Visionary Clients select EcoUrban to develop LEED Registered Modular Construction to Feature Solar & Geothermal

This week EcoUrban will break ground on the LEED for Homes registered Carlsson Residence at 6153 Pershing in Historic Skinker-Debaliviere Neighborhood.

This sustainable residential solution is being developed in partnership with Homeway Homes, Hoffman Brothers, Microgrid, Superior Walls, Mwanzi Green Building Supply and ASERusa.

Here is a hit list of the features:

- 2,176 square feet with 3 bed / 2.5 bath and first floor den/office/bedroom flex room.

- LEED for Homes Registered - Tracking Platinum designation / Preliminary HERS score of 49 with ASERusa serving as our energy modeler and LEED rater.

- 3 ton geothermal heating / cooling with (3) 200' vertical loops from Hoffmann Brothers Heating & Cooling with Aprilaire ERV and tankless hot water.

- Solar prewire conduit from Homeway Homes for easy install of Microgrid Energy's SolarWorld 250 3 kw solar off-grid power producing 3,873 kWh annually or roughly 50% of the home's power!

- Modular 2x6 construction with hybrid foam/batt R24 wall insulation / Low-E Energy Plus windows from Quaker Windows with a White TPO "cool" rubber roof constructed by Homeway Homes.

- Superior Walls precast foundation system with built-in R-12.5 insulation and ready-to-build out for future lower level space.

- Masonry, stucco and corrugated metal exterior siding for a modern look that fits into the neighborhood.

- 2-car garage / native landscaping

- Estimated completion date of 11/15/11

EcoUrban: Building Sustainable Solutions
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Great Opportunity to Learn about the State of Construction & Demolition Recycling in St. Louis

Getting tired of trips to the dumpster and landfill? Think there must be a better way to manage all the construction and demolition waste you face on job sites? Well...then you should join EcoUrban next Wednesday for a deeper look at the current situation and what can be done to increase landfill diversion and developing opportunities for profiting from construction waste.

The St. Louis Region and the Midwest are blessed with much open space, which means that it is easy to overlook where our generated residential and commercial waste ends up. Our landfill tipping fees, i.e. “the cost to dump”, are relatively low compared to other parts of the United States as a result of the abundance of landfill areas. Many consumers, businesses and contractors think nothing of throwing things “away and out of sight.” However, it is not environmentally responsible to dispose of items that could be salvaged, recycled or reused. It is also irresponsible to think of our landfill space as unlimited. One day there will not be an “away” for our waste disposal.

With support from St. Louis Jefferson Solid Waste Management, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter, ReSource St. Louis and Missouri Enterprise have partnered to address the need to better understand C&D waste resources in the St. Louis area and build a business case for increasing waste reduction with the ultimate goal of reducing waste in our landfills and preserving the environment for future generations.

Join us for a free educational seminar on the State of Construction & Demolition Recycling in St. Louis.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Acquire a comprehensive background on the present “lay of the landfill” as it relates to common and existing practices for dealing with C&D end of project materials.

Identify current best alternative practices for dealing with C&D materials in the greater St. Louis area, encouraging a shift away from current dead-end strategies.

Examine the recycling needs of the building community, as they relate to LEED requirements and personal best choices.

Capture and expand upon possible business case options as they relate to LEED requirements and personal best choices.

Explore barriers to C& D recycling, dispelling the myths and offering sound metrics to encourage an embracing of recycling as opposed to dumping.

Recognize national case studies of technologies and approaches already in place elsewhere which provide significant monetary and environmental savings to communities and states.

Thanks to the Project Team who managed the focus groups and developed the C&D Toolkit and this Education Session!

Gary Steps – Butterfly Energy Works – Instructor

Jay Swoboda – EcoUrban – Instructor

Jen Loui – Butterfly Energy Works – Project Manager

WHEN


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

3:30 – 5:30 pm

WHERE

6301 Knox Industrial Drive (63139), Second Floor Assembly Room

FEE

Free!

REGISTER

Online on the AGC-St. Louis website:

http://events.agcstl.org/iMISPublic/Core/Events/eventdetails.aspx?iKey=062211GRE

What's Next: Middle Class Green or Small Homes?

Check out the link below that discusses some real world green prefab buyers from "Prefabulous + Sustainable" by Sheri Koones...a book EcoUrban was featured in from 2010 - with a pretty snazzy forward by none other than, Mr. Robert Redford. I read the USA Today article, and had to wonder: Is EcoUrban just building green for the middle class?

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20110117/modularhomes17_cv.art.htm

To date, all of the homes built by EcoUrban have sold for under $180,000 (which doesn't exactly leave much room for profit margin on our 1600 square foot homes) and recently we partnered up with some local community development organizations to build 8 homes with a $96,250 mortgage after a ton of subsidy from HUD and a local housing trust fund.

