Green Design and Construction

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Green Home Tour, Expo in West Omaha a Success

2009-10-23T10:19:00.005-05:00

The 2009 Green Homes Tour, presented by the Green Omaha Coalition and the U.S. Green Building Council, Nebraska Flatwater Chapter, was held September 19 and was a smashing success. New to this More than 800 people visited the fair where local businesses had booths demonstrating and discussing sustainable renovations and upgrades to homes.

The tour showcased four west Omaha homes. Each house featured a different theme: indoor air quality and energy efficiency; materials and maintenance; family lifestyle and energy efficiency; and a new Energy Star home. All homes had extensive blower door testing performed. For the owners of the three existing homes, a plan of action was prepared several months before the event. Each homeowner then spent the ensuing months working on different types of projects ranging from air sealing, insulating and equipment upgrades resulting in significant efficiency improvements at each home. Tour attendees were able to see a broad spectrum of improvement projects, including basic do-it-yourself projects, more advanced home owner-performed projects and contractor-performed projects of all sizes and costs.

Visit www.greenomahacoalition.org for resources, such as shopping lists and YouTube video links of the energy audits for each of the homes. Plan to attend this great event next year and don�t hesitate to get involved!

Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers and sponsors that made this event possible, including Midwest Photo Pro for the photography.

Event Sponsors

The main sponsors of the 2009 Green Homes Tour are the Green Omaha Coalition, the Nebraska Flatwater Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, Kiewit Building Group, RDG Planning and Design, Bemis Press and Village Pointe. Booth sponsors include Activate Omaha, Arcosanti Homes, Briggs Inc., Carlisle Insulation, CM Custom Lawn Care and Landscaping, Curbside Rewards, Earth Day Omaha, Energy Rescue, Energy Smart Company, Fluff Your Stuff Interior Redesign, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity � Restore, Hayneedle, Health and Energy Company, Hearthstone Homes, Home Energy Defense, Kelly�s Carpet Omaha, Kinghorn Gardens, Lifetime Home Services, Live Well Omaha, Metropolitan Utilities District, Nebraskans for Peace, Nebraska Furniture Mart, O�Daniel Honda, Omaha Family Magazine, Omaha Public Power District, Sierra Club, Natural Glow Soy Candles, Thermal Services, Todd Menard Homes and United Fixture Supply.

Comments

Share your feedback on the Green Home Tour. Did we exceed expectations? Do you have thoughts on how to make it better next year? Want to volunteer? Contact the Design and Construction Council at designconstruction@greenomahacoalition.org.

2009 Green Home Tour

2009-04-06T11:35:00.000-05:00

The 2009 Green Home Tour on Saturday September 19th aims to build on the amazing success of last year as we focus on showing the benefits of sustainable homes and living for the folks farther West in our great city. Centered around Village Pointe Mall's weekly farmers market and a small green living expo groups will travel to up to four homes. The homes will include an empty nester's town home, a home with several children along with other great places. Attendees will have an opportunity to see budget friendly make-overs, lifestyle opportunities and get great take away checklists to help begin the process in their own home's. Our main goal is to demystify going green by providing examples and resources to help every family. Join us the morning of September 19th for an opportunity to see greening for real life!

OPPD Energy Courses

2009-03-10T03:09:00.000-05:00

Below is a link to the 2009 class schedule for OPPD's Building Science Series classes:

http://www.oppd.com/AimGreen/EnergyInformationCenter/22_003518

OPPD_Energy_Courses_2009.pdf

Green Features Homeowner Checklist

2009-03-09T23:04:00.003-05:00

A draft of the Green Features Homeowner Checklist is available below. It is intended for people selling their homes to highlight green features to potential buyers.

Green_Homeowner_Checklist_Final.pdf

Energy Star Qualified Homes Program - April 1st

2009-03-06T17:12:00.000-06:00

Attend this one-day seminar conducted by EnergyLogic, and hosted by OPPD, and learn how to build an Energy Star home.

Energy_Logic_Conference_2009.pdf

Omaha: The Future Eco-Tropolis, One House at A Time

2008-08-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

The blueprint for the Zero Net Energy Test Home (ZNETH) may sound and look like it belongs on a page in Popular Science. This summer, the drawing jumped out of the page as students from The Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, housed at The Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI), constructed this �green� learning environment.

The collaborative research project, initiated by the University of Nebraska�s PKI, USGBC Flatwater Chapter and the Green Omaha Coalition, is a test home to integrate energy innovations with onsite renewable power solutions that can be used to achieve a zero net energy home.

The house, located at 6454 Woolworth Ave., investigates effective approaches to achieve whole-house environmental and energy goals. It incorporates architectural and construction engineering methods for improving performance while minimizing increases in overall building cost. This research analyzes system performance and costs as they relate to whole building performance, including advanced envelope methods, mechanical/electrical systems, lighting systems and renewable energy systems.

�This project has created an excitement with students, faculty and PKI partners,� said PKI Executive Director Winnie Callahan. �It exemplifies the unique opportunities available to PKI students. The ability to build a green home, the first of its kind in Nebraska, while gaining experience through PKI alums, employed with existing partners, is incomparable.�

ZNETH's objectives are to:

Design and construct a test home to integrate environmental/energy innovations and onsite/renewable power solutions that can be used to achieve a zero net energy building.

Receive a USGBC LEED� Platinum certification for the test home and utilize the house as a living laboratory for sustainable education.

Integrate key environmental/energy systems innovations into existing homes and commercial buildings.

The unique look is a group effort. Architectural engineering students at PKI submitted designs for the ZNETH. The final plans were developed, pro bono, by architect Tim Hemsath, incorporating pieces of each student�s vision. Hemsath, a professor at UNL in the College of Architecture, is also the chair of the USGBC Flatwater Chapter. PKI student Steven Cross is the project manager and main labor force.

Greetings from Design and Construction

2008-05-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

The Design and Construction Council is a collaborative effort amongst design and construction professionals to increase awareness among the construction community through educational program and resource development.

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