Kohler Co. has teamed up with Cherokee Investment Partners, a developer involved in the sustainable revitalization of environmentally impaired properties, to build a home that will reduce water consumption by at least 50 percent in a demonstration project designed to prove that green building can be both functional and earth-friendly.
The National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome near Cherokee’s world headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., uses Kohler’s water-efficient Kohler and Sterling brand fixtures and faucets. Along with touchless faucet technology, Kohler is providing water-conserving plumbing fixtures that minimize the water usage of toilets, showers and faucets, yet still provide adequate flow and practical design.
“Many homebuilders may not realize the importance and availability of environmentally-friendly building materials and construction techniques,” said Rob Zimmerman, LEED AP and senior staff engineer for Kohler’s water conservation initiatives. “The GreenHome is the perfect project to spotlight that green building can be easily integrated into conventional architecture, subdivisions, lots and homes that would be appealing to a wide range of homebuyers and homebuilders.”
The Mainstream GreenHome showcases a number of innovative, environmentally friendly features, while looking and functioning as a traditional home. It is intended to help reverse the negative stigma sometimes associated with green building and show that environmentally-focused construction is compatible with conventional building and better living. The home utilizes a range of technological innovations to minimize impact on the environment without sacrificing comfort. As a result, the GreenHome aims to:
- Use 50 percent less fossil fuel than the conventional home.
- Recycle or reuse 90 percent of all organic waste on site.
- Consume 50 percent less water than the conventional home.
- Recycle 75 percent of all construction and demolition waste.
- Retain 95 percent of all storm water on site for reuse.
- Create wildlife habitats.
- Provide exceptional indoor air quality with 95 percent of all products having low or zero volatile organic compound.
Cherokee’s GreenHome is the first home in the nation known to be built in a typical subdivision under the National Association of Home Builders’ Model Green Home Building Guidelines. In addition, the home will be certified with the EPA’s Energy Star program and the North Carolina Solar Center’s Healthy Built Homes state program, among others.
