Hi Friend,

As we ring in the New Year, we here at EarthCraft Virginia are committed to continued growth of green building and wish you to join us in this effort!

Last year we certified even more single family and multifamily buildings than in 2009, totaling 302 single family homes and 29 multifamily projects representing 1341 dwelling units. These certified buildings saved 6,717,144 kWh of energy and 16,829,708 kWh of source energy. Congratulations on your participation in the reduction of energy usage and green house gas emissions.

Looking ahead through 2011, we believe that the housing economy will continue to strengthen as we continue to build infrastructure throughout the state. As many of you have asked, we anticipate overhauling our website to allow the consumer better usability and build brand recognition. We will also incorporate some internal technology changes to simplify reporting for our EarthCraft Technical Advisors. The adoption of the 2009 IECC and advancements included in Energy Star Version 3 will continue to raise the bar on residential construction. This year, in partnership with Southface Energy Institute, we plan to release EarthCraft Light Commercial. The EarthCraft Light Commercial program is ideal for commercial buildings 15,000 square feet and under and allows some flexibility for buildings less than 25,000 square feet.

The $2000 builders’ tax credit has recently been renewed through the end of 2011. Houses using 50% less energy for heating and cooling than a code built house can qualify. Best of all, it is retroactive back through the beginning of 2010.

Have you heard of USDA’s 504 program, offering low interest loans to very low-income, rural homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their dwellings or to remove health and safety hazard? For more information visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-RR_Loans_Grants.html

We are very excited as we prepare for our 2nd Annual Builder Awards Reception scheduled for March 23, 2011. We’ve included some new categories this year, so be sure to nominate yourself and your 2010 completed projects. Don’t miss the nomination deadline- February 12th, 2011. http://www.earthcraftvirginia.org/files/2011NominationForm.pdf

Wishing you a sustainable 2011!

KC McGurren, Executive Director

Artisan Construction Achieves Gold
Zack Miller

This December Artisan Construction, Inc. certified its third EarthCraft project, Woodhill, at the Gold level. Woodhill will also be Artisan’s third project certified under the LEED for Homes Rating System with Artisan having participated in the pilot phase of the young LEED Program and earlier, in the EarthCraft program’s pilot in Virginia. The project is located in Bundoran Farm, a development to the south of Charlottesville where over 90 percent of the 2300 acres are preserved as managed forest, working cattle pasture, and apple orchard. All homes built in Bundoran Farm are encouraged to utilize sustainable design and are required to achieve EarthCraft or LEED certification. Artisan followed the development’s low impact approach closely with Woodhill, trenching all its utility lines along the driveway and disturbing only 8% of the wooded lot in the process. The home has a tight, well insulated envelope with R-20 spray foamed walls, R-38 structural insulated panel (SIP) roof, and R-19 poured foundation walls with continuous insulation. The home also features a high efficiency geothermal heat pump and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). Special attention was paid to indoor air quality and through the use of low-formaldehyde pressed woods and cabinetry, low-VOC paints and sealants, radon resistant construction, proper combustion venting, and a host of pest and moisture control strategies Woodhill was also able to achieve EPA’s Indoor airPlus certification.

Fredericksburg Habitat Completes Another ICF Home
Steve Reed

Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity has built several EarthCraft homes using Insulated Concrete Formed exterior walls. Most recently they completed an ICF home in Spotsylvania County near Lake Anna. Their upcoming home designs will likely return to stud framing using carefully selected advanced framing strategies to reduce costs, although ICF’s did prove to be a volunteer friendly technique. The air-tightness and continuous insulation level they were able to achieve will also be difficult to match.

This home was designed to be wheelchair accessible, with a zero-step path and entry into the home, wide door openings, and blocking built into the bathroom to allow for future improvements. Habitat for Humanity builders often consider aging in place, the possibility of taking in an elderly relative, or even just allowing easy access for visitors of all ages and abilities when designing homes to last.

Since this home was built on a slab foundation, the decision was made to insulate the attic with sprayed foam along the roof deck to provide a conditioned space for HVAC equipment and ductwork without sacrificing any living space from the efficiently designed floor plan. Sprayed foam contributed to the air-tightness of the building, which was measured well beyond the limit where mechanical ventilation is required, and allowed for a nicely vaulted ceiling over the living room and kitchen.

The Habitat partner family purchasing this home is very pleased with the design and quality of construction. They were familiar with many of the EarthCraft features already, after helping build some of Fredericksburg Habitat’s previous homes, and hope to continue volunteering to build with Habitat in the future.