LEED HOUSES COMING TO HOUSTON

By Ella Tyler

The Houston Renewable Energy Group’s tour of alternate energy homes and buildings, which will be tomorrow (10/6/07) afternoon, is also a chance to look at Houston’s first few LEED residences.

LEED is short for the “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™”. It has been developed by the US Green Building Council as the benchmark for design, construction, and operation of green buildings.

LEED buildings use less energy, water, and natural resources; create less waste; and are healthier and more comfortable. Benefits include lower utility bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.

The LEED system allows owners, architects, and builders a lot of flexibility in achieving a LEED designation. LEED certification requires meeting minimum standards for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. After these standards are met, points are added for efforts beyond the minimum requirements in each of these areas. Third-party certification is required. Depending on how many points a project is awarded, the building is rated Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Houston is adding LEED certified projects so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. So far, SpawGlass, American Heart Association, Kirksey, Equivalent Data, Horizon Wind Energy, Satterfield & Pontikes, and Schlumberger Limited have LEED certified headquarters buildings. Also, Emerson Unitarian Church’s educational building, NASA Building 27 (Astronaut Quarantine Facility), St. Katherine’s Montessori School, the Pearland Pediatric Building, Walnut Bend Elementary School, and West Brazos Junior High School are certified.

In addition, there are dozens more projects underway in the area that are registered but don’t have their certification yet. See an online listing.
There are no houses on the certified list yet, because LEED for Homes is just now out of the pilot stage. Heather Ferrier’s house in the Fort Worth Dallas area was featured in this quarter’s “At Home” magazine.

Three of houses on the alternate energy tour are working toward certification and one is a pilot project home.

9245 Wickford Drive, in the Memorial area, is still under construction. It demonstrates ICF (insulated concrete form) exterior walls, a photovoltaic solar system, and solar water heating.

3319 Virginia, in the Upper Kirby/ Greenway area, is designed for total self-sufficiency with solar panels and rainwater harvesting. It will have geothermal HVAC systems using subterranean wells beneath the home. Strategies to reduce energy consumption include north-facing glass, large overhangs on the south and west, reflective metal siding, spray foam insulation, and natural cross ventilation.

The WareLoft, at 13900 Hiram Clarke, is a contemporary work/living green home on a budget. Green building features are passive solar cooling with design-assisted natural ventilation, natural day lighting and clean/green finishes. There are no west windows and no attic. A water harvesting system is soon to be added. The roof is large enough area so solar PV panels can be added. The house is being designed and constructed for minimal site disruption with porous driveway and preservation of existing landscaping, and for totally organic gardening and landscaping to come.

The Mercatante Residence at 16711 Tankersley Drive in Rosharon is finished. It is part of the LEED for Homes pilot program, so it is a great opportunity to check out a variety of green building techniques. The house uses Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) for exterior walls and roof, finger jointed studs, engineered beams for interior framing, passive solar design, energy efficient appliances, water efficient fixtures, and recycled architectural elements.

It has an energy star roof, a solar water heating system, and a rainwater collection system. The propane tanks are outside and all interior paint and floor finishes are water based. Countertops and interior doors were reused from houses that were demolished. Stained concrete, locally harvested wood and quickly renewable bamboo were also used as construction materials.
You can also visit St. Catherine’s Montessori School, 9821 Timberside.
The tour is Saturday, October 6, from noon to 5 pm. Tickets are $10 per car and may be bought at any of the tour sites. For a list of all the tour homes, not just the LEED ones, see . There are three more houses on the tour, including one in Galveston and one at Cat Springs.