Going Green!

LEED Gold!

2011-12-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

We recently received our LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, becoming one of only a few LEED certified custom homes in the state of South Carolina. Here is our letter from the USGBC and a picture of the award etched into the glass next to our front door. Thanks to everybody involved, especially our architect, Bob Bourguignon of Sustainable Architecture, for all of their assistance in helping to make this momentous occasion a reality!

Our Green Home Materials

2010-10-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked for a list of the materials in our Green Home: Here they are:

#1 and most important, without whom none of this would have been possible, our architect Bob Bourguignon with Sustainable Architecture in Moore, SC: (864) 486-0898 www.sustainablearchitecturellc.com

Now the materials and other services:

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS: Fischer SIPS www.fischersips.com

Doors and Windows: Peachtree Zo-e-shield 7. Contains multiple layers of Low-E coatings that filter out the light's spectrum's heat transmissions to optimize the sun's heat and a home's heating/cooling systems. www.peachtreedoor.com

Low-Flow Faucets: We used Peerless but you should choose whichever brand you like best because they all offer low-flow versions these days. Just look for 1.5 GPM or the "WaterSense" label.

Low-Flow Shower Heads: We used Hansgrohe but once again, choose what suits you. For shower heads, look for 1.75 GPM or the Watersense label.

Floors: Morningstar Bamboo from Lumber Liquidators: www.morningstarbamboo.com and www.lumberliquidators.com Bamboo is green because it is a grass, so does not need to be replanted and can be harvested every five years. We used carpet in only three rooms and it was made from recycled plastic bottles, offered by various manufacturers at Home Depot.

Countertops: Zodiac Mossy Green by DuPont. Zodiac is quartz, which is impermeable. Unlike granite which has to be sealed often. LEED (and the FDA) do not accept granite because it's porous surface can harbor bacteria. The color we chose, Mossy Green, also contains 50% consumer recycled glass. http://www2.dupont.com/Surfaces/en_US/products/zodiaq/index.html?src=zodiac_countertops_g_Exact|mkwid_sggush133_4913365490_4320em1513

Paint: Our paint came from the Sherwin Williams Harmony line, either low or no VOC's. With no or low volatile organic compound content, you can breathe easier. Literally. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/green/

Roof: We chose an Energy Star reflective cream color metal roof from Lowes. This makes even our attic over the garage, which has no insulation, tolerable during the extreme summer heat.

Solar Water Heater: Our solar water contractor is Energy Solutions Division of Comfort Services

Siding: We chose Certainteed for our cement fiberboard siding because the quality was comparable with Hardie, but less expensive. Certainteed also uses 50% fly ash, which is recycled waste from coal-fired electric generating plants. There's another LEED point! www.certainteed.com/buildingresponsibly/products/fibercementsiding/

Pest Control: We chose Gregory Pest Control in Columbia, SC because they use the Sentricon termite bait system which is environmentally friendly: www.gregorypestcontrol.com/why-green/targeted-solutions.html

Rainwater Harvesting: The underground tank is simply 1000-gallon septic tank. Our irrigation system is hooked up to it using a Rainbird 4-zone control, driplines, four valves, and a Gould Irri-Gator self priming pump model GT-10. www.goulds.com/pdf/7305.pdf

Appliances: All Energy Star GE Profile appliances, including a front-load washer which saves over 10,000 gallons of water per year: www.geappliances.com/products/brands/profile.htm?omni_key=sitelink_GEProfile&cid=sitelink5

Fireplaces: We chose the Heat & Glo direct vent model 750 TRS with the electronic pilot. Direct vent models use the outside air for combustion and exhaust which is much healthier for the indoor environment. The electronic pilot means the pilot light is on only when the fireplace is being used, saving gas and $10 - $12 per month. www.heatnglo.com

Landscaping: For the landscaping plan, we needed someone who specialized in working with a LEED architect to assure we had the right native and drought tolerant plants for our land and who knew how to do a rain garden. Bob, our architect, recommended Richard Powers with SM&E in Spartanburg, SC and we were very happy. www.smeinc.com

HVAC: For heating and air conditioning, we wanted a geothermal system, but at $38,000 it was just too expensive to consider. So we went with a high efficiency Tempstar 15 SEER dual-fuel heat pump system utilizing a separate heat pump and gas furnace that work together. Dual fuel, means it will use gas during the coldest times. During the winter, if the heat pump runs continuously for 15 minutes, it will automatically switch to the more efficient gas heat. www.tempstar.com/products/15hp.html and www.tempstar.com/products/vs95.html Our contractor is Will Andrews with Design Air Systems in Columbia, SC.

SIPS Info

2010-07-31T13:26:00.001-07:00

I can't remember if I gave all the details about our exterior construction (Structural Insulated Panels - SIPS) and since someone asked recently, here is the info:

Apparently, studies have shown that determined R-Values have little correlation with how an insulating material actually performs in a non-SIP home. When taking into account factors such as cavity voids, wiring without compression, and paper facer stapled to studs, the actual R-Value decreases significantly.

SIPS homes avoid these familiar problems by distributing insulation uniformly among the entirety of the panels. Without these negative effects, actual R-Value of insulation within a SIPS panel can actually exceed its determined R-Value

Our exterior walls are 4 1/2" SIPS and the roof is 10 1/4". Here is a table from our SIPS manufacturer, Fischer SIPS:

R-Value Comparison to fiberglass:

Panel Thickness:	Actual R-Value	Performance Value
4 ½”	R-17	R-25
6 ½”	R-25	R-38
8 ¼”	R-33	R-50
10 ¼”	R-41	R-62
12¼”	R-48	R-72

Soon, we will post our actual electric bills showing the kw/h per square foot as well.

Island Shutters

2010-06-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

The setting sun was driving us crazy coming through the windows on the back of the house and so our architect recommended island shutters, also known as Bahama shutters. We found Willard Shutters in Florida, who helped us with the design and voila! here we are.

This should help with our already low electric bill as well.

We'll keep you posted...

Organic Gardening

2010-04-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

After what seemed like a really long winter, spring has arrived and the garden is finally planted.

The first step was to put in the drip lines. We still had two unused zones on our system so we dedicated one to our garden.

