Michael R. Carlson, Architect

ARCHITECT
Michael R. Carlson, M R Carlson Inc.
Seattle, WA 98121
941-544-6365
http://www.mrcarlsoninc.com
Michael R. Carlson, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Endeavor Building Systems LLC (dba Homes By True North)
6812 Old 28th Street SE, Suite J
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-848-8032
http://www.truenorthhomes.net/
Rich Bloem
Alex Goosen, LEED AP Homes

LEED FOR HOMES PROVIDER AND LEED GREEN RATER
Green Home Institute (Formerly – Alliance for Environmental Sustainability)
PO Box 68164
Grand Rapids Michigan 49516
616-458-6733
https://greenhomeinstitute.org/
Brett Little. LFA, Executive Director (ext. 1)
Jamison Lenz, BS Sustainable Business, LEED APH, LEED Green Rater, & BPI/REPS (ext. 2)

The Birch Haven Residence is on a small lake in Southwest Michigan.  The lake sits to the NW, so the primary views are to the NW.  The lot itself is rotated 35 degrees west of due south.  The home wants to use good passive design features and roof mounted solar thermal and solar PV systems.   The key passive design feature is to rotate the main roof plan 20 degrees to the south, so that the main roof is only 15 degrees from due south facing.   This passive feature helps to block the summer sun, but lets the winter sun penetrate deep into the home for passive solar heat gain.  The main roof also provides a great place to put all the active systems (the PV and solar thermal).  The roof area slope is 15 degrees from south.  This passive design feature, while being a key component to the energy conservation strategy, also creates a dynamic and interesting aesthetic feature of the home. 

Further to the energy conservation considerations, the selection of the heating and cooling systems is very important.  The heating load exceeds the cooling load in this region, but we need to appropriately address both needs.  Heating is the main focus, but active cooling will be required in the warmest and most humid summer months.  The first thing we did was to create a high performance building envelope.  The wall will be Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), the attics will be well insulated, and we will use good quality, double glazed (insulated) windows and doors throughout.  Once the building envelope was determined, the heating and cooling systems were properly sized.   One other interesting consideration is there is natural gas available at the site.  And there will be many times during the year that the home will be naturally ventilated. 

We looked at several systems, keeping in mind energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, first cost, and life cycle cost.   A geo-thermal system was an option – you can get heating and cooling from this type of system.  It would have been a forced air distribution system- pretty standard air handlers and ducted distribution.  Another option was to use a liquid base radiant flooring system.  This provides an amazingly comfortable heat source.  Another option was solar thermal panels on the roof to supplement the mechanical heating systems (preheat the liquid on the roof and then refine the actual temperature with a gas or electric system).   This can be interconnected (via a heat exchanger) with the domestic hot water system to preheat the domestic hot water system as well.  With the radiant flooring system, there was still need to implement a cooling system as well.  Another option was a more conventional heat pump to provide both heating and cooling, and distributed by a force air distribution system.  

We put solar PV panels on the roof to create as much electricity as we could afford.  We evaluated the available roof areas for the proper balance of solar thermal and solar PV panels.  Part of that analysis is about how much (if any) natural gas to use, versus going with all electric systems.  All these ideas were discussed in this design process stage. 

When Michael began designing his second LEED home, we wanted to share some of the process, decision making, and what to expect.  Our first LEED home was for the HGTV television show in 2009, and was the HGTV Green Home for that year.  It was Platinum level certified.  This project is our second LEED home, the Birch Haven Residence, located in Southwestern Michigan, and is a new home for Michael’s parents.  It is Platinum level certified as well. For the design process of a LEED home, there is a lot to think about, but don’t get overwhelmed.

First, assemble your team.  Select an architect that has already done LEED certified projects, and who has long term commitment to sustainable design solutions.  Green Design should be in the architects DNA, not a segment of their practice.  LEED has been around for about 15 years now, and well within the main stream for 6-8 years now, so if your design team has not been engaged, what could they be waiting for?  Many architects can talk the talk now, but can they (and have they) walked the walk.  The architect designing your house should be a LEED accredited professional. (LEED AP)

Get some help with the design of the mechanical systems including the cooling and heating systems.  In most jurisdictions you are not required to have a licensed mechanical engineer involved in your single-family residential project.  This design work is typically left up to the subcontractors to figure out the details of the design. In a high-performance building it is important to have expertise available to design the systems.  Don’t leave it up to the subcontractor to do the system he is most familiar with.   You want your design team to look at systems that far exceed the code minimum requirements.

Bring your general contractor on board as soon as your design team has a concept design established.  Designing a high performance home requires an integrated design and construction team working together to optimize the outcomes.  The general contractor can provide valuable knowledge on construction techniques suitable for your area and climate zone.  The GC can provide preliminary cost estimating during each phase of the development of the design to make sure your project stays on budget.  The GC can bring in their subcontractors into the discussion to provide input into the selection of building systems to be used on your project.  We suggest getting several references for good experienced general contractors and then narrowing that list down to two or three contractors that you would like to interview in person.  Don’t base your decision strictly on price. Remember that you are in the early design stage of the project at this point and many of the details and systems have not yet been established.  A hard bid at this phase is not possible.  Look more at qualifications, past experience and how the general contractor calculates his fee.   And the general contractor should have LEED accredited professionals on staff. 

One side thought: We think it is best as the owner to hire the design team and construction team under separate contracts.  The design/build delivery method is less successful.  Having the design team subservient to the contractor lends itself to mediocrity and reduces accountability.  

Remember-Bring your contractor on board early!

To seek and obtain LEED certification for your home you will need a LEED provider. You can connect with your LEED provider using the USGBC website to find the lead provider in your area.  Sometimes there’s more than one in your area. The LEED provider will coordinate with you and your contractor everything that you need to do to seek LEED certification.  They can be a valuable resource.  They understand the process and they have many connections in their community from other LEED projects they have worked on.  You will also need a LEED Rater for your project. Your LEED provider can connect you with Raters in your area. The Rater will visit your job site and do inspections and report back the results as part of the certification process. They will also do the preliminary HERS score evaluation and do the blower door test to establish the actual HERS rating at the end of construction.  The Rater will assist your GC in helping with quality control on the job site. 

Use the LEED for Homes checklist of points as your guide through the project. Have a copy of the LEED for Holmes reference guide handy for used by all the team members.

Depending on the specifics of your project you may need some additional design consultants at your discretion.  You may need interior design services, landscape architecture, acoustical engineering, energy modeler, geotechnical engineering etc. 

Now you have your core team together.   Work together to design a fantastic Sustainable home!

Return to Birch Haven Residence