USGBC SELECTS "GREEN BEGINNINGS" HOME FOR LEED PROJECT PROFILE

National Spotlight Shines on Philadelphia-area Residence

KENNETT SQUARE, PA, March 2009: Avrim and Vicki Topel, authors of Green Beginnings: The Story of How We Built Our Green & Sustainable Home, announced today that their home has been selected to become a USGBC Project Profile in the LEED For Homes certification program. The Green Beginnings house will become the ninth home in the nation selected to showcase homes certified by the LEED Green Building Rating System on the USGBC’s website and other educational materials.

Designed by Matthew Moger, AIA, Lyman Perry Architects, Berwyn, PA, and built by Amy Cornelius of Hugh Lofting Timber Framing of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the prefabricated and timber frame house was awarded the USGBC’s LEED Silver and Energy Star Qualified Home designations in October, 2008.

Project Profiles provide a comprehensive look at how select LEED projects were certified, including project costs, economic and environmental benefits, and other special features.

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. LEED For Homes is a green home certification system for assuring homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants. Launched in February, 2008, as of January, 2009, 1,304 homes had received LEED For Homes certification and 13,836 had registered their intent to seek certification.

The USGBC is the nation’s authoritative body providing governance and oversight for green and sustainable design and construction, and its LEED Green Building Rating System is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operations of high-performance green buildings.

Green Beginnings is the initiative of husband-and-wife team Avrim and Vicki Topel to introduce and educate people about green homes with their book, educational tours of their home, and soon-to-be-released video.

For more information about the Green Beginnings, visit www.greenbeginningstour.com

For more information about USGBC and LEED, visit www.usgbc.org

Vicki Topel
LEEDSilver@yahoo.com
http://www.greenbeginningsthebook.com