One local couple has taken the phrase "Think Green" to heart.
Jim and Joi Mannan recently broke ground for an innovative new home that will feature environmentally friendly "green" materials and green building practices.
The home, at 5056 N. CR 250 East, Warsaw, will be the first Touchstone Energy Home® in the area, meeting or exceeding energy efficiency and green standards.
For several years the Mannans, who own Classique Blinds, have dreamed of building an environmentally friendly house that was energy efficient and built with green materials.
Then they met with John Kidd of Kidd Construction, and things fell into place.
Kidd also believes that building such a home is possible and can be done with low upfront costs.
The Mannans and Kidd worked together for several weeks, designing and planning the home.
"We're thrilled to get this project going," said Jim Mannan. "We're all excited to share these new building technologies with Warsaw and north-central Indiana, and we're pleased to be building a home that will help us control our carbon footprint. This is a really smart way to build."
Featuring a geothermal heating and cooling system, the home will be 100 percent electric. Insulated concrete forms and many other green components will be used during the construction process.
In September, ground was broken to begin the home building process.
"We're very excited about starting this new project, which we think will set a standard for building new homes in this area," said Kidd. "By building to Touchstone Energy Home® and NAHB standards, we know that we'll end up with an extremely energy-efficient house that will be affordable to heat, cool and maintain."
Kidd Construction, Kosciusko REMC, and several local contractors will work together to complete the home, which will meet or exceed the national Association of Home Builder's Gold Standard for energy efficient home building and Touchstone Energy Home® standards.
According to a press release from Kosciusko County REMC, "Touchstone Energy Home® building standards are a part of Kosciusko REMC's Energy Advisor program. By building to standards established by the electric cooperative, the homeowners will receive a guarantee of their energy expenses for the first year the home is occupied.
"NAHB standards will rate the home as a "Gold" home, meaning it is of superior design and built to the highest "green" standards established by the national building association."
Kosciusko REMC's Manager of Marketing & Communications Doris Lemert said, "KREMC is delighted to work with the Mannans and Kidd Construction on this project. We hope that all of our members considering new construction will talk to our Energy Advisor, Carol Presley, before they draw up plans and start construction.
"By working with us in advance on meeting Touchstone Energy Home® standards, we can guarantee that the end result will be an extremely energy-efficient home, beating the federal Energy Star home standards. With the increasing costs of electricity, natural gas and propane, it makes perfect sense to build to energy-efficiency standards."
Other subcontractors involved with the project so far include: Classique Blinds; Elliott's Heating & Air Conditioning; Vision It Now Inc.; White's Flooring & Carpet Cleaning; and Millenium Sounds.
Information on the progress of the home can be found at www.warsawgreenteam.com
According to the Web site, "Jim Mannan, wife Joi and John Kidd lead the team of local people to help build and live green. Their mission is to inform and educate people on how easy it is to 'go green' as well as what is entailed in going green around your home."
"Green is certainly a popular buzzword today, you hear and see it in every form of media. To be Earth friendly is simply a matter of slightly changing the way you live by, for example putting recycling containers in your garage, mud room or pantry, or simply consuming less electricity and water during your daily routine. Yet another example is putting a moisture sensor on your irrigation system so it does not unnecessarily water your lawn when it's raining. In regards to heating and cooling your home, Geo Thermal heat pumps are extremely energy efficient, which in turn lowers your monthly energy bills. You may have heard that Bamboo is a fast growing grass, but did you know that it is also considered to be very green because it considered to be a renewable resource and is widely being used in the construction and remodeling industry."
The Web site also features information about technology used in building the home and updates on the construction of the home.
An open house to show the home's rough stage, HVAC, and green materials will be Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Nov. 15 and 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at the home.
