In the News & Information
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Michigan's First GreenStar "Gold" Award Certified Home -2014
The "Noopiming" home in Newaygo, MI http://www.alliancees.org/michigans-first-greenstar-gold-certified-new-home/ This home in December 2011 won the
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Here are some information that you may find helpful.Michigan Info:
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) 257 South Bridge Street PO Box 346 Diamondale, MI 48821 (517) 646-6269 http://glrea.org/ Michigan Energy Options 405 Grove St East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 337-0422 http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/ Brett Little. LFA | Executive Director | GreenHome Institute(Formerly - Alliance for Environmental Sustainability)501(c)3 Non-Profit | GreenHomeinstitute.org |O 888-LEED-APH ext 1 | Tx 231-740-9849 | PO Box 68164 Grand Rapids, MI 49516 "Empowering people to make healthier & more sustainable choices in the places we live. " Michigan Green Group for Renewable Energy-Efficient Nation 7627 Park Place Brighton, MI 48116 888-473-5444 http://www.michigangreen.org/ Sustainable Research Group 949 Wealthy St SE - Suite 205 Grand Rapids, MI 49506 (616) 301-1059 http://www.sustainableresearchgroup.com/ Grand Valley State University Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center 200 Viridian Dr Muskegon, MI 49440 (231) 722-4371 or (616) 331-6900 http://www.gvsu.edu/marec/ Michigan Energy Office State of Michigan http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd/0,1607,7-122-25676---,00.html MPSC-Michigan Renewable Energy Program State of Michigan http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,4639,7-159-16393_55246---,00.html Habitat for Humanity 425 Pleasant St SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 774-2431 http://www.habitatkent.org/ Sierra Club - Michigan Chapter http://michigan.sierraclub.org/index.html Other Sites: AmmEn Design (Engineering Design Services & Renewables) Grand Rapids, MI http://www.ammendesign.com/index.html Image Designs, LLC Eric Hughes 6812 Old 28th St SE - Suite D Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 957-5333 http://imagedesignllc.blogspot.com/ Architect for the "The River Escape" Home Home Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/ Good Books to read and reference to: Our number 1 choice The Not So Big House book set by: Sarah Susanka The Solar House -Passive Heating and Cooling by: Daniel D. Chiras The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy by: Dan Chiras The Natural House A Complete guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes by: Daniel D. Chiras Solar Gardening by: Leandre Poisson and Gretchen Vogel Poisson Rodale's UltimateEncyclopedia - Organic Gardening by: Fern Marshall Bradley - Rodale - 2009 Green Living Online - Canada http://www.greenlivingonline.com/ Living Green Magazine Online http://www.livinggreenmag.com/index.html |
The Vos Home
Solar energy the ticket to health
BY: Kathy Berlin - Rockford Indendent - September 17, 2008
A serious illness led to the construction of a "healthy" home for Rockford resident Barb Vos 10 years ago.
She was living in a 90-year-old house in Grand Rapids when she became "very, very sick" in 1990 and ultimately learned she was experiencing a reaction to chemicals such as formaldehyde, a product commonly used in carpet adhesives and other household products. She was also diagnosed with allergies and chronic fatigue syndrome.
"We needed to get out of that house," she said.
Fortunately, her husband, Dan, is a custom home builder specializing in passive solar design and green building. He used elements like solar power and radiant floor heating in the construction of their 2,500-square-foot home.
Both are considerably cleaner than a traditional forced air furnace, which blows dust and other allergens into the air. He also installed a heat recovery ventilation system to bring in fresh air during Michigan's long winters.
"I try to put renewable energy in homes to make them as energy-efficient and as earth-friendly as possible," said Dan Vos. "It has just always made sense to me."
The Vos house, located on Meadowrock Drive near 10 Mile and Ramsdell, sports solar heat panels and large, south-facing windows that allow sunlight to flood in and warm the dark green ceramic tile floor on cool days.
"Even on a cloudy day it's bright inside," said Barb Vos.
Just outside the windows is a solar panel containing tubing filled with a special type of antifreeze warmed by the sun. The tubing runs into the house to an 80-gallon hot water tank wrapped by copper coils so hot water is at the ready. A pump system circulates the water, which comes from a well.
