The USGBC LEED for Homes Pilot Program Awards LivingHomes the First-Ever Platinum Rating in Residential Sustainable Design

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    LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- LivingHomes(R)
 (www.LivingHomes.us), a leading developer of modern prefab homes designed
 by world-class architects, has received the highest rating possible from
 the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) new pilot, LEED(R) for Homes
 rating system, making it the first residential project in the country to
 attain a Platinum rating and setting a new national standard in sustainable
 construction. The LivingHomes model home is a Zero Energy, Zero Water, Zero
 Waste, Zero Carbon, Zero Emissions residence, proving that less is indeed
 more.
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060816/LAW043 )
     "While the residential market is a new area for LEED and USGBC, the
 LEED for Homes pilot program moves us closer towards our ultimate goal of
 transforming the built environment on all levels," said Rick Fedrizzi,
 USGBC President, CEO & Founding Chair. "The LivingHomes' model home is
 expected to demonstrate that incorporating sustainable design into the
 construction process will help to lower operating costs, increase home
 value, reduce maintenance issues and improve indoor environmental quality
 in the long-term. With fewer than 20 LEED Platinum-certified commercial
 buildings nationwide, achieving Platinum certification is by no means a
 simple endeavor. LivingHomes demonstrates an unwavering commitment to
 sustainable design and will be pivotal in building awareness for the
 program."
     Since the LEED program's inception in 2000, 550 buildings have been
 certified and only 20 have achieved Platinum. In Los Angeles County, three
 projects have achieved a Platinum rating, including the NRDC Robert Redford
 Building in Santa Monica, the Lakeview Terrace Branch of the Los Angeles
 Public Library, and the Audobon Center in Northeast Los Angeles. No
 residences have received a Platinum rating to date, making LivingHomes the
 first homebuilder in the United States to reach such a level of
 environmental achievement. Through careful design, rigorous testing, and
 thorough integration of comprehensive environmental systems, LivingHomes
 has set the benchmark high for sustainable residential design.
     "We are honored to achieve LEED Platinum certification," said
 LivingHomes Founder and CEO Steve Glenn. "As a company, we're committed to
 building some of the healthiest, most ecologically considered production
 homes available and we will use LEED for Homes both to clarify what we're
 doing and why -- and to help our customers understand what's different and
 important vis-a-vis other production homes. The LEED Platinum certification
 is an appropriate, and much-appreciated acknowledgement, of our efforts."
     Similar to the LEED program for new commercial construction, the LEED
 for Homes pilot is based on a four-tiered rating system (Certified, Silver,
 Gold and Platinum) that awards points to projects based on their efficient
 use of energy resources, water resources, building construction resources,
 land resources, and consideration of enhanced indoor environmental quality.
 The LivingHomes model home, designed by iconic Southern California
 architect Ray Kappe, FAIA, was awarded a total of 91 points out of 109,
 establishing the prefab developer as a leader in sustainable design.
     EVALUATION CATEGORIES             POINTS AVAILABLE        POINTS ATTAINED
     Location + Linkages (LL)                  10                     10
     Sustainable Sites (SS)                    14                     14
     Water Efficiency (WE)                     15                     15
     Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)        14                      9
     Materials + Resources (MR)                22                      8
     Energy + Atmosphere (EA)                  29                     32.5*
     Homeowner Awareness (HA)                   1                      1
     Innovation + Design Process (ID)           4                      1.5
     TOTAL                                    109                     91
 
               Certified = 30-49 points / Silver = 50-69 points /
                 Gold = 70-89 points / Platinum = 90-109 points
 
                             * Awarded bonus points
     To meet the high standards set by the USGBC and to respond to the
 market's appetite for healthy, sustainable living, each LivingHome is
 designed to attain at least a Silver LEED rating. The model home
 incorporates a unique blend of materials and innovative environmental
 systems, earning the Platinum designation. The home's anticipated energy
 use is 80% more efficient than a conventional residence of similar size,
 which qualifies the home as an Energy Star(R) home. The majority of the
 home's energy will be produced by on-site photovoltaics. Water for
 irrigation will be reclaimed. Most of the materials in the home are re-used
 or sustainably created. The home was produced with 75% less construction
 waste compared to traditional home construction.
     The home features:
 
     *  A photovoltaic system from Permacity/Gridpoint
 
     *  Solar water heating and radiant floors from ACME Environmental and
        Creative Climate
 
     *  Native landscape and rooftop garden designed by Richard Grigsby of
        The Great Outdoors
 
     *  Super resource efficient Energy Star appliances from Bosch
 
     *  Permlight LED lights that use a fraction of the power of conventional
        lights
 
     *  An integrated stormwater management system which includes sub-surface
        irrigation and a 3500-gallon cistern and grey water recycling system
        designed by Bill Wilson Environmental Planning
 
     *  Special fans from Panasonic that exhaust moisture from the bathrooms
 
     *  A whole-house fan from Tamarack that automatically vents hot-air
 
     *  A 175 CFM fan from Tamarack in the garage tied into the garage door
        automatically exhausts carbon monoxide from the garage
 
     *  Low-e Solarban60 glazing on the Fleetwood doors and windows and Polygal
        polycarbonate glazing that has greater thermal properties than regular
        glass
 
     *  Low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints and stains from AFM Safecoat
 
     *  Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) wood for the millwork, ceiling,
        siding, and framing
 
     *  100% post-consumer recycled paper based countertops from Paperstone
 
     *  Recycled glass tiles from Oceanside Glasstile
 
     *  Recycled porcelain tiles from Coverings Etc.
 
     *  Water-efficient fixtures by Kohler
 
     *  Special roofing by Carlisle-Syntec
 
     *  An energy-efficient spa by Jacuzzi
 
     *  An indoor garden that serves to filter and produce clean indoor air
 
     *  A carbon off-set for each home (LivingHomes pays for a carbon off-set
        for each home it sells as well as first year operation)
     LivingHomes is the first company to make LEED-certified, prefab homes
 available to consumers nationwide. The first line of homes, designed by Ray
 Kappe, is available for purchase right now. The second line of homes,
 designed by David Hertz, is currently under development.
  Go to www.livinghomes.us to view a time-lapse video of the installation and
                         photos of the completed house.
     About LivingHomes(R)
     Founded by CEO Steve Glenn, LivingHomes (www.LivingHomes.us) is a
 premier developer of modern, prefab homes that combine world-class
 architecture with an unparalleled commitment to health and sustainable
 construction. All LivingHomes products are designed to achieve at least a
 LEED for Home "silver" accreditation and incorporate an environmental
 program that is among the most comprehensive of any production home. The
 model home recently achieved "platinum" certification, making it the first
 home in the nation to be certified platinum and only one of 20 platinum
 buildings in the nation. Designed by renowned architects and constructed
 using natural and non-toxic materials and systems, LivingHomes successfully
 marries style and substance. The first line of homes, including a community
 in Joshua Tree, is designed by founder of the Southern California Institute
 of Architecture (SCI-arc), Ray Kappe, FAIA. For more information, visit
 www.livinghomes.us.
     About USGBC
     The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of
 corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit
 organizations working together to promote buildings and communities that
 are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and
 work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 6,300
 member companies and organizations, a 75-person professional staff, a broad
 portfolio of LEED(R) rating systems and services, the industry's popular
 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, and a network of over 70
 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups.
 
 

SOURCE LivingHomes; Steve Glenn