The South Sound ECO-Builders-Guild Hosts: The South Sound Green Tour Innovation – Education – Inspiration
April 17th and 18th, 2010
A community event to celebrate green innovations through education in sustainable building and inspired living. This year’s tour will showcase the greenest homes and buildings in our area that incorporate significant use of solar or other renewable energies, new and reclaimed materials, low energy consumption and water conservation technologies, and sustainable design techniques. Educational sessions will be held at various locations and feature real life topics on how to build and live greener. See our website for more details – www.SouthSoundGreenTour.org
The Northwest Eco Building Guild is an alliance of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest.
A vital organization, our mission is to provide leadership in education to transform the built environment and build a sustainable society.
Along with Laupen Homes, The Artisans Group will co-host Olympia’s first LEED certified residence. “The Cooper Project” was designed by ,Tessa Smith of The Artisans Group and built by Laupen Homes. The home features extensive use of green materials, technologies and building practices. The home is located at 123 West Bay Drive SW. It can be seen from the 4th Avenue bridge, Olympic Way, and State Street. Full description.
Other Tour Workshops and Resources at The Artisans Group Design Center :
Sat | Sun | 12pm | The Artisans Group Design Center | 1508 Fourth Avenue David Jennings of Rainier Renewable Energy will provide an opportunity for the public to view renewable energy systems up close – Wind, Solar Hot Water, Solar Electric, Geothermal, and Greywater recycling systems – that anyone can add to their homes to save money, live greener, and be more energy independent. Experts will be on hand to discuss the demonstration systems on display and answer questions about the systems and their applications. Rainier Renewable Energy designs and installs affordable renewable energy systems that work, throughout Washington and the South Sound area.
Displays: • Small wind turbine • Full-sized solar thermal system • Photovoltaic Panel • Greywater tank • Geothermal-mixed media
Sat | Sun | 11am | The Artisans Group Design Center | 1508 Fourth Avenue Brent Foster, of NW Infrared, a local company that performs energy audits inclusive of blower-door tests and infrared scanning on existing, new and remodeled homes. The Artisans Group uses Brent’s services on all projects, to identify areas of air infiltration and heat-loss. The remediation of these areas easily pay for the cost of the service, but adds priceless value in the draft-free comfort of the home and reduced monthly energy bills.
Sat | Sun | 2pm | The Artisans Group Design Center | 1508 Fourth Avenue Ketola/Targus Painting will display products and provide information on “green painting” solutions. This company was awarded the Washington State Waste Information Networks 2000 small business award for achieving zero waste.
Sat | Sun | 12pm | The Cooper Residence | 123 West Bay Drive SW Green Building Standards. Tessa Smith, LEED AP and Certified Passive House Consultant will present this workshop at the Cooper Home during the Tour. 123 West Bay Drive SW. Passive House, a building design system from Germany, is now used in the U.S. by Certified Passive House Consultants. Passive House is the world’s most rigorous approach to energy efficient construction, yielding 75%-90% greater efficiency than the average US home. Combined with renewable energy, the Net-Zero, Carbon Neutral home is now more affordable than ever!
There are less than 300 Certified Passive House Consultants in the nation. Ms. Smith recently achieved Certified Passive House Consultant, adding to her LEED AP credentials. The Artisans Group offers Passive House design-build services.
Sat | Sun | 10am | The Cooper Residence | 123 West Bay Drive SW How to Choose Green Cabinets will be hosted by The Artisans Group’s Cabinet Specialist, Brenda Fritsch, at the Cooper Residence location: 123 West Bay Drive SW. She will be talking about the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) for Cabinets. The ESP seal helps you identify cabinets and cabinet manufacturers who are committed to protecting the environment. Nearly a hundred fifty cabinet manufacturers have already earned ESP certification and more are on their way to completing the review process.
She will cover specific material options to when consider when shopping for cabinets, ranging from “green” cabinet box choices, FSC certified woods, wood species options, stain colors, and finish options. After receiving this information, attendees will be able to make informed choices and determine “how green” they want to be in their cabinet selections.
And last, but not least… The Artisans Group will have their Passive Solar Oven ‘fired up’ baking fresh batches of Solar Powered Chocolate Chip Cookies! (Served until the dough or the sun run’s out… )
Posted on February 12, 2010