We couldn't find organic plants anywhere around here so we ordered from a place in California: www.naturalgardening.com, the oldest certified organic nursery in the US. Later we found that WalMart and Home Depot are carrying organic seeds now so that's what we'll do next year.

Meanwhile, the irises and other plants in the back yard are starting to get green and bloom...

So in the raised beds we planted strawberries, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini, onions, potatoes, green beans, sweet peas, cucumbers, spinach, romaine lettuce, and carrots. Whew! Some from plants and some from seeds.

The original house plan was to include a rooftop garden system but due to budget constraints we decided to cover the whole rooftop terrace with the recycled rubber pavers. But we found something on the internet recently that would allow us to still grow some veggies up there.

It's called a "Grow Box" that is 30”L x 15”W x 12”H with a 4 gal. water well underneath that allows for watering only once a week. You can check them out at: www.agardenpatch.com. So we ordered six and planted them with tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. This also required us to run a pipe up to the roof with a spigot and a hose so we could easily add water when we needed to. The hose and pipe system is attached to our irrigation pump from the underground rainwater cistern. Pretty cool!

Now we just monitor the water needs upstairs and down, and chant "Grow, baby, grow!"

Winter Wonderland!

2010-02-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Thought you might enjoy seeing pix from the big snow of 2010:

Thank You Richland County!

2009-12-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

Just thought you would want to know that our home recently won the Water Wise award in this year's Appearance Counts contest from Richland County.

Each year Richland County issues awards to attractive yards in the area and this year they added some "Green" categories.

We won for our rainwater collection and irrigation system and rain garden. If you missed those posts, you can see them at:

http://switzergreenhome.blogspot.com/2009/08/irrigation.html

http://switzergreenhome.blogspot.com/2009/09/rain-garden.html

http://switzergreenhome.blogspot.com/2009/03/solar-water-rainwater-harvesting-and.html

http://switzergreenhome.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Our award included a nice certificate, a garden party at the county administration building, a poinsettia plant, and a $25 gift card to Woodley's Garden Center.

So thank you Richland County for recognizing our efforts and for encouraging "green". And thanks to our builder Jay Rogers, our architect Bob Bourguignon, and WP Law irrigation supplies for all your work and assistance.

Happy Holidays!

Sometimes going green means going black!

2009-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks Richland County for sponsoring the recent compost bin sale. And thanks architect Bob Bourguignon for picking it up for us.

Richland County recently sponsored a compost bin sale at the Sam's Club on Harbison Blvd. and our architect was kind enough to pick it up for us on his way in to see us. (That, of course, saved us from having to burn fuel and greenhouse gases during a 30-minute drive.)

Composting is a great way to keep garbage food out of the landfill and turn it into fertilizer for your plants. A good compost bin has slots in it for air, a lockable lid to keep critters out, and anchors to hold it to the ground. Ours came with a bucket for the kitchen that has an airtight lid to keep out the fruit flies and a turning rod to occasionally stir up the compost giving it more air which speeds up the process. There is a hatch door at the bottom that locks and easily opens later for shoveling out the compost.

We put our new compost bin between our two raised vegetable garden beds and are looking forward to pulling the food out of it to feed our veggies next spring and summer.

Termite Control

2009-10-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

When we planned our new home we also knew we needed termite protection once it was built. Our builder researched "green" methods and found only one that fit the bill: Sentricon. Gregory Pest Control in Columbia recently cam out and installed the system.

The Sentricon^® Termite Colony Elimination System was introduced in 1995. Rather than saturating the soil with liquid chemical solution, it uses termite bait, manipulating termite biology and behavior to destroy the termite colony.

It is the only termite control product ever to earn the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, one of the federal government’s top environmental honors.

The Sentricon System uses only a few grams of active ingredient on each property, compared to the hundreds of gallons of chemical solution used in a traditional liquid chemical treatment.

The active ingredient in their termite bait is targeted specifically at the molting process in the termite’s life cycle, a process not present in mammals.

The bait is strategically placed in Sentricon stations around the perimeter of the house.

The premier bait used in the Sentricon System was the first termite treatment active ingredient accepted for registration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the strict requirements of the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative. This distinction is based on its low impact on human health, low toxicity to nontarget organisms (birds, fish and plants) and low potential for groundwater contamination when compared to other commercially available termite treatments.

The beauty of the Sentricon System is that the termite bait works just slowly enough to be spread throughout the colony before termites catch on.

Several times per year, Gregory Pest Control will come out to monitor the Sentricon System for termites, bait to eliminate termite colonies and then monitor again for any new termite colonies that might invade the area. Each bait tube has a bar code to make keeping track of the termite activity easy.
Gregory Pest control also crawled into our comfortable air conditioned and padded crawl space and sprayed the underside of our house with Tim-Bor, a borate. Borate treated wood is on the rise as a safe and long-lasting method to protect homes from wood destroying organisms. Borates prevent fungal decay and are deadly to termites, carpenter ants and roaches - but safe for people, pets and the environment. Borates interfere with termites' metabolic pathways when ingested through feeding or grooming, effectively killing them. Surviving termites avoid the protected wood products.

So we are locked and ready against termites...

Great Publicity for "Going Green"!

2009-10-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

While we were traveling the past two weeks, The State newspaper's Kristy Rupon and photographer Erik Campos did a wonderful article on our new home. In case you missed it, here is the online version which includes more photos than the actual paper did.

Enjoy!

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/960600.html

We're hoping this will help increase interest in green building in our state...Thanks Kristy and Erik!

Our next step is the visit from the termite man: Tim from Gregory Pest Control. He came out and inspected the house recently and will soon be installing the environmentally-friendly Sentricon bait system.

We'll keep you posted.

Rain Garden

2009-09-02T20:28:00.001-07:00

We are hitting the home stretch on our green home project and have finally finished the rain garden. For those of you who don't remember, a rain garden is an ecologically sound way of dispersing excess rainwater on your property. In our case, the excess rainwater comes from our underground rainwater collection tank that is fed from all of our roof gutters. It only takes two inches of rain to fill our thousand-gallon tank so we must be prepared for it to send water through the overflow tube into our backyard.

The area it overflows to is the rain garden, which must contain plants that can handle both floods and droughts.

