Steury Ave

     Even though Indiana is famous for its Indianapolis 500 and car racing, the state is also making great efforts to be green. There is a duplex that was built with the cooperation and vision of several state and local entities to show just how green collaboration works in Indiana.

     The goal of the project was to incorporate as many green features as possible while still being cost competitive on the rental market. The aim of the project was to provide a low energy home for renters. To keep costs down so renters wouldn’t have to pay a higher price; the group did most of the work independently and minimized subcontractors. The home was created with compactness of space to maximize heat efficiency as well as to accommodate living in a simple home in the area. “The three level design makes the house feel larger than it is as the separation of rooms creates privacy. The elimination of a utility room due to downsizing of the heating system, and the tank-less water heater save space as well. Bulk storage is outside the conditioned space and is under the front porch,” according to Gregory Lehman, the visionary behind the project.

     There are other green options that the builders featured in creating a truly great home. Here are some that Lehman and his team worked on:

     • Super insulation, and a specially designed ceiling to help reduce energy bills

     • Passive solar and thermo-siphon solar air panels. The windows and solar panels were designed to make the most use of the Indiana sun in winter and also keep it from heating up the home in summer.

     • High thermal mass design

     • Air-to-air heat exchanger which cleans indoor air

     • Tank-less hot water heater

     • Passive radon vent system which removes the toxic radon gas from the air

     • Compact fluorescent lights

     • No VOC paint

     • Low-emission argon windows to prevent drafts

     • Ceramic tile and wood floors; no carpets

     • Air source heat pump for heating and air conditioning

     • Energy star appliances

     • Infill site; existing trees preserved; native woodland landscaping planned

     • Rough sawn untreated yellow poplar siding

     • Standing seam metal roof