Two new and exciting issues -  Residential LEED & the mkSolaireCool flowers for offbeat homes.

Couches made of nickels, chairs made of baby food jars, and other Offbeat Furniture Finds!

The Gilmore Trail House Update – which rocked. Interior shots and everything. 

My Valentine to Offbeat Homes – yes I write Valentines to blogs now. Sad.

A rock that’s a house, or maybe a house that’s a rock. Hmmm. Well, it’s a house and a rock mashed together.

What I Did While the Servers Were Wacky…

Super tiny homes and a video tour of them.

A very cool Copper Chapel, possibly the first chapel I’ve posted. That was a switch.

The best ever little mod bird house.

The short list for the WAN House of the Year for 2007 was announced – I picked my choices for the win. Tune in Friday the 15th to see who actually wins.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Offbeat week – or even subscribe so you don’t miss one offbeat shingle.  

Post from: Blisstree

Offbeat Homes Week in Review

LEED has traditionally been applied to commercial structures – and some don’t think the LEED standards are entirely well thought out. Still, there are obvious benefits if we can achieve green homes, and LEED is offering one checklist for that goal. This is a good tool for consumers especially; although, keep in mind that a home does not have to be LEED certified to be healthy, non-toxic, and earth-friendly – this is just one system for checking these goals.

You can see the revised system below:

LEED for Homes Rating System (opens in PDF)

LEED for Homes Project Checklist (XLS)

You can get the full residential LEED scoop from the U.S. Green Building Council.

What’s more exciting, I think, then the new standards will be all the new houses trying to get the certification. This, I’m sure, will result in some pretty cool architecture – with people trying to build one of the best newly certified homes and so fourth. Like the new home being created for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. They’ll be running a feature exhibit, Smart Home: Green + Wired, May 8, 2008 – January 4, 2009.

PR from the Museum:

“During its 75th Anniversary year, the Museum of Science and Industry will be building a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in its own backyard to show case the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives—and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Guests will be able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.”

It sounds stellar. Best of all, guess who designed the home? Michelle Kaufmann Designs!  Cool, right? Remember West Coast Green?

Read more about the mkSolaire.

Post from: Blisstree

Residential LEED & the mkSolaire