The building of the rain garden was a multi-step process:

1. Dig a three-foot deep pear-shaped hole, 8' wide by 12' long.

2. Make sure the hole is contoured to slope away from the house.

3. Re-fill the hole with a 1.5' layer of river gravel followed by native soil conditioned with manure and mulch.

4. Plant the plants and lay a ground-cover of mulch.

The plants you see here are up to that task:

Blue Flag Iris
Soft Rush
Southern Shield Fern
Milkweed

We're almost done with all the landscaping. As you can see in these pictures, we have started on Maggie's raised beds vegetable garden.

Stay-tuned...

More Native Plants!

2009-08-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

After two months of looking at the mulched construction waste in our yard, we decided that a covering of local pine straw would look best. Although we are glad we did keep a lot of construction waste out of the local landfills and we know the mulched leftovers will eventually provide food for the dirt, we are definitely happier with the look of the pine straw.

The native and/or drought tolerant plants seen in these pictures are:

Virginia Sweet Spire (native means regional by the way)
Daylilies
Butterfly Blue Scabiosa

Serviceberry Tree
Golden St. John's Wort
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Sago Palm
Spiderwort
Switchgrass

Blanket Flower
Arizona Sun
Coneflower
Inkberry Holly
Carolina Allspice
Shasta Daisy
Black-eyed Susan
American Elm
Flowering Crabapple Tree
Husker Red
Illicium
Spirea

Beauty Berry
Black-eyed Susan
Coreopsis
Redbud Tree
Sweetshrub Carolina Allspice

Walkway is Finished!

2009-08-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

With a little help once again from our friend Glenn and his daughter Caitlin, we started on the walkway around to the back of the house. The first step was clearing the path, then digging the trenches for the brick edging, then laying the landscape fabric (made from recycled plastic bottles), and then finally spreading the river gravel.

Quite a chore, but doesn't it look nice!

Irrigation!

2009-08-10T08:13:00.001-07:00

Here is Mike putting in the drip-line irrigation.
A fun and exciting activity, especially in 100 degree weather!

The native and/or drought-resistant plants shown here are:
daylilies
clethra
beauty berry
sweet shrub
piedmont azalea

With a Little Help from our Friends...

2009-08-03T19:35:00.001-07:00

We're still very busy planting. We were fortunate enough recently to have our friend Glenn and his daughter, Caitlin, offer their help. Even our dog, Mackenzie, wants in on the fun!

Shelby and Caitlin put the Adirondack chairs together for our brick patio after Shelby had filled in all the spaces between the bricks with dirt/clay.

Glenn has a funny hat but we'll certainly let him come over and help again!

Plant list to follow soon. We're still waiting on the nursery to deliver more plants that have been out of stock. Right now we're busy preparing the walkways for the river gravel which was delivered recently...stay tuned...

The patio of reclaimed bricks...

2009-07-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

After looking at the pile of reclaimed bricks our builder found for us many months ago, we finally were able to start laying the patio. After leveling the ground and laying the weed-control fabric down, we decided on the herring bone pattern for the bricks. Shelby and Mike laid most of the bricks (which we forgot to take pictures of), and then Mike and Maggie started spreading some dirt around the patio border and in between the bricks.

The dirt came from the rain garden which was dug out by a backhoe a couple days ago. The dirt was placed where our vegetable garden will be.

Eventually, we'll be through with all this back-breaking work!

The Work Continues...

2009-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

We had some pieces of the old clubhouse pergola left over and so we made an arbor to serve as the entrance to the side and back of our house.

The Cobblestone Homeowners Assn. finally approved our landscape plan and so we have finally started planting. Over 90% of the plants will be native plants which will not only help towards our LEED certification but will also survive and thrive because they naturally do so in our area's climate and soil. The next several blogs will start listing the different plants.

We are also making headway on the rainwater harvesting tank irrigation system. The pump has now been hooked up to the valves that will feed the drip lines which will be used to irrigate all the plants, bushes, and trees. We should have everything planted over the next few weeks and then we can install the drip lines. We also ran a pipe to send the air conditioner condensation water to the underground rainwater collection tank.

We have also hooked up to the rainwater harvesting system a garden hose for the hanging baskets and deck planters. And as you can see, we've also been busy staining the deck and railings.

Still Work to Do...

2009-06-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest view from the golf course. You can see that the area below the deck has now been finished. It is enclosed with treated dog-eared fence board. We plan on staining it and the deck and railings with a natural stain and wood preservative.

Below you can see that the second pergola has now been re-assembled onto it's new location. For those of you new to the blog, the two pergolas we have were once one big pergola that was on top of the old clubhouse at Cobblestone. We were allowed to rescue it before the old clubhouse was razed. Our builder cut it into two pergolas and re-assembled them for us. The pile of bricks next to the pergola were also reclaimed and will be laid into a patio below the pergola. We just recently finished sanding and pressure-washing this pergola and are starting to re-paint it.

The other pergola is on the rooftop terrace. It will be cleaned and painted next. We just installed some solar lights on the railings on the rooftop terrace.

We also used the leftover foundation bricks to make a walkway from the deck to the pergola/patio.

We have submitted our landscape plans to the Cobblestone Homeowners Assn. and are awaiting their approval. Once we receive the go-ahead, we will be very busy planting and installing the dripline system from our underground rainwater harvesting cistern. The plants will be over 90% native and drought resistant, both prerequisites for our LEED certification.

Stay tuned!

Spreading the Mulch and Laying the Rubber

2009-05-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

We finally got the big pile of mulched construction waste in the front spread. Now we have to do the big pile in the back and then start planting native and drought resistant plants. Then, we'll hook up the pump to the underground rainwater cistern and lay the drip-lines. My brother Bill from Atlanta is visiting and was a big help spreading the mulch. That's him standing in the doorway below and his dog Sebastian in the road. Of course Shelby and Maggie helped spread the mulch, too. They also sprayed a homemade eco-friendly weed killer on the weeds before we spread the mulch. It consists mostly of vinegar with some water, salt, and liquid soap added.

