As the price of home utilities (water, gas, and electricity) continues to rise, many home buyers are seeking properties that lower these costs. There is also a growing number of home owners who live a more eco friendly lifestyle and are seeking out houses that incorporate sustainable living. Properties that lower these costs by using recycled goods or moderate natural resources are typically considered “green” homes. A problem that exists is that not all “green” homes are the same. While some homes focus on the use of recycled products, others focus on energy efficiency. To create a standard the U.S. Green Building Council created a special designation for proprieties that focus on key areas of eco friendliness and sustainable living referred to as LEED.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationally recognized certification that is transforming the way built environments are designed, constructed, and operated from individual buildings and homes, to entire neighborhoods and communities. This certification is only obtained by builders and developers through independent, third-party verification. Only when a property achieves high performance in certain areas of human and environmental health, such as sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality, can achieve a LEED status.
While LEED homes were a rarity a decade ago, they are now sprouting up in places throughout the city. In fact, there is currently a development in the Botanical Heights Neighborhood by UIC + CDO that features all LEED homes. This area, referred to as the Botanical Grove, completely focuses on green building while preserving the historic look and feel of the area. I attended an Open House a few weeks ago at the Botanical Grove to discover how well they could blend historic and sustainable. What was my opinion? I wanted to move there once I was finished! Take a tour of some my favorite features about the homes in Botanical Grove.
Historic 3BD/2 1/2 bath town home available. Normally this house would be $240,000 but we can sell it for $197,500 thanks to Neighborhood Preservation Tax Credits. This offer is good until March 1st.
Straight Up Solar putting the Solar Panels up on 4232 McRee.
Drilling rig out to drill the wells for the Geo Thermal unit for 4224 McRee
Straight Up Solar was out to install the Solar Panels on the Dee and Jeff's new home!
Cork Floors in the Master Bedroom
Farmhouse Sink in Renovated Display
The boards are made from 100% post industrial poplar wood strands left over from furniture manufacturing. Green but also 2 X as hard as a standard wood floor.
4246 McRee- Renovated Display Kitchen
Geo Thermal Heat Pump manufactured by Bosch. This system can create up to 70% savings in your energy bill while improving humidity control and thermal comfort throughout the home AND the buyer is eligible for a $6,000 Federal Tax Credit.
This is a display of the insulation that they are using in the renovated homes. It is a great system that includes closed cell foam on the outside and dense packed insulation on top.
Our PaperStone counter top in the new display. It is made from 100% post consumer recycled paper.
Sun Shade
Ground Floor of Insulated Concrete Form House underway.
Six rain gardens along McRee similar to the ones currently at City Garden.
Botanical Grove is located on McCree Avenue in Botanical Heights.
More information is available about these properties the development website. livegreenstl.com. Thanks to Chris Hulse of UIC + CDO for allowing me to use some of his construction photos.
Dan Brassil
Real Estate Professional
St. Louis Real Estate
That is great that they are now moving forward in the downtown area’s with LEED homes. I am LEED certified and practiced architecture (Corporate Commercial) with Forum Studio for 10 years prior to becoming a Mortgage Banker. All of my building from 2005 on met LEED Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum standards. It feels good to make a difference…