November & December Update

As we are near the end of 2008 we have a lot to look forward to in 2009. We will have a new President with a strong goal to make the next 4 years better than the last 8 years. We have new legislation just passed in Michigan and in the the bail out that benefits renewable energies like wind energy, solar hot water and photovoltaic. If all goes as planned Michigan will become one of the major manufactures of renewable energies. At our home/office we just finished our green bathroom remodel and are close to finishing our kitchen remodel. Our office remodel is starting to progress nicely and this winter we will start a new green bathroom and bedroom project.

We are also excited to have been hired for two new LEED certified projects in Pitsford and Bezonia. Four of our projects are under construction and nearing completion, three project are almost ready to start construction and we have eleven projects in the design phase. Also we interviewing for several new and exciting projects all over the country. The picture above is a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style home we designed that's being built in Lake Placid, New York. I would like to thank the home owners Carlo and Amy for keeping us updated with pictures of their project. I will keep you all updated on this project as I get more updates.

New National BuildBlock Ad Showing The Award Winning Onekama Hybrid House

We are excited to again be part of BuildBlock national Ad campaign. This Ad will be in the October issue of ICF Builder Magazine. You can see the two national awards our project won from the ICFA (Insulating Concrete Form Association) in the ad. BuildBlock is our block of choice when specifying an ICF project. Staty tuned for some more awesome projects being built and in design using there fine product.

September & October Update

We are excited to see the Watercress (Pictured) and the Vineyard project nearing completion and getting ready for the final LEED for Homes certification process. Congratulation to Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes and his awesome team of craftsmen for all there hard work and dedication for following the LEED for Homes certification process on these two projects. We also are excited to see the interior finishing start on the Watercress project since my wife/business partner Christy worked with the homeowner on all the interior selection for this awesome project we can wait to see all of her hard work payoff. We have several project in the pricing stages now all of the are capable of score very high in the LEED for Homes certification process. We are also excited to have been hired for a new LEED certified project on Long Lake just outside of Traverse City and a green remodel of a 1890 farm house in Howard City. As you may have read below we are please to have won two prestigious national awards from the ICFA. You can read about or awards on my favorite web-log called PrairieMod and the BuildBlock web-site. Also we interviewing for several new and exciting projects all over the country.

Onekama project Wins Two National Awards

Today we found out the Onekama Hybrid Home won two national awards from the ICFA (Insulating Concrete Form Association). The ICFA Excellence Award is the premier industry recognition for the most innovative and noteworthy ICF projects of the year. We are proud that BuildBlock our ICF supplier believed in our project so much that they entered us it these prestigious awards. Buildblock sweep the awards with there projects. We are proud to have won the following two awards.

ICFA Large Residential Project Award: Is awarded to the nations top ICF residential project over 3,000 square feet.

ICFA Sustainability Project Award: Is awarded to the nations top
Residential or Commercial ICF project which maximizes the energy
performance and minimizes the environmental footprint of a building.

Congratulation to the Homeowners and "Team Hybrid" members Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes, LLC (Builder), Dave Russell of Wall Tech Products, LLC (Distributor), ourselves Image Design, LLC (Designer) and BuildBlock (Supplier) for winning these prestigious awards. Also a big thank goes out to all the behind the seen people who worked on this project, we could not of done it without all of you.

LEED for Homes Program Review Class

On December 4th 2008 the West Michigan Chapter of the USGBC will be putting on a LEED for Homes program review class at Alliance for Environmental Sustainability in Grand Rapids Michigan. The class will be taught by Mike Holcomb one of the top green building authorities in the country. I highly recommend this class for anyone interest in green building.

WHAT'S THE CLASS ABOUT?
LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high performance "green" homes. A green home uses less energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. LEED certification recognizes and rewards builders for meeting the highest performance standards, and gives homeowners confidence that their home is durable,healthy, and environmentally friendly.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Describe how LEED® for Homes can be applied to various residential
building types.
• Define the Rating System credit categories
• Understand the evolution of the LEED for Homes Rating System through the
pilot process
• Communicate to stakeholders specific details of LEED for Homes
• Know where to go for additional resources and support

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Industry professionals seeking to increase their understanding of the LEED for Homes Rating System and green building strategies, benefits and resources

• Builders


• Designers


• Consultants


• Engineers


• Developers


• Home Owners


• Product Supplier

For all workshop inquiries, email workshop@usgbc.org or call
800-795-1747.

Green Bathroom Remodel

Today we start our green bath remodel with the help from Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes, LLC we will be gutting a 1952 bathroom and remodeling it as green as possible. The first thing we did was to replace all the existing light fixture with energy star fixture. We replace a inadequate bathroom fan with a new energy star Panasonic Whisper Green fan/light. And the electrical switches will be motion activated. All new plumbing fixture will be Grohe WaterCare low flow fixture to conserve water with a Toto WaterSense 1.28 flush comfort height Eco Drake toilet. The sub floor will be James Hardies HardieBacker™ board with exclusive Moldblock™ Technology then and ceramic tile floor that will be grouted with TEC AccuColor XT grout which is formulated to be highly resistant to common stains and mold and mildew. The combined product should deliver us the ultimate in mold resistance for our green bathroom floor. The walls and ceiling will be painted with Sherwin-Williams Harmony zero-VOC's (volatile organic compounds) paints designed with anti-microbial properties and formulated without silica. The Green Bathroom Remodel pictures will be posted on Hybrid Homes web-site.

Great Lake Green Conference

The DeVos Place convention center at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan will host the state's first Great Lakes Green conference and exhibition. Events on Thursday and Friday are focused on builder topics and those on Saturday are catered to homeowners and consumers interested in green products and services.

If you get a chance to go I'll be there working the LEED for Homes booth on Friday. Also please stop by some of our friends booths like The Home Inspector General booth, Mike Holcomb will also be giving some great seminar and is probable one of the most knowledgeable persons I know on green building. Bauer Power Booth, Mark Bauer's booth will show the latest in wind and solar technologies he also will be giving some great seminars. Vanbeek's Custom Wood Products booth will have a amazing display of sustainable cabinetry such as Kerei board, Sunflower seed board, Bamboo along with FSC certified Lumber. L & H Adhesives booth will showcase the Bonded Logic Ultra Touch natural cotton fiber insulation made from blue jeans. R-Value Concrete Structures booth can answer all your ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) question Jake will also be giving seminars there. There are over 100 booth to visit hope you get a chance to stop by and see us there and some of our friends.