With the help of Bill, Maggie, Shelby, and our son Keith, we also got most of the rubber pavers laid on the rooftop terrace. All that's left now is to cut the ones that need to go along the edges and put them in place. The pavers are made from recycled tires. We chose these particular ones not only because they had the best price ($5.50 per sq. ft.), but also because of the hexagon shape. This shape keeps the pavers locked into place without the need for any adhesive. Here is the website of the company we chose for the pavers: http://www.sofscapecaribe.com/

Have a great week. We'll post again soon!

Gables

2009-05-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

The decorative gables are now finished. You probably noticed that our piles of mulched waste construction wood are still there. We hope to have that spread throughout the yard soon.

Pergolas and Pavers

2009-05-19T18:39:00.001-07:00

The pergola on the rooftop terrace has been going up over the past few days. If you remember, we reclaimed the large double pergola off the roof of the old clubhouse here at Cobblestone Park before it was demolished. It is now finally being reassembled at our new home.

Below shows the rooftop pergola finished. We just need to remove the side cross braces that were used to keep it stable during reassembly.

Just as the rooftop pergola was finished, almost nine thousand pounds of rubber pavers arrived (below) and you can see in the pictures above we have started laying them on the flat roof. The pavers are made from recycled rubber tires.

The holes are now being dug for the second part of the pergola which will be located just off the deck below.

Stay tuned...more to come!

Dumbwaiter is In

2009-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

The first step in the dumbwaiter installation is constructing the shaft.

The next two photos show the dumbwaiter opening on the second floor at the formal dining room.

The next three pictures show the opening in the pantry on the first floor. The finished pictures show the car in place with two shelves.

These last three pictures show the finished installation with the exception of the doors which will be installed soon. The last picture is the upstairs opening.

We went with the rope and pully system instead of a motorized system to save money (less than half the price) and of course to stay with our green theme.

Stay tuned, more pix coming...

Final Leed Inspection

2009-05-06T20:02:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we had our final LEED inspection. Our goal was to build a house with as limited an impact as possible (that we could afford) on the environment and yesterday's assessment was the measure of our success in that endeavor. In about a week we should have the final report from the LEED provider: Claude St. Hillaire and his company, Home Energy Group, based in Charleston. Below, Claude (second from left) is discussing the inspection with our architect, Bob Bourguignon (far left), Jennifer Bourguignon, and Tony (from Home Energy Group).

The general contractor and all the subs have to provide reports accounting for what each accomplished during the building process. Here, Claude discusses the HVAC checklist with Will Andrews from Air Design Systems.

Part of yesterday's inspection was the final blower-door test. A fan was installed at the front door to simulate a 20-mph wind blowing at the house.

The object is to test the tighness of the house, especially the doors and windows. We are happy to report that the test was a success, coming in slightly better than our target.

While the fan is operating, Claude and Tony walk around the house and check all the windows and doors for leaks.

When we receive the final report, we will post it here...stay tuned!

Cinco de Mayo - Switzer Independence Day!

2009-05-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

We've finally been freed from the bondage of gypsy life and attained the American dream of home ownership! Late yesterday our new home passed final inspection from the Town of Blythewood's building inspector and today we received our Certificate of Occupancy...

We also moved all of our stuff in, had our final LEED inspection, picked up Grandpa at the airport, and slept in our new home for the first time...yes, Cinco de Mayo has a whole new meaning for us now.

More pictures and info tomorrow, stay tuned...

Adding a Personal Touch

2009-04-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

You've probably been wondering if we have moved in to our new home yet. Not quite. Still a few chores to be done. Maggie and I have personally been busy with a couple projects. Below you will see project #1. We added our house number, 105, to the door and we laid some slate tile down in front of the door. This was our first ever attempt at laying tile. We are pleased with our first attempt.

Project #2 was putting in the closet systems in the master closets. Those are now done. Next is the closet in the guest bedroom.

The painters are doing some touch up work and adding the finishing stain to the stairs. The siding and trim crew are completing the last of the outside work. We are hoping to have our final inspection from the building inspector soon so maybe we can move in Friday or Saturday.

Celebrities Visit Switzer Home!

2009-04-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

You may recognize these two characters. Yes, they're Ray and Joel,
the famous globetrotting tennis comedians. Now retired and living at Still Hopes Farms, they were once world renowned for their on-court antics. Ray (left) was also a world-famous "Chick Magnet"...until he met Joel, of course.

Is that the lady of the house peeking through the front door?

Now Joel and Ray travel the country side in their spare time making celebrity visits to unsuspecting "green" home owners. They heard about the green revolution and
are anxious to check it out first hand.

We were thrilled to have them visit our new green home, especially at night so we could
take this opportunity to prove to everybody with these photos that yes,
the lights really are turned on now...

Light at the end of the tunnel!

2009-04-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

The front door has been re-hung, it's just waiting on the hardware now.

The HVAC people have been busy. You know they're close to being finished when the thermostats are installed.

The bamboo flooring is now installed everywhere, including the upstairs bedrooms. So now all the flooring is done, with the exception of the shoe moulding which should be installed Friday or Saturday.

The treated wood interior skeletons for the columns over the stone piers are now all in place both in the front and the back.

And the railings and back deck steps are almost finished.

The best news is that the building inspector came out late today and approved the electrical work so the power company will be turning on the power Friday...yeehaw! There will now literally be LIGHT at the end of the tunnel!

Earth Day

2009-04-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Earth Day has come and gone and we are not in our new home yet. But progress is being made and that's what's important. The carpet was installed today. Here is a picture showing it in the Media Room. The carpet is made from recycled plastic bottles, looks and feels great, and was no more expensive than normal carpet.

The columns on the stone piers are being constructed.

The railings on the rooftop terrace are almost finished.

The bamboo flooring is finished downstairs. The appliances are being hooked up, including the range hood. The hood is from Zephyr and was chosen not only for its looks but because it was one of the few that met our requirement of a minimum air exhaust capacity of 700 cfm.

Maybe moving in Monday or Tuesday...will keep you all posted!

Goodbye Flea Market!

2009-04-19T21:32:00.001-07:00

We waved our final goodbye to the Barnyard Flea Market and RV Park in West Columbia where we have been camping for the past three months. Although our new home won't be finished for a few more days, the park said they had had enough of us and so back to the gypsy life we return. (Actually, they ran out of room as they had a big group coming in that had space previously reserved.)