We spend a lot of time & effort pushing for affordable new construction green as something that everyone can own, but the fact is that without subsidy we've got a non-sustainable business model. How do we compete? I've learned that to walk-away from new construction projects with the hybrid modular/site work model we've developed with a 15% profit - that we need to sell the final product with land for $140 per square foot - or $225,000 for a 1,500 square foot home. Sadly, this number just isn't supported in our region with so much affordable historic homes and distressed properties. On the other hand, show this number to someone in California and I tend to think these homes would be flying off the shelf.

So, what gives? Maybe we just need to educate consumers more that new construction, energy-efficient intelligently designed 1,500 square foot homes for $225,000 is a freakin' great deal! Sure you can buy a historic shell for $2,000 and spend $150,000 (if you can find a 203K lender in the mood) re-creating a home in some of our amazing historic neighborhoods - it has been done and continues. Seriously though, why spend over a year banging your head against the wall to live with uninsulated brick walls (or losing space to furred-out insulated walls) if the sustainable new construction option is within reach and takes less than 4 months? I just don't see how EcoUrban's model can compete if buyers are willing to accept inefficient charm over sustainable efficiency...moving on!

So, if I can beat 'em at the historic vs. new homes game what about creating a new market? I've been obsessed the with idea of pushing our buyers to accept smaller footprint homes - something that national trends toward smaller homes just don't seem to support yet. It seems buyers with limited budgets still want all the features - so, perhaps the opportunity is there. I've always wanted to explore EcoUrban getting into the backyard cottage or ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) market, but wasn't sure there would be a customer base. Can you imagine EcoUrban developing something similiar to the following as a solution to that constant challenge for extra square footage, home office, or an easy rental addition? If I could develop a model that puts a 576 square foot rental unit on top of a 2-car garage for $75,000 - is there a business?

Check out the following links of small footprint homes and let me know if I'm crazy:

http://tinyhouseblog.com/pre-fab/clayton-i-house/ 

http://www.moderncabana.com/MC_main.html

http://www.rocioromero.com/

http://gliving.com/trouble-free-prehab-from-zenkaya/

http://michellekaufmann.com/2010/08/launch-of-new-designs/

Lots of great ideas...but is St. Louis ready? We shall see...

EcoUrban 3.0: Building Sustainable Solutions Kicks Ass

Reboot. EcoUrban 3.0.

It has been a long and bumpy road from idea to execution, but I think we've finally found EcoUrban's sweet spot. Having pioneered infill green-certified housing over the past 5 years with our first homes changing owners for the first time, we have found a way to keep the lights on and continue to push residential housing toward a more affordable and efficient future.

In September 2010, Nate Forst headed west to pursue his MBA at Portland State University with a focus on sustainability and all reports to date have been encouraging and while the office is much emptier we wish him the very best.

Over the years, we have learned that we excel in the conception, promotion and execution of authentic green solutions to residential, commerical and regional challenges. We've learned to be better partners & collaborators where we lack necessary skill sets. And we believe, that EcoUrban has a lot more to offer our clients than well-built energy-efficient dwellings. We also have learned that we have a lot to learn!

Yes, EcoUrban will continue to offer a range of historic & modern construction design services including residential, commercial and prefabricated design, but our services are being expanded to incorporate new opportunities.

Currently, our to-do list is focused on a sustainable consulting project where we were awarded the Regional Construction & Demolition Waste Research & Education project that we've partnered with Butterfly Energy Works & USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter to deliver in-depth research, focus groups and on web-friendly online toolkit to educate our region about the opportunities for increased construction waste diversion.

We launched Sprout to activate dated or soon to be vacant commerical space in need of focused tenant solutions. This works allows us to engage entrepreneurs and small businesses in specific fields seeking a collaborative office environment with building owners in need of energized new tenants. Look for the development of a creative/media focused Sprout, as well as another Sprout focused on community development, architecture and artists.

We continue to believe that making green building affordable to all is our long-term goal and common thread, and to this end, we plan to continue to seek out multi-family rental opportunities across the region, affordable housing developments in urban and rural areas with a focus on access to public transit and developing walkable neighborhoods.

I'm hopeful that you'll continue to tell your network of family, friends and collegues about our efforts and services and with your support we'll be able to continue our efforts to build sustainable solutions!

Best,

Jemal Swoboda, Project Manager
EcoUrban: Building Sustainable Solutions
http://www.ecourbanstl.com/
314-231-0400 ext. 4
314-662-0392 (cell)
jay@ecourbanstl.com