Projects » LEED For Homes Sliver Certified » The Waukazoo Woods Residence
The Waukazoo Woods Residence
LEED For Homes Sliver Certified Michigan
Builder:
Cottage Home
Location:
Holland
Description:
Constructed for an environmentally conscious family moving from Switzerland to the United States, the Waukazoo Woods residence took high performance building in our area to a whole new level. Accustomed to old European buildings that were built to last, these homeowners expected nothing less in their new Michigan home.
They began with selecting a previously developed Lake Macatawa site in beautiful, natural Waukazoo Woods. From there, a plan was developed to implement a closed lake loop geothermal heating and cooling system. This included geothermal hot water and a full radiant heat system and zoning to control and condition the air only in those areas of the home in use at any given time. This was an important feature as the homeowners looked forward to hosting many guests at once.
Also important was the durability factor, so slate and tile were selected to cover the entire first floor. A six inch concrete basement floor was also installed, as well as 2x6 exterior high performance walls.
The homeowners were also interested in sustainable and environmentally conscious building simply because they felt it was the right thing to do. So, highly efficient faucets, toilets and appliances were utilized, in addition to a central vacuum system, special lighting including many CFL fixtures and bulbs, automatic exterior lights on an astronomical clock which adjusts for the length of daylight, and an energy recovery ventilator to control fresh air exchange in the house.
The end result is a welcoming home that has little impact on the environment and that will withstand the test of time; one that should set a new standard for residential building mentality this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