The staircase is almost finished. The stair treads and rails should be stained in the next day or two.

The bamboo flooring and light fixture installation upstairs are almost finished.

The kitchen counters are being installed. We decided to go with Zodiac Mossy Green from Dupont which is 50% quartz and 50% recycled consumer glass. These food-safe countertops are non-porous and so won't need sealing like granite does.

The back deck is in the process of being finished. The wood we are using has been treated with a new more environmentally safe copper-based treatment from Phibrowood.

The heating and air conditioning system is also now being installed. The air handlers will be located under the house in the crawl space. The crawl space is encapsulated with insulation blankets and will also be conditioned with the HVAC air flow. The conditioned crawl space will prevent mold and mildew and add to the energy efficiency of the home by keeping the cold damp air out from under the house and thus from entering through the floors. This, in turn, will keep the floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

And, over the weekend, the concrete is setting up in the driveway and front porch area.

Bamboo, Concrete and More

2009-04-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

The bamboo flooring has arrived and the installers have begun. We got a great deal on the 30-year warranty bamboo from Lumber Liquidators. Normal price was $2.99 per sq. ft. but because they had just purchased a large quantity from a bankrupt supplier, we were able to get it for only $2.49. What a deal! Bamboo is 20% harder than oak and 160% more stable. That means it won't shrink and expand like normal hardwood floors do as the weather changes. Bamboo is environmentally friendly because it replenishes itself within five years versus twenty to thirty years or more for trees.

The flooring installers are starting on the second floor because it is normally best to do the finishing of the interior from the top down so that the staircase gets less traffic on it once it is finished.

The electrician has also been busy installing the light fixtures including this ceiling fan in the great room. We purchased all of our ceiling fans during the winter when they were deeply discounted.

How do you like the media room paint (below)? It's called Blackberry. The darker a paint is the harder it is to get in a no VOC (volatile organic compounds) formula. This one only came in low VOC, which is acceptable for a LEED certified house.

Below you can see the electrician has been busy in the kitchen installing our Energy Star appliances and the pendant lights over the island counter.

Below, Maggie, Shelby, and Grandma (Mike's Mom) peruse the formation of the staircase from the second floor landing.

And just today, the concrete has arrived for the front porch, entrance way, and driveway.

We're still shooting for a move-in day of Earth Day which is next Wed., Apr. 22. Everybody keep chanting "Earth Day, Earth Day - Switzers' Moving-in-Day"!

Interior Colors, Stone, Gutters, and Mulching

2009-04-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

The scrap wood is finally being mulched and will be spread on the property.

The painting is continuing inside. And of course the paint has no-VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). The painter has commented on how wonderful it is to paint without having to inhale all those strong fumes. Another convert to the "green" way of life!

The stone is finished around the fireplace and the bookcases are going in.

The stonework is finished around the ovens.

The gutters have been installed and are being tied in to the underground rainwater harvesting cistern.

The stone columns at the back porch are finished.

These gutters empty onto the interior corner of the flat roof where we will put another rainwater collection system that will provide water to the rooftop garden.

The stone is finished on the chimney.

Local Magazine Features Our Home!

2009-04-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of Columbia Metropolitan Magazine features a very nice story (with pictures) about our new green home. If you haven't seen it, you can purchase a copy for $3.95 at the following newsstands:

Books A Million (Harbison)
Books A Million (Lexington)
Books A Million (Sandhills)
Books A Million (Trenholm)
Earth Fare
Happy Bookseller
Marriott Hotel (1200 Hampton St.)
St. Andrews Newsstand

The real estate sales center (Discovery Center) at Cobblestone Park also has a copy on display.

Thanks to Rosanne McDowell for penning a great article and to the magazine's photographer for some great photos!

Solar Water, Rainwater Harvesting, and the House is Getting Stoned!

2009-03-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

The solar water heater is now hooked up. It was tested and everything is flowing correctly.

The underground rainwater harvesting system is being installed. Here you can see where the system will connect to the gutters. Connection points like this are at most corners of the house.

Here you can see the underground cistern that will hold all the rainwater. It's actually a 1000-gallon septic tank. We were told that a two-inch rainfall will probably fill up the tank, so an overflow and eco-friendly rainwater disbursement system will also be a part of the landscaping.

The house is finally getting stoned! It will take about a week to put all of the stonework on the seven columns around the house, the front porch facing, the chimney, the fireplace, and the stone oven.

There's a Cricket on our House!

2009-03-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

We learned recently what a "cricket on your house" means. It's that little wedge-shaped thing that backs up to your chimney on your roof and it's purpose is to funnel the water away from the chimney.

Cement fiberboard trim is being installed around the garage doors.

The trim is being installed around the windows.

The builder and the siding man discuss how to finish over the front porch. The next picture shows what they decided to do. Build a triangular box and lower the porch ceiling. It will be covered by stonework.

Speaking of stone, they have started prepping the fireplaces. The stone should go up this week.

Cabinets, Solar, Arches and Dirt!

2009-03-05T07:13:00.000-08:00

Maggie explains where she would like the handles installed on the kitchen cabinets.

Things continue to move right along. The kitchen cabinets, constructed of FSC-certified wood, have been installed and they will soon be measured for the countertops. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and the FSC label ensures that the forest products used are from responsibly harvested and verified sources.

One solar panel has been mounted and the other one along with the rest of the solar water heater system should be installed within the next few days. As you can see by the picture taken from the street, the panel is very hard to see.

The sheetrock for the arches on the first floor have been put up. This required a special type of sheetrock that bends.

And the dirt has arrived for finishing the leveling of the land in front of the house. The dirt was free because it came from a site up the road on I-77 where an automobile dealer is building a new dealership. It saved that contractor some money (and our planet some CO2 emissions) by not having to take it to a landfill much further away.

As always, we welcome any comments. Please feel free to post them here!

Garage Doors, Pillars, and Solar Pipes

2009-02-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

The garage doors were installed recently and we were pleasantly surprised to see that their color matched the house color scheme nicely and so we will not have to paint them.

The pillars in the front of the house were finally out into place. They will be covered with stone along with the entranceway around the front door. Posts will run from the top of the pillars to the porch covering.

