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Dickson City Point – Garden Villas

April 1, 2012

Another fresh new design by Green Mode Designs ready for move-in. Dickson City Point homes features energy efficiency and environmentally responsible design for your lifestyle. Located on a quiet street in the Rice Military/Magnolia Grove neighborhood, a stones throw from Memorial Hike and Bike trail and the Washington Avenue corridor.

Highlights

Dickson City Point homes include all these standard and energy efficient features for a safe, healthy and energy efficient home for you and your family.

Standard Features with every home

Freestanding homes with no home owners association fees (Zero HOA fees)
Private patios and fenced yard space in all homes
Spacious covered balconies with gas connection for outdoor grills
Stained concrete floors, glass enclosed showers, skylights, 10ft vaulted ceilings
California style master closets with custom built wardrobes, shelves, and chest of drawers
Pre-wired for Cat5 networking and surround sound
Contemporary chef’s kitchen with glass cabinet faces and soft-close drawers
BOSCH Stainless Steel Energy Star kitchen appliances
Johns Manville R-19 insulation in walls (formaldehyde-free) and Icynene Spray Foam insulation between floors on exterior walls
Equipped with Security Alarm system
Engineered Wood I-Joists for each floor system
Roof-tops setup to accommodate optional Solar PV Panels with clear spaces facing South and West.

Energy Saving features in every home

Thicker 2×6 framed walls with a tightly sealed R-19 wall insulation
Low-E vinyl windows (double paned, insulated glass with 0.35 SHGC)
Poly-sealed all exterior penetrations for a tightly sealed building envelope
Radiant Barrier roof decking keeps your attic cool
Lighting – interior and exterior lights all equipped with CFL/LED bulbs
Lennox Touch and Programmable Thermostats on each floor.

Indoor Air Quality features in every home

Air Conditioning: 16 SEER HVAC system in 3 zones with fresh air supply recirculation
MERV +11 whole house Air filters by Honeywell and Nordic Pure
Zero-VOC paints, primers and enamels interior have reduced off-gassing of volatile organic compounds
Johns Manville Formaldehyde-Free insulation in walls (R-19), ceilings (R-22)and attics (R-38)
Carbon Monoxide detectors installed in every bedroom
Motion Sensors on powder bathroom exhaust vents automatically start/stop venting
Air-conditioning ducts sealed during construction to keep out dust and debris

Water Efficient features in every home

Dual flush toilets (Full – 1.6 gallons per flush / Partial – 1.0 gallon/flush)
WaterSense faucets and showerheads (30% more efficient than conventional water fixtures)
On-demand tankless water heater, heats water instantly only when hot water faucets turned on
Dishwasher is Energy Star rated, which optimizes water usage per cycle
Rainwater harvesting tanks capture rainwater from downspouts for outdoor water use
Native drought resistant plants and landscaping with gravel-scapes
Permeable paving to reduce storm-water run-off

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Houston Modern Home Tour – Spring 2012

February 23, 2012

This years Houston Modern Home Tour is back in a cooler time of the year during the first week of March. Check out these 8 modern homes on March 3, 2012:

0 Paul Revere – U of H – Built 1960
8700 Cedarspur Dr. – Tom Rusnak
4308-A Blossom – Bianchi Architects
3308 St. Emanual St.
1812 Palm – Intexture
5301 Intexture – Intexture
1319 Banks – Menil
4300 Lampton Circle – StudioMET

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2011 Houston Modern Outdoor Design Tour

November 10, 2011

Tour 13 modern homes Saturday Nov 12, 2011 that were selected for the Houston Modern Outdoor Design Tour. Ticket holders will be able to tour these homes stunning exterior spaces as well as most of the featured homes interiors.

Homes on this tour include:

11602 N. Lou-Al Ct. | Houston | 77024
709 Sue Barnett | Houston | 77018
538 Arlington | Houston | 77007
6504 Rodrigo | Houston | 77007
5007 Dickson | Houston | 77007
719 Bomar | Houston | 77006
1906 Park | Houston | 77006
3231 Audley | Houston | 77098
1916 Banks St. | Houston | 77098
1713 Vassar | Houston | 77098
5301 Chenevert | Houston | 77004
1815 Southmore | Houston | 77004
5910 Grace Ln. | Houston | 77021

Complete details at http://houstonmod.modernhometours.com

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Houston Modern Home Tour 2011

June 9, 2011

The Art Institute of Houston is proud to present the first annual Houston Modern Home Tour.