Vos can wash three loads of laundry, run the dishwasher and all three family members can shower - all without running out of hot water.
Throughout the day the tile slowly releases heat, keeping the family comfortably warm. The radiant floor heating helps keep heat evenly distributed throughout the home, both on the main floor and downstairs so there are no chilly pockets of air.
Barb's health has improved considerably, along with 17-year-old Tasha's, who has allergies to dust and mold.
"We saw a big change in Tasha's health when we moved in, along with my health," said Barb Vos. "I'm not cured, but it's a lot more manageable."
Recycled materials also play an important role: the fire place mantel is made of hard pine from a now-defunct bowling alley lane. That same material serves as a big chunk of the kitchen counter, too, and does double duty as a cutting board.
"A lot of our furniture came from estate sales," said Barb Vos. "Tasha is into it as much as we are and buys a lot of stuff from second hand stores."
Nestled in the Vos' wooded back yard, on the other side of an organic garden, sits a cozy garden house. It is a favorite spot for the family and, with its northern exposure, stays refreshingly cool in the summer.
Here, too, recycling plays an important role. Furnishings such as doors, windows and roofing were extra materials left over from job sites. The stone came from projects used in the construction of the Vos' main house.
"We're just trying to be as natural as we can, and educate people about it too," said Barb Vos.
BY: Kathy Berlin - Rockford Indendent - September 17, 2008
A serious illness led to the construction of a "healthy" home for Rockford resident Barb Vos 10 years ago.
She was living in a 90-year-old house in Grand Rapids when she became "very, very sick" in 1990 and ultimately learned she was experiencing a reaction to chemicals such as formaldehyde, a product commonly used in carpet adhesives and other household products. She was also diagnosed with allergies and chronic fatigue syndrome.
"We needed to get out of that house," she said.
Fortunately, her husband, Dan, is a custom home builder specializing in passive solar design and green building. He used elements like solar power and radiant floor heating in the construction of their 2,500-square-foot home.
Both are considerably cleaner than a traditional forced air furnace, which blows dust and other allergens into the air. He also installed a heat recovery ventilation system to bring in fresh air during Michigan's long winters.
"I try to put renewable energy in homes to make them as energy-efficient and as earth-friendly as possible," said Dan Vos. "It has just always made sense to me."
The Vos house, located on Meadowrock Drive near 10 Mile and Ramsdell, sports solar heat panels and large, south-facing windows that allow sunlight to flood in and warm the dark green ceramic tile floor on cool days.
"Even on a cloudy day it's bright inside," said Barb Vos.
Just outside the windows is a solar panel containing tubing filled with a special type of antifreeze warmed by the sun. The tubing runs into the house to an 80-gallon hot water tank wrapped by copper coils so hot water is at the ready. A pump system circulates the water, which comes from a well.
Vos can wash three loads of laundry, run the dishwasher and all three family members can shower - all without running out of hot water.
Throughout the day the tile slowly releases heat, keeping the family comfortably warm. The radiant floor heating helps keep heat evenly distributed throughout the home, both on the main floor and downstairs so there are no chilly pockets of air.
Barb's health has improved considerably, along with 17-year-old Tasha's, who has allergies to dust and mold.
"We saw a big change in Tasha's health when we moved in, along with my health," said Barb Vos. "I'm not cured, but it's a lot more manageable."
Recycled materials also play an important role: the fire place mantel is made of hard pine from a now-defunct bowling alley lane. That same material serves as a big chunk of the kitchen counter, too, and does double duty as a cutting board.
"A lot of our furniture came from estate sales," said Barb Vos. "Tasha is into it as much as we are and buys a lot of stuff from second hand stores."
Nestled in the Vos' wooded back yard, on the other side of an organic garden, sits a cozy garden house. It is a favorite spot for the family and, with its northern exposure, stays refreshingly cool in the summer.
Here, too, recycling plays an important role. Furnishings such as doors, windows and roofing were extra materials left over from job sites. The stone came from projects used in the construction of the Vos' main house.
"We're just trying to be as natural as we can, and educate people about it too," said Barb Vos.