A minor setback occurred when we realized the solar water heater pipes had not been insulated before the sheetrock went up. So we cut out the sheetrock where we needed to and the plumber came in and insulated the pipes with closed cell tubular insulation. The pipes need to be insulated or significant heat loss will occur as the water travels back and forth from the tank to the solar collectors on the roof. Over the next several days, sections of copper piping will be added and the tanks and panels installed. Look for those pictures soon!

Exterior Painting Progress and Sheetrock Installation

2009-02-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

As you can see, the exterior painting is moving right along...
That's Shelby and Maggie in front of the house.

And the sheetrock is being installed at a fast clip. This is the rear upstairs bedroom.

This is the master bedroom downstairs.

This is the kitchen. You can also see the entrance to the pantry
and the stairs leading to the second level.

This is a view of the great room area, including the kitchen.

Maggie and the builder, Jay Rogers, on the rooftop terrace discussing the railing.

As you can see, the metal roof is on the covered porch. This is looking through
the window in the rear upstairs bedroom.

The painters have even made their way around to the rear of the house.

We just love how the colors are turning out!

Switzer Green Home Inspires Prize-Winning Green Idea

2009-02-12T19:55:00.001-08:00

Building a green home gave me an idea that I thought was worthy of entering the New Ideas for a New Carolina contest. But who would have thought that I would win the grand prize...yeehaw!

Here's the press release from New Carolina, also known as South Carolina's Council on Competitiveness:

Electric Wall Outlet That Saves Energy Wins New Ideas for a New Carolina Business Ideas Contest

Charleston, SC – Electric wall outlets to save energy was the grand prize winner in the New Ideas for a New Carolina business ideas contest, which were announced February 11 at the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit in Charleston. Mike Switzer of Richland County won the grand prize with his idea of installing electric wall outlets in new construction and replacement markets that would eliminate wasted energy. Essentially, if an appliance isn’t in use the outlet would shut off. Switzer won $5,000 seed money, a scholarship to FastTrac entrepreneurial training programs and access to a Dream Team of Mentors to help cultivate his idea.

“We are so pleased to support South Carolina’s up and coming entrepreneurs and their innovative business ideas again this year,” said Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA. “SC Launch is proud to be associated with the New Ideas contestants– and we are eager to see them succeed and help build an even stronger knowledge base in South Carolina.”

Winners were chosen in four categories based on the idea’s viability, innovation/vision and profit/revenue potential. There was also a Wildcard category chosen by co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs Baseball team and “Director of Fun”, comedian Bill Murray and Mike Veeck, President of the RiverDogs. Each category winner received $2,500 to cultivate their idea and a scholarship to FastTrac. The honorable mentions in each category received $1,000.

Winners and Honorable Mentions in each category include:

Bio-Science:

Winner: Michael S. Kitchen, Charleston County - Minimally invasive placement of orthopedic instrumentation with minimal damage to tissues and structures.

Honorable Mention: Robert J. Wolff, Lexington County - Clean2Touch, antimicrobial products for commercial use in public places.

Software/Information Technology:

Winner: Vickie Waller, Dorchester County - Website that offers search and find functions with ratings and availability of boat captains in the United States.

Honorable Mention: Ron Fulbright, Spartanburg County – EmA is a network appliance for seniors designed for email and photos only.

Engineering:

Winner: Mike Switzer, Richland County - Electric wall outlets for the new construction and replacement markets that eliminate wasted power usage.

Honorable Mention: David E. Witter, Anderson County - Lower cost solar grade silicon for photovoltaic energy systems.

Environmental Sustainability:
Winner: Andrew Epting, Richland County - Palmetto Solar, a solar sail that utilizes the forces generated by photons to turn a turbine within a partial vacuum to produce clean and renewable electricity.

Honorable Mention: Dannie B. Hudson, Dorchester County - A dual fuel homogenization system that reduces residual fuel consumption 2% to 5% and NO, SO2 and CO2 more than 90 percent.

Wild Card category:

Winner: Bryan Pierce Bowers, Jr., Charleston County - BikeBack, small, weatherproof GPS technology to track and retrieve a bicycle if it is stolen.

Honorable Mention: Ron Fulbright, Spartanburg County – Spockets, add pockets to any item of clothing using a magnet backing.

About New Ideas for a New Carolina: In its fourth year, South Carolina’s New Ideas for a New Carolina Business Idea Contest consists of the New Ideas Dream Team, a coalition of representatives from SCRA’s SC Launch!, New Carolina – SC’s Council on Competitiveness, FastTracSC, ThinkTEC and other organizations around the state. Ideas are judged by South Carolina leaders from angel capital groups, businesses, non-profits, government entities and educational institutions. For more information visit: www.newideassc.com.

And here is a short video from WCIV TV4 in Charleston taped before the winner was announced:

http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0209/594093_video.html?ref=newsstory

Needless to say, I was shocked (no electricity pun intended).

We'll keep you posted!

Sheetrock has Arrived!

2009-02-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

The truck arrived recently with the sheetrock. When the sheetrock is up, we will really feel like the house is becoming a home.

At the same time the sheetrock is going up, the metal roof continues to be installed and the painter is painting the exterior.

In case you were wondering, this is the pergola that is on the old clubhouse at the University Club (now the Cobblestone Park Golf Club). We will be taking it down before the clubhouse is torn down so we can keep it out of the landfill. It will be cut in two with half going on our rooftop terrace and the other half at our brick patio in the back yard.

Painting Has Started and First Blower-Door Test

2009-02-05T18:38:00.000-08:00

Painting has finally started. The painter first painted this small section of the garage to show us the colors so we could decide if we still wanted those colors. And we loved them! The shake shingles in the gables are being painted Cedar and the vertical lower siding is Mountain Pine with the trim in Mystic White, all from Olympic.

On Tuesday, Claude St. Hillaire, the LEED inspector from Home Energy Group performed a preliminary Blower-Door Test to check the air-tightness of our house. Another one will be performed after the sheet rock is finished. Here is the report from our builder:

"All,

Home Energy Group did the blower door test on Tuesday afternoon. As a builder, it was quite an informative exercise. This should be done on every house.