On June 11, 2011 from 11am to 6pm, join modern architecture lovers exploring 9 of Houston’s most stunning examples of contemporary residential architecture.

Homes on this years tour (Address – Architect/Developer)

3 W. Shady Ln. – Contour Interior Design
8210 Hillcroft – MC2 Architects
4907 Valerie St. – Todd Blitzer/Mirador Group
1818 Palm – Intexure Architects
2025 Colquitt – b2 Housing Group
1513 Fairview St. – masa STUDIO Architects
1216 Hyde Park – Collaborative Designworks – LEED Certified
6007 Glen Cove – Charles Todd Helton, Architect
6120 Maxie St – WAI Architects – Maxie Moderne development

Then, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, ticket-holders can head to the After Party Presented by BMW West Houston. Enjoy complimentary cocktails and a chance to talk with the architects and sponsors providing unique, sustainable products in the home design industry.

Tickets are $15 plus a $2 service fee in advance or $25 on the day of the tour.

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Luxe Downtown Home Tour April 16, 2011

April 14, 2011

Experience downtown-living through a tour of private residences on Saturday, April 16. It all starts at the tour headquarters, Post Rice Lofts on Texas and Main, with complimentary beverages and bites from Saint Arnold Brewing Company and The Shops at Houston Center. Notable stops are the homes and studios from Houston artists Nicola Parente and Olga Porter, plus the newly-renovated and award-winning historic Cash Register Building.

Featured Lofts and Dwellings – Address

Post Rice Lofts – 909 Texas Avenue
City View Lofts – 15 North Chenevert
Bayou Lofts – 915 Franklin
Cash Register Building – 515 Caroline
Commerce Towers – 914 Main
Four Seasons Private Residences – 1111 Caroline
Franklin Lofts – 201 Main
One Park Place – 1400 McKinney

This self-guided tour begins and ends at the convenience of the guest, anytime between noon and 5 p.m. Guests preferring to ride rather than walk can catch the official shuttle, The Houston Wave.

Tickets are $10 for members of Houston Downtown Alliance, Emerging Leaders and Houston Young People for the Arts; $20 for non-members. Get your tickets in advance online, or on the day of the event at Post Rice Lofts.

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Heights Home and Garden Spring Tour

March 31, 2011

The Heights Home & Garden Tour will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, 2011, from noon to 6 pm each day, and consists of six spectacular homes and gardens—four historic and two recent construction—each reflecting the unique character and architecture of one of Houston’s most cherished and eclectic neighborhoods.

Featured Homes

Cohen Home—726 E. 8^th St
Bohnn/Green Home—945 Columbia St
Willis Home—711 E. 19^th St – LEED Certified home in 2010
Vaughn Home—1802 Cortlandt
The Sitton Home—247 W. 21^ST St
Perez/ Eronko Home—1401 Herkimer St

Also on the tour this year will be an opportunity to see the “before” version of Immanuel Lutheran Church—a historic structure which will soon be transformed into a community center for art exhibits, receptions, and community and youth programs.

Luxury Bus Shuttles to all of the homes, included in the price of your ticket, will be standing by at the Heights Fire Station at Yale & 12th Streets where parking is available. Buy your tickets early and online for $20 each and at the Fire Station and at each home tour home during the tour for $25 each. Special pricing for blocks of 10 tickets (before the tour only) will be $175.

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Gulf Coast Green 2011

February 25, 2011

May 25, 2011 marks the date of the annual Gulf Coast Green Symposium and Expo. This years event will be held at the United Way of Greater Houston.

Gulf Coast Green Symposium has become the leading green building conference targeted to design and construction professionals within the Gulf Coast region, organized by the AIA Houston Committee on the Environment.

Keynote speakers include:

Lance Hosey President and CEO of GreenBlue
Alex MacLean Pilot and Landscape Photographer

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Environmentally Conscious Home Buyers Checklist

November 15, 2010

Whether you’re a home buyer or a renter looking for an energy efficient home that is healthy for you to live in, how do you know if a home is truly energy efficient and built sustainably?

This checklist will help you identify an energy efficient home that’s better for your family’s health, costs less to operate, and has fewer environmental impacts.

