The 2016 GreenBuilt Home Tour, held this year on July 23- 24, will feature 13 one-of-a-kind homes that demonstrate the present and future of residential design and building innovation. Among the trends this year are healthy homes that allow for Aging in Place.
This emerging trend considers the design and construction of homes today in a way that will accommodate the needs of homeowners and older residents as they age. Several homes featured on the GreenBuilt Home Tour provide a chance for homeowners to learn more about healthy and sustainable home-building practices like the trend of aging in place in real-world applications.
“The LEED Platinum registered SmartHaus in Libertyville is a fusion of universal design and green building science,” said architect Michael Kollman of SmartHaus + Wexler/Kollman. “The newly constructed infill duplex was designed to be used by my clients parents and in-laws. As the population of the US continues to age, we expect the demand for products like these that combine energy efficiency, sustainability and healthy indoor environments with the principles of universal design to increase rapidly,” said Kollman.
Features of homes designed for aging in place include zero step access to the main level, first floor master suite, roll in shower, open floor plan including kitchen, living, and dining, and guest space for family members or live-in should assistance be needed in the future.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), seventy-five percent of remodelers reported an increase in inquiries related to aging in place. The NAHB predicts that aging in place remodeling market to be $20-$25 billion. That’s about 10 percent of the $214 billion home improvement industry.
In addition to Aging in Place, homes on the GreenBuilt Home Tour feature a variety of residential design ideas, building practices, mechanical systems, materials, fixtures, and furnishings applicable to a wide range of home styles, sizes, and prices.
“The tour provides one-time public access to both completed and in-progress homes, each one designed and constructed to demonstrate a number of green-building approaches across varying architectural styles and settings,” said Brian Imus, Executive Director of the USGBC-Illinois, organizer of the home tour.
The tour debuted in 2013 as an initiative of the U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois Chapter. There were over 2,000 home visits tallied last year and this year more than 70 volunteer docents will be on site to assist visitors and assemble groups to explore each residence – led by the home’s architect or builder.
The homes featuring aging in place design elements are in communities across the region, including Wildwood, Libertyville, and Lisle. For a list of all homes on the tour with addresses and pictures, visit www.greenbuilthometour.org
The Pembroke Country Net-Zero House was designed with a “butterfly roof,” which provides a platform for the solar PV and solar thermal systems.
Flexhouse’s interior passive solar wall absorbs heat from the sun and later releases it into the home.
Beechen & Dill Homes, Inc. is the only home builder in Illinois that follows a rigorous set of requirements for the Diamond Level Environments For Living program.
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