfield, Massachusetts)
35 and 37 Solar Way are the first two units in the Wisdom Way Solar Village that have been certified using the LEED for Homes program. The homes were built by Rural Development Inc., which is well-known in the area for their commitment to building high performance, affordable homes. Green homes have substantially lower utility bills and may qualify for advantageous financing, lower insurance rates and government incentives. Through their commitment to green homebuilding, Rural Development, Inc. is helping to provide efficient, durable, and affordable homes to the local community.
Steven Winter Associates, Inc., the LEED for Homes Provider for the Wisdom Way Solar Village, is proud of what has been accomplished with these first two units. “These Platinum homes resulted from a talented project team that included multiple energy specialists, superior craftsmen, and a developer with an incredible vision for the future of affordable housing” said Maureen Mahle, LEED for Homes Program Manager at Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Most of the homes in the Wisdom Way Solar Village development are being sold to low-income buyers. A smaller percentage of units are being designated for moderate-income buyers, while two will be sold on the open market. RDI focused heavily on reducing energy use. The two, three, and four-bedroom units feature a very tight, well insulated envelope (R-42 blown cellulose); high-solar gain insulated windows for southern exposure and triple-glazed, low-e windows elsewhere; high efficiency lighting; and a small, sealed-combustion unit heater for each unit. Other features include high-efficiency water fixtures and toilets, instantaneous water heaters, programmable thermostats, and mechanical ventilation and distribution. In addition, solar electric panels and solar thermal collectors have been installed on the roof to offset electricity and domestic hot water energy.
Environmentally preferable materials were also utilized on these two units and included low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint; recycled content insulation; the use of 30% fly ash (by-product of burning coal) in concrete; and locally-harvested, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood flooring. As a result of incorporating energy saving products and technologies, 35 and 37 Wisdom Way have a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index of 8 and 17 respectively - which equates to approximately a 92% and 83% more energy efficient home than one built based on 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC ).
Construction of 20-unit development is scheduled to be complete in 2010. For more information on the community and on RDI, visit http://www.ruraldevelopmentinc.org.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 14,500 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org)
About LEED® for Homes
LEED® for Homes is a third-party certification system for high-performance green homes. Developed and administered by USGBC, LEED for Homes awards points to projects in seven categories of environmental performance:
