The Incredibly Green Home Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

US Green Building Council Awards Local Chevy Chase Home the First LEED® Platinum Certification in Montgomery County

March 16th, 2010 – (Chevy Chase, MD) Today, The Incredibly Green Home of Chevy Chase, at 5133 Fairglen Lane was awarded LEED Platinum certification by USGBC for achievement in green homebuilding and design. The Incredibly Green Home of Chevy Chase is one of 2 homes in the state of Maryland that have been certified Platinum using LEED for Homes, and is the first in Montgomery County.

LEED for Homes is a green home certification program that rewards homes designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and more healthy and durable for the occupants. LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes a home energy rating (HERS) and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live.

The home has also received an Emerald rating through the NAHB’s National Green Building Standard (NGBS), making it the first home in the nation to receive both LEED Platinum and NGBS Emerald.

The Incredibly Green Home of Chevy Chase was built by Bethesda Bungalows, which is known for their expertise in building smaller, upscale green homes. Through their commitment to green homebuilding, Bethesda Bungalows is helping to drive innovation among the local building community.

Peter Guida, owner of Bethesda Bungalows said, “Achieving both certifications is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and subcontractors. Going through the process has catapulted our homes to the cutting edge of building science, and our future customers will benefit immensely from the lessons we’ve learned.”

“As a LEED-certified home, The Incredibly Green Home serves as a model of greener living for the entire community,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President of Residential Market Development for the USGBC. “The home sets the example that we can all live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a greener place to live.”

Located less than a mile from Downtown Bethesda, 5133 Fairglen Lane is within walking distance of public transportation, shops and other conveniences. The home's unique design focuses heavily on reducing energy use. The five bedroom project features a ground loop geothermal HVAC system, low-e argon windows, a 1.75Kw grid-tied photovoltaic solar system, LED recessed lighting and spray foam insulation. Other energy efficiency upgrades include an insulated foundation, an energy recovery ventilator, and an outlet for an electric vehicle. As a result of incorporating energy saving products and technologies, 5133 Fairglen Lane has achieved a 41 Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score.

Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, recycled fiber carpet, bamboo and recycled glass countertops, cork flooring and Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwood flooring have been used throughout the house.

The home is also EPA Indoor airPLUS and EnergyStar certified.

Click here for our Green Features Guide of the home. This brochure walks you through a self-guided tour of the home.

Click here for a Virtual Tour of the home.

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Our friend Michael Kiefer of Green DC Realty recently wrangled a nice piece on some of the green projects going on in town, and it mentioned The Incredibly Green Home.  Thanks Michael!

DREAMING OF A WHITE (and GREEN) CHRISTMAS “Environmentally friendly housing” once conjured images of dwellings with oodles of solar panels, no electricity, and maybe even an outdoor privy. Times have changed. Drastically. Local developers are still building green homes that save energy, but don’t skimp on aesthetics. Think tree-huggers in Chanel! Here are a few homes that may be green, but definitely aren’t gauche.

NOBLE NET ZERO: Marcie Meditch and John Murphey of Meditch Murphey Architects designed, developed and sold 6201 WEST HALBER ROAD in the Bannock Burn neighborhood of Bethesda for $1,795,000 with the help of Michael Kiefer and Fritz Hubig of Green DC Realty. The house is classified as a “net zero” home because on an annual average basis it produces as much energy as it consumes (read: zero-dollar energy bills). Nash Construction included all the typical luxury amenities you might expect as well as such “green” features as geothermal heating system with energy recover, solar electric and hot water systems, rain barrels, low-flow toilets (yes, there are high end plumbing fixtures that meet this criteria), and a green roof. Interior finishes include many recycled, reclaimed, and sustainably-harvested local materials. The buyer, Ann Luskey, an interior designer and noted environmentalist, serves as a trustee of the City Kids to Wilderness Project and the Whaleman Foundation. The house will be submitted for LEED Platinum certification, the highest level of “green” from the U.S. Green Building Council

INCREDIBLY GREEN: Bethesda Bungalows, a custom builder specializing in energy efficient Arts & Crafts and Prairie-style houses, recently completed 5133 FAIRGLEN LANE in Chevy Chase. The five bedroom, five and a half bath property known as “The Incredibly Green Home” is listed for $1,895,000 and showcases the latest green technologies and building methods. It combines the aesthetics of both Frank Lloyd Wright and Asian design to achieve a Zen-like effect. The Christian Gladu-designed house boasts a unique mix of luxury amenities, and also features like Enviroshake recycled composite roof shingles, Forest Stewardship Council-certified Brazilian cherry floors, Teragren bamboo builtins, and Icestone recycled glass counter tops.

ECO-GORGOUS: 1310 CALDER ROAD, the first carbon neutral dwelling in downtown McLean and one of the most environmentally friendly structures in the country, was recently delivered by GreenSpur Inc and West*Group. Currently listed at $2,395,000, it was built as the first carbonneutral designer show house on the East Coast, and is a fundraising project headed up by CharityWorks. Barry Dixon did the interior design on the 4,200-square foot Craftsman-style house, which features such luxurious green amenities as a salt water lap pool, a passive copper wine cellar, three ethanol fires places, and a LED high definition golf simulator theater.

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