State of the art

Step into Downers Grove’s only LEED-certified home

If you’ve driven south on Washington in the last three years, you must have noticed the modern house two doors south of Washington Park. Downers Grove is home to several commercial Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings, but this is the only private residence to bear this distinction. LEED is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class strategies for building. Put simply, it’s a construction method focused on sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

So how did this overtly millennial-style home come to be found along this stretch of traditional Cape Cods, four squares and ranches? Architect and Downers Grove native Brent Widler of Widler Architecture was bequeathed his father Gary’s circa-1920 cottage, which stood on the same lot.

“We were invited to the Washington Street block party," Widler said. "My wife, Lynse Briney, loved the neighborhood, and talked me into moving back here from Ravenswood Manor. My dad’s house wasn’t going to work for our family, but we hadn’t necessarily intended to build a LEED-certified home.”

A LEED consultant helped them realize the advantages of this type of dwelling, and understand that while the homeowner usually spends more money in the upfront build, there are considerable cost-savings in the long-run. Widler estimates that building expenses were roughly $25,000 more initially than a normal residential build, but there have already been significant savings. His residence is approximately 51 percent more efficient than the average non-green home.

LEED is a whole-building approach grounded in the hallmarks of going green: using less energy and water, improving indoor air quality and choosing environmentally smart building materials. It’s all about a lower carbon footprint, using resources as wisely as possible and producing a minimum amount of waste.

Typically, the process begins when the prospective homeowner and architect meet with a LEED-certified consultant to develop a building plan.

“We were able to divert 81 percent (more than 16 tons) of the construction waste that typically ends up in a landfill when building a new home,” Widler said. LEED-certification is not only for new homes; it is possible to incorporate sustainable strategies into an existing home.

“My firm is currently working on a home in the North Center neighborhood of the city from 1890 that will be 'platinum' level when completed,” Widler said.

LEED projects are certified at different levels, ranging from the minimum to be LEED-certified, on up to platinum. Credits are optional elements that projects can pursue to gain points toward LEED certification. The checklist is based on scoring out of 100 points or credits. Each level has required elements of green building strategies that must be

We were able to divert 81 percent (more than 16 tons) of the construction waste that typically ends up in a landfill when building a new home.

-BRENT WIDLER

included in any LEED certified project. Each fixture, material and component of the build correspond to a point value, which in turn determine the level at which the building is certified. Widler’s home is "silver" level. A “green rater,” or third-party tester, coordinates between the homeowner and builder to be sure prerequisites are being met during the building process.

There are literally tens of thousands of components to the process of a LEED build.

While the journey to certification can seem mind-boggling at first, according to Widler, “some of it is just common sense.” He had tile laid in the mudroom, as opposed to wood or carpeting, to minimize the dirt that gets tracked into the house. The house contains LED lighting, which consumes significantly less energy than incandescent and fluorescent lighting, and it is pre-staged for solar panels, which could be added in the future to lower dependency from utility companies. And the windows meet a certain energy efficiency level.

LEED homes are designed to maximize indoor air quality and minimize inhabitants’ exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants, making it healthier and more comfortable. There is no direct flow of air into the house, thus making it extremely well-insulated and tightly sealed.

Because of this, air from the outside needs to be mixed through the HVAC system, which senses temperature changes in the house, and uses less energy to regulate. Even the gas fireplace, while allowing the exchange of heat, is completely sealed from the interior. The basement slab has two inches of foam under it to prevent cold air penetration. Great air quality and the health benefits that accompany it are natural side effects. The steel roof is low maintenance and more environmentally-friendly than asphalt shingles. Drainage from the roof and lot has been engineered to control stormwater runoff, minimizing the impact to neighbors and maximizing water absorption.

Our homes provide a warm and safe setting, in addition to a grounding place in the chaos of life.

LEED certification of a residential dwelling instills a perpetual sense of stewardship, as it maintains a reduced carbon footprint over the life of the house. As the green movement marches on toward greater environmental awareness and the option to save energy, the possibility to save money follows. Discounted homeowner’s insurance and tax breaks for LEED certified homes further this opportunity.

With green homes now selling more quickly and for more money in certain markets than their traditional counterparts, we are likely to see more of them in our midst sooner than later. ■