The basic SIPS performed quite well. The panel to panel, the wall panel to wall, and the wall panel to roof panel connections were all fairly tight. There were a few areas that had some leakage, but all can be repaired. The majority of the spots that had some leakage were the areas where the SIP panels that formed the walls of dormers rested on the roof framing, where beams were cut into the SIP panels, and the door that was cut into the attic space above the garage. The testing agent was very thorough and as he went around he marked the few spots that needed to be filled/foamed. We'll get these areas repaired prior to hanging sheetrock. All-in-all, it is a tight house and will be very energy efficient.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks."

Richard J. Rogers P.E.
ROGERS CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
2324 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29205

If you haven't noticed, I finally figured out how to put web links into the blog, so have fun clicking!

More Roof, Plus Exhaust Fans, Fireplaces, and a visit from the LEED Inspector!

2009-01-30T19:04:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture showing the TPO completely installed on the flat roof. You can also see the railings starting to take shape. And the boxes have been set where the pergola will be attached to the rooftop. We are reclaiming the pergola from the rooftop terrace at the old University Club clubhouse at Cobblestone Park. The old clubhouse is being torn down and the pergola would have just ended up in the landfill, but not now.

From left to right: Bob the architect, Claude the LEED inspector, Maggie, and Jennifer (Bob's wife and office manager). Claude is making a checklist of the "green" features of our home and will award us points based on those green items. The number of points we receive will determine our level of LEED certification. We are aiming for the second-highest which is Gold. This is the first of several inspections and tests he will be conducting.

The exhaust fans in the bathrooms have now been installed. When finished, they will have humidistats which will control when they turn on and off. This will save energy by making the HVAC system more efficient.

Here you can see where the exhaust fans' ductwork goes through the first floor and into the crawl space below where it will exit through the brick foundation wall.

The gas fireplaces arrived and are being installed. Natural gas releases much less CO2 into the atmosphere than wood-burning fireplaces. Also, these fireplaces have an extra "green" feature: when not in use the pilot light automatically turns off, saving gas.

The Rooftop Terrace is now sealed!

2009-01-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

After negotiating with roofers for a month, we finally found AquaSeal to lay the TPO membrane and seal our rooftop terrace.

TPO is Thermoplastic Poly Olefin sheet roofing using state-of-the-art polymer manufacturing technology. This technology enables the production of TPO membranes that are flexible at low temperatures without the use of polymeric or liquid plasticizers.

Unlike some other popular thermoplastic roofing membranes, the TPO polymer does not contain chlorine and no chlorine-containing ingredients are added during sheet production. This lack of chlorine allows the TPO membrane to be regarded as an environmentally safe, “green” product.

The TPO resin is compounded with other components including a weathering package, fire retardants and pigments for color to create a product that can withstand the elements associated with rooftop exposure.

On top of the TPO will be recycled rubber squares. But before they go on, the metal roof will be put up next on the rest of the house.

We can't wait for that!

Ductwork, Front Door, Central Vac, etc...

2009-01-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

Things are still progressing on our new home. We finally made the decision not to go with geothermal as the cost was just too high and the resulting payback period too long.

We are going with a 14 SEER heat pump and as you can see by the pix, the ductwork is going in.

The siding is also continuing to go up.

And the front door has finally arrived and is installed.

The central vac outlets (another green item!) have also been roughed in.

And here is a picture showing the house from the other side of the golf course.

The most important thing now is to get the roof finished, which hopefully will happen soon...stay tuned!

2008-12-28T06:41:00.000-08:00

Everything seems to slow down during December as the holidays consume us. And that includes construction on our home.

The siding has been going up however, and we hope to soon be able to upload pictures of the metal roof being installed.

Don't worry, the siding is not going to remain gray, it will be painted. To get an idea of what it will look like, just revisit one of our previous posts where we included architectural renderings.

We hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

WIS-TV Visits Switzer Green Home

2008-11-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

David Stanton from WIS-TV in Columbia visited our construction site during the US Green Building Council SC Chapter's recent meeting at our home.

Copy and paste the address below in your web browser to see David Stanton's report.

http://www.wistv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3139320&h1=%27Green%20building%27%20hits%20the%20Midlands%2C%20David%20Stanton%20reports&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=114166&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=64341323

US Green Building Council Meeting at Switzer Green Home!

2008-11-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

Although there has not been much change to the house since the last posting (hence no pictures today), we have been very busy picking out plumbing fixtures, fireplaces, HVAC systems, solar water heater, etc... We have come to the realization that everybody should build a house before they ever buy one. It is a very educational experience. You have no idea how much is involved until you actually go through the process.

And because we're Going Green, there has been even more work. It hasn't been easy researching and deciding on low-flow toilets, faucets, shower heads, direct-vent fireplaces, geothermal HVAC systems, etc...but we are making progress.

The plumbing is almost all in now. Next are the fireplaces and HVAC which we should decide on today or tomorrow.

The siding should be going up this week, followed by the metal roof next week. Then it will really start looking like a house.

Everyone is invited to see the progress that has been made on our home so far and to learn more about green building by coming to Friday's meeting of the SC Chapter of the US Green Building Council at our new home. The meeting is Friday, Nov. 14th at 1:30pm at the Pavilion (Community Center) inside Cobblestone Park, immediately followed by a tour of our house. The builder, architect, LEED provider and Maggie, will all be there probably until at least 3pm or 4pm. All the details can be found at the chapter's web site: http://www.usgbcsc.org.

We hope to see you there!

More Garage, etc...

2008-10-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

The garage is mostly finished now with the roof connected to the main house via a connector roof over the breezeway.

The front porch roof is also now up.

And the roof is up over the screen porch in the back.

Maggie checks out the barrel ceiling going up in the hallway connecting the foyer with the guest bath and bedroom.

Jay, the builder, says the siding and metal roof will be going up soon!

Garage and Screened Porch

2008-10-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

The garage continues to make progress and soon will be ready for connecting to the house via a covered breezeway.

The screened porch off the master bedroom at the back of the house is also now underway.

What will our house look like?

2008-10-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked "what will your house look like when it's finished?" Well, here are color renderings from our architect, Bob Bourguignon of Sustainable Architecture in Moore, SC.

And as an added bonus, here is a picture of our banker, Garner Corley of First National Bank of the South in Columbia, SC, as he prepares to write another construction loan advance for our home.