What should you look for?

Location
- Infrastructure – located within an area that already has public utilities and transportation access.
- Amenities – Within walking distance of parks, schools, and stores.
- Public transit — easy access to bus, light rail, bike paths and subway systems.
- Not built on prime soil – New homes/neighborhoods must not be built on environmentally sensitive sites like prime farmland, wetlands or endangered species habitats.
- Infill property – built on former developments such as parking lots, rail yards, shopping malls, and factories where the land had already been developed once with existing infrastructure.
- Compact development – built where the average housing density is at least six units per acre.
Sustainable Home Site
- Size – choose a smaller footprint home, no matter how many green building elements go into your home, a smaller home consumes less natural resources, building materials and energy than a larger one.
- Landscaping – should minimize water consumption but still provide protection and shading. Look for drought-tolerant native plants rather than water-guzzling plants and grass in most regions.
- Driveways and Sidewalks – utilize permeable paving/gravel instead of concrete.
- Building Layout – Home oriented to bring abundant natural daylight into the interior to reduce lighting requirements and take advantage of any prevailing breezes.
- Rainwater Harvesting System – particularly in drier regions where water is increasingly scarce
- Compost and Recycling systems - space available for these in yard/lot
- Exterior Lighting - use solar powered lighting where applicable and direct light downward to reduce light pollution
Sustainable Building Materials
- Recycled content – building and finish materials should incorporate significant pre/post consumer waste into glass tiles, raw steel, crushed concrete, carpet, insulation, drywall, engineered lumber, counter tops, etc.
- Locally or regionally produced – cabinetry, tile, lighting, paint
- Rapidly renewable – Wood-based features should come from sources like bamboo or cork.
- Durable - solid wood cabinetry, re-finishable hardwood flooring
Energy Efficiency
- Wall Construction – framing utilizes solid walls or thicker wall (2×6, ICF’s or SIP’s)
- Roof - Light colored Energy Star rated 30 year shingles or metal panel
- Attic – well insulated poly-sealed to interior walls with Radiant Barrier roofing
- Insulation – A nontoxic insulation, without formaldehyde, with a high R (heat resistance) factor in a home’s walls and ceilings prevents heat loss/gain during the year.
- Windows – Dual-pane, high-performance insulated Energy Star compliant
- Air Conditioning - 90% or higher efficient furnace, programmable thermostat, insulated ducts, heat pump, radiant floor heating, ceiling fans, energy-efficient zoned air conditioner (SEER 14 or more)
- Lighting – day-lighting, CFL’s, LED’s, skylights/solar-tubes, and/or motion detected lighting
- Water Heating – Natural gas fired On-demand Tank-less or Solar Thermal
- Windows and Doors – Windows and exterior doors should be Energy Star rated, and they should seal tightly to avoid heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Look for proper weatherstripping, caulking and ensure that there is no evidence of water penetration inside.
- Renewable Energy – Ideally, the home would generate some of its own energy from renewable sources using technologies like solar photovoltaic panels, wind-turbines or solar thermal heating systems.
Water Conservation
- Landscape – no/limited lawn, native plants, drip irrigation, gravel-scapes/zeri-scapes
- Rainwater Harvesting System – particularly in drier regions where water is increasingly scarce
- Faucets – high efficiency faucets use 2 gpm or less (or WaterSense certified)
- Showerheads – high efficiency shower stalls use 2.0 gpm or less (or WaterSense certified)
- Toilets – high efficiency low-flow toilets use 1.3 gpf or less (or dual flush toilet)
- Dishwasher – consumes less than 6 gallons per cycles (Energy Star labeled)
- Clothes washer – front-loading (Energy Star certified)
Indoor Environmental Quality
- Natural ventilation and day-lighting- via building orientation includes operable windows in all rooms to allow plentiful fresh air and natural light to reach at least 75% of the home’s interior.
- No/low-VOC products – paint, primer, sealers, wood finishes, adhesives, carpet, padding
- Formaldehyde-free products – cabinets, shelving, woodwork, insulation
- Ventilation - exhaust fans that vent to exterior in all bathrooms, kitchen and garage kitchen fan, bathroom fan, whole-house fan
- Air conditioner filtration - MERV 8-12 or high-performance filter
- Air condition ducting – sealed and insulated (verify by performing a Duct Blaster leakage test)
- Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors – installed on each floor and near garage entrance
Certification and Testing
- The home should be rated and certified by independent third party who can assess a score through a nationally recognized home rating systems
- Testing methods – Thermal Imaging, Blower Door, Duct Blaster, Air Quality analysis, etc.
- Department of Energy – Energy Star Home (% efficient over standard home)
- US Green Building Council – LEED for Homes (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum)

