Client: City of Chicago – Departments of Environment and Housing

Architect: Esherick, Homsey, Dodge and Davis (EHDD)

Location: 1919 N. Keeler, Chicago, IL

GreenGrid^® Size: 260 ft²

Installation Contractor: GreenGrid^®/WESTON

Green Roof Design: GreenGrid^®/WESTON

Rooftop System: Extensive

Status: Completed Summer 2003

Project Narrative: (Courtesy of the City of Chicago Departments of Environment and Housing)

The Green Homes for Chicago demonstrated how energy efficient and environmentally friendly practices could be incorporated into affordable housing design and construction.

In 2000, the City of Chicago Departments of Environment and Housing held a competition to solicit green single-family home designs. The purpose of this competition was to generate the most creative and resourceful applications of existing green technology and simultaneously make the homes affordable.

Three layers were incorporated into the design competition: a base green home, an upgraded green home, and a cutting edge green home. Seventy-three design proposals from across the nation and five foreign countries were submitted. A panel of twelve local architects, designers, and builders selected the five winning entries based on Affordability, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, and Context.

The cutting edge design at 1919 N. Keeler was based on the Factor 10 concept that was developed in mid-1990’s to address a global environmental crisis brought on by human activity that could cause mass extinction of one-fifth of all living species in the next 30 years. As a major contributor to this crisis, buildings consume 42% of all energy, 30% of all raw materials, and are responsible for 40% of all air pollution. Using four strategies – size reduction, improved efficiency, extended life span, and impact reduction – the Factor 10 House strives to reduce life-cycle environmental impacts by a factor of 10 compared to the average home being built in America today. Its green/energy efficient features include:

• The modular design minimizes waste of materials and allows off-site assembly.

• Energy consumption is reduced by maximizing insulation, careful placement of the windows, and the use of a heat sink.

• The placement of windows maximizes reflected light into the interior of the home and reduces glare. Also, a south-facing clerestory window brings light to the core of the house reducing the need for artificial lighting.

• Augmented by a whole-house fan, the shaft pulls warm air up and out of the house in the summer, and pushes warmed air down in the cold months.

• Materials were selected for their extended life spans and initial production impact.

• The porches include perforated metal awnings that channel air inside. Recycled materials are incorporated throughout the house. One of the most notable, a wall of water bottles, acts as a heat sink in the solar chimney.

• The use of the GreenGrid^® Green Roofing System—The GreenGrid^® : − Counters the effect of heat gain through evaporative cooling, adding to the insulation value of the roofing system, reducing energy consumption. − Eliminates the destructive effects of UV rays on the roofing membrane and wide roof temperature swings, extending the life span of the membrane. − Plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen while creating a beautiful scene. − Absorbs and retains storm water runoff, reducing the impact on the City sewer system.

• The foundation is constructed of high fly ash concrete, which involves a less energy intensive manufacturing process and creates less global warming gases than regular concrete. Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired power plants that generally goes into the landfill. When used in concrete in high volumes, it creates a stronger, more durable product that reduces concrete’s environmental impact.

• The wrap-around deck is constructed from IPE, a certified Brazilian hardwood that naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold without the use of toxic chemicals used in other decking products. It is naturally fire resistant and has been awarded an ‘A1’ rating. Additionally, IPE is a strong, dense wood harvested from naturally sustainable forests. It is very durable in daily use, and has an expected lifetime of more than 25 years.

• Energy Star appliances.

The City of Chicago plans to monitor energy performance of this home for a period of 18 months. The lessons learned from this project will influence the design of future affordable housing programs in the City.