Garage, Windows, etc...

2008-10-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

The garage slab has just been poured so hopefully we will soon see the detached garage go up. The detached garage is another green feature of our home. Having a detached garage helps keep the car fumes out of the home.

You can also see here that the staircase has been started so now we don't have to use a ladder to see the progress upstairs.

The builder has draped a large tarp over the rooftop terrace until the materials arrive to finish it so that the rooms underneath stay dry.

Our Energy Star windows from Peachtree have also arrived and are mostly installed.

Tyvek Time

2008-09-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

We've reached the stage where the Tyvek® weather-resistant barrier goes on to the exterior of the home. It helps combat water, moisture and air infiltration.

Wind-driven rain and moisture can saturate walls, creating a breeding ground for mold, mildew and wood rot. The properties of DuPont's Tyvek® help prevent this. Air infiltrating from outside can create cold or warm spots while increasing heating and cooling costs.
The Tyvek® acts like a windbreaker and wrapped over the sheathing and under the exterior siding—cut out around windows and doors and taped securely at the seams—resists air infiltration and water intrusion and makes for a more comfortable, energy-efficient home or building.

Which of course is what our new "Switzer Green Home" is all about!

Meeting with Bob and the Builder

2008-09-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we had our first on-site meeting with Bob, the architect and Jay, the builder.

We went over everything that has been done so far and decided on a few minor changes.

We decided to make the pantry a little smaller, which increases the size of the guest bedroom (Dad will like that).
And an arched hallway will be added from the foyer to the guest bathroom. Jennifer, Bob's wife and office manager, suggested swapping where the master shower and one of the vanities were located which would give us the larger open-style shower we wanted and so we approved that change.

We also determined that the upstairs hallway needed to have one of the ceiling beams restructured.

Later we also decided that we needed to swap some of the exterior doors upstairs.

All the changes were minor and will not slow construction. Here are some pictures we took after the meeting.

You can see the progress continues to move right along. The framing should be done by the end of next week and then roofing, siding, and windows go in.

Stay tuned...

Second Floor Begins...

2008-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

The Structural Insulated Panels are going up on the second floor. Before you know it, we'll see the roof!

Framing Has Started...

2008-09-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

The framing has started on the first floor and will need to be mostly finished before the second floor SIPs can be installed. Here are the "green" things that the framers are responsible for:

1. WASTE: reduce waste generation to a level below the industry norm, i.e., reduce construction waste to 2.5 lbs/sf of conditioned floor space (not including waste diverted for reclamation or recycling) = a maximum of 10,000 lbs of waste for the entire project going to the landfill.
a.No wood or wood products go in the dumpster – goes into the mulch pile
b.Nails, plastic wrap, caulking tubes, and things of this nature go in the dumpster
2. Reduce overall waste factor (of framing wood) to <> 19.2” oc where possible
3. Use low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) for caulking or sealants used in the framing process.

Question and answer

2008-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Ray Cohen wrote:

Hello, Mike and Maggie. I was just reviewing your Green Home Blog. I know you are happy to be able to actually see progress being made. I was wondering if you might know what the R value is in the SIP wall panels containing the foam insulation and also what the actual thickness would be. Just curious. I hope you guys are doing well. Goooo Cocks!

Ray,

Here is the answer from our architect:

“The SIP panels have a true r-value of 17 + siding and interior finish which adds maybe 2. Whereas fiberglass insulation has an r-value of 13 for the same thickness wall however the overall performance of a conventional wall has an air loss factor and thermal bridging due to studs every 16” on center. The result is that the r value of a 4 ½” SIP wall acts like an 8” stud wall.”

The SIP walls are 4 1/2" thick and the roof SIP's are 10 1/2".

Mike

Starting to Look Like a House!

2008-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's so exciting to see our new home starting to take shape.

After almost two years of research and design, to see it spring to life is something to behold.

In this picture, you can see the foam insulation in the SIP panels.

All of the first floor SIP panels are now in place and over the next several days after Labor Day, the framers will start framing the downstairs interior and putting in the second level floor.

The Walls are Going Up!

2008-08-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

After days of delay due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay, our SIP panels are finally going up. Here's our progress so far...

SIP Panels Arrive!

2008-08-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

The SIP panels were ordered a couple months ago after many, many months of design and re-design. So their arrival has been much anticipated.

SIP stands for Structural Insulated Panel. These are what our exterior walls and roof are constructed of. They are "green" because they are manufactured off site so on-site construction waste is minimized. They are also extremely energy efficient with four inches of styrofoam on the walls and ten inches in the roof. The insulation factor is several times standard insulation.

They arrive from the factory with all the holes cut out for the windows, doors, electrical outlets, etc... So once they've arrived, we will start to see our house beginning to look more like a house!

The Floor is Added

2008-08-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

With the foundation and bottom brickwork finished, the time came to add the floor. The go-ahead for laying the floor finally came as word arrived that the SIP panels were nearing completion.

More on the SIP panels later...

The Green Illumination

2008-08-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

Almost two years ago, we decided that it was time to build a new house. We had lived in our current house for almost 18 years and raised two wonderful children, a son who is now grown up and living a successful life on his own and a daughter who will soon be graduating high school and heading to college.

Because we had learned so much about the "green" movement through interviews on my radio show, Maggie and I decided we wanted to build a green house, one that was energy efficient and environment friendly. Our efforts started with a search for an architect that knew something about green residential building. We could not find one in the Midlands of South Carolina, but we did in the Upstate. Bob Bourguignon of Sustainable Architecture in Moore, SC came highly recommended and after interviewing him, we decided to contract with him to design our new home.

After more than a year of working with him, we finally had our house plans. The next step was to find a builder. Of course, we could not find a builder in the Midlands either who knew much about green building. After interviewing several candidates, we finally decided on Jay Rogers, with Rogers Construction Engineering, mainly because of his professionalism and enthusiasm. He really wanted to build the first truly green, LEED certified house in the Midlands.

For those of you not familiar with LEED, it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED has been around for many years in commercial building but is brand new in residential building. LEED is administered by the US Green Building Council and awards points for various design elements which can result in Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification. Our home is going for Gold.

Here are a few pictures of our home as construction began.