Upcoming Trainings

November 4, 2009: Single Family
Training
Richmond, VA from 9AM - 4PM
_____________________________

October 21, 2009: NEW! - HVAC Class
Richmond, VA from 9AM - 4PM

To register, please visit our website, www.earthcraftvirginia.org, and click on the “trainings” menu item.  There you’ll find the registration forms. 

Remember, you must be registered in advance!

From the Executive Director
KC McGurren, Executive Director

Virginia’s premiere green building program celebrates 5 years in Virginia come 2010. Nearly five years of work is reflected in the certification of 378 homes and 23 multifamily projects, representing a total of 1675 dwelling units. Your hard work and dedication to quality, green construction has made that possible. The 2,053 families residing in EarthCraft House buildings experience quiet, comfortable homes, with low monthly utility bills, and buildings that might actually last the lifetime of the mortgage. The combined benefits to the environment are immeasurable in carbon savings, erosion control, water conservation and resource conservation.

Your participation has put Virginia on the map as a leading green building state. We would like to recognize your efforts and are currently taking nominations for projects. Please send us your submissions, including a write-up and pictures for:

• Single Family Builder/Project of the Year
  
• Single Family Affordable Builder/Project of the Year
  
• Multifamily New Construction Project
  
• Multifamily Renovation Project
  
• Notable Trade of the Year
  
• HBA affiliate of the Year

Please send nominations to admin@earthcraftvirginia.org with the award category in the subject line. We look forward to awarding builders and their projects in early 2010. Stay tuned for further details!

Sincerely,

Showcase Single Family Builder
Advantage Properties, Inc.

Advantage Properties, Inc. achieves EarthCraft Gold™ on First Projects

Barry Seymour of Advantage Properties, Inc., with the construction management guidance of Giles Griffith, recently completed his first two EarthCraft projects, achieving EarthCraft Gold™.  The two homes were developed on an infill site in Arlington, Virginia.   Both homes incorporate cutting edge green building practices that translate to low energy bills, greater homeowner comfort, and improved indoor air quality.  They constructed a tight, well insulated building envelope through the use of R-3 structurally insulated sheathing and cellulose, including R-41 dense packed cellulose over the garage.  The structurally insulated sheathing replaced the need for OSB, while also reducing thermal bridging.  These components, combined with excellent air sealing, contributed to low air infiltration levels of .163 CFM50/SFBE.  Since the houses are so tight, fresh air is provided through an ERV.  This and additional measures to ensure high indoor air quality earned the houses EPA’s Indoor airPLUS designation. 

The 92 AFUE gas furnace and 15 SEER heat pumps with variable speed blowers—all located within conditioned space—will contribute to lower utility bills and increased comfort.  To help keep the electricity bills even lower, 100% compact fluorescent lighting was installed.  All of these measures earned the houses a HERS index of 65, qualifying Advantage Properties for the $2000 EPAct Builder Tax Credit. 

Multifamily Project:
Paradigm Development Company Certifies largest Multifamily Project to Date

Paradigm Development Co. recently certified The Madison at Ballston Station under the EarthCraft New Construction Multifamily program. This 234 unit affordable housing project, located in Arlington, Virginia received funding from the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

The density of housing, walking distance to mass transportation, shops and restaurants make the Madison at Ballston Station desirable to residents all while reducing their carbon footprint. One area that the project team focused on was indoor air quality. All units were constructed with formaldehyde-free insulation, subflooring, cabinets, countertops, and low VOC paints.

Considerable effort was taken to design and construct a building that not only saved energy, but also saved natural resources. Many advanced framing techniques and products were implemented on this project including T walls that allow for better insulation coverage and reduce unnecessary studs, the use of non-structural headers, engineered roof and floor trusses, and jobsite framing lists and cut plans that reduced mis-cuts and unnecessary framing/thermal bridging. The Madison at Ballston Station boosts energy efficient units achieved with programmable thermostats, air handlers located in conditioned space, less than 4% duct leakage outside the unit envelope. Each unit also features Energy Star rated appliances including refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer that not only reduce unit utility bills, but also helps reduce unit cooling loads in the summer months.

The Madison at Ballston Station provides a great example of a project team bridging the gap between affordable housing and green building.

Features & Dedications

The Madison at Ballston Station
Arlington, VA

• Paradigm Construction Co.
  
• Total units: 234
  
• Dedicated: September 17, 2009

Colonial Heights
Fredericksburg, VA

• Community Housing Partners
• Total units: 14
• Dedicated: September 28, 2009

Habitat for Humanity
Steve Reed, Habitat Coordinator

Habitat and EarthCraft Partnership

EarthCraft Virginia is going into our third year of partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

We have certified 70 Habitat for Humanity homes, which are all now owned by low income families, with 49 more projects currently underway. We hope that within the next three years all 51 Habitat homebuilders across Virginia will be certifying their houses EarthCraft, because of the many homeowner benefits we know they can affordably provide to their partner families. Low income families are often put at an unnecessary disadvantage when it comes to healthy indoor air quality, energy efficiency, quality or durability of materials, and overall comfort.

A recent study of electric bills from Charlottesville Habitat houses showed that their EarthCraft houses were benefiting from 25-30% overall savings. A similar study of 21 Danville Habitat houses showed that the only EarthCraft home being analyzed was outperforming all 20 other homes, saving about 50% on their total utility costs. Danville has since built 5 more EarthCraft homes and continues to provide the most energy efficient Habitat houses in Virginia. Habitat for Humanity has been receiving great feedback from families who move into EarthCraft certified houses, and EarthCraft Virginia is proud to that our work helps provide a high level of homeowner satisfaction.

EarthCraft hopes that our partnership with Habitat for Humanity continues to provide quality homes with long-term sustainable benefits to deserving families in all corners of Virginia.

Partners & Sponsors

The EarthCraft Virginia program is made possible by the support of its sponsors and partners.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact us at (804) 225-9843 or admin@earthcraftvirginia.org.