A model home for the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association’s (HCBA) Greener Homes For Belmont-Cragin program. During the construction process, the home was used as a learning lab, instructing residents on techniques for restoring windows, insulation and air sealing, and landscaping.

The home is seeking Chicago Green Homes certification, starting with a variety of energy-efficiency strategies. The existing walls will be insulated with soy-based spray foam insulation, and a geothermal system will provide heating and cooling. As in many green homes, clerestory windows at the top of a central light and air shaft open to provide natural ventilation. Here, though, the windows will open and close automatically in response to a temperature sensor. Similarly, window shades will raise and lower automatically in response to daylight. These features and more will be controlled by a computer-based building automation system, typically only seen in commercial buildings.

This a project designed by an architect as his own family residence. It is another example of a budget-conscious but reasonably responsible design. Most of the green investment goes into energy-saving, but easily achievable features - rigid exterior insulation with spray foam insulation between studs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and an Energy Star roof.

This is a small developer’s first foray into green multifamily housing, and is a great example of a newer developer that recognizes how green building differentiates their product. These three green buildings make this little corner in Humboldt Park one of the greenest in Chicago! This project is seeking Chicago Green Homes certification. This isn’t a demonstration project with exotic features, but does include nearly all of the increasingly-standard features on green buildings, such as high-efficiency mechanical equipment, low-VOC and recycled content materials. It also includes the all-important layer of continuous insulation (to eliminate thermal bridging), which it is often so difficult to convince developers of this housing type to do.