Notes:

GPM – Gallons per minute
GPF – Gallons per flush
HVAC – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
VOC – Volatile organic compounds
MERV – Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, commonly known as MERV Rating is a measurement to rate the effectiveness of air filters. The MERV rating for typical applications is shown below:
- 20 – Cleanroom
- 16 – General Surgery
- 12 – Superior Residential
- 11 – Commercial Office Buildings
- 8 – General Commercial
- 4 – Minimal Filtration

Source:

US Green Building Council
Green Home Guide

MERV     Example Application
20     Cleanroom
16     General Surgery
12     Superior Residential
11     Commercial office buildings
8     General Commercial
4     Minimal Filtration

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Tour Houston’s only LEED Platinum Net-Zero Energy Home

November 11, 2010

This Friday, November 12, 2010, the Virginia Point residence opens its doors in conjunction with the City of Houston Green Building Center to allow you to learn more about the features and systems that make this a Net-Zero energy home.

Location – 3319 Virginia St., Houston, TX
Time - 11a – 2p
Tour info - www.houstontx.gov/mayor/leedtour.pdf

The home is currently the only LEED Platinum certified residence in Houston. Along with producing more energy that it uses, the home also features a 7000 gallon rain water harvesting system which provides potable water.

Along with many other sustainable features, energy efficiency from the top down includes the following systems.

On the roof – 140 solar panels (each 170W which generate a total combined output of 23.8 kW)
In the home – Passive ventilation systems
Below the house – Geothermal heating/cooling system (with four 2-ton heat pumps and ten 300-feet-deep wells that house cooling loops)

All of which contribute to a Home Energy Rating (HERS) index performance of negative 11. The HERS index is a 100-point scale based off of a reference home built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, where a score of zero equates to being net-zero energy.

Architect – Adams Architects
Builder – Dovetail Builders
LEED Consultant – Contects

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Heights Holiday Home Tour – 2010

October 12, 2010

The Houston Heights Association’s festive annual event will be held on Friday, Dec 3, 2010, from 6-9pm, and Saturday, Dec 4, 2010, from 3-9pm.

The Holiday Tour consists of six unique homes decked out for the Holidays, three historic and three recent/newer construction. There will be free shuttle bus pick up at the Heights Fire Station (located at Yale & 12th Street) for travel to all of the homes on the Tour. There is parking available at the fire station and nearby.

Recently described by National Geographic Traveler in their March 2010 issue as: “Small town in a big city: Houston Heights offers Texas history, global cuisine and stately architecture”…the Holiday Tour offers the opportunity to experience our unique neighborhood all decked out in the wonder of the holiday season!

Homes on this year’s tour include those listed below.

Home – Address – Year Built

The Blackman Home – 729 Rutland – 1920
Modern Craftsman – 1222 Allston Street – 2008
Wade Home – 1432 Tulane – 1999
Classic Queen Anne – 1629 Cortland – 1915
Batterson Home – 1439 Harvard – 2003
Batterson-Drouin Home – 1445 Harvard – 1903

Source: Houston Heights Association

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Houston AIA Home Tour – October 2010

September 30, 2010

Nine architect-designed houses will be open October 23-24 from 12-6p each day. Tickets are $25 ($20 for bike riders) and may be purchased at any of the houses the day of the tour or at the AIA office, 315 Capitol, Suite 120 after October 11.

Tour Map

Sustainability, open floor plans, connection of indoors to outside, abundant light, and a mixture of modern and traditional materials mark key features of this year’s houses. Comfort and elegance are consistent traits. Houses were chosen for the tour to showcase a variety of styles and types including single family houses, town homes, live-work places, and incorporation of a residence into an historic commercial strip. The houses are in Bellaire, Southampton, Mid-town, and River Oaks and range in size from 2000 to 6500 sqft and from modest budgets to generous ones, demonstrating that excellence in design is not limited by size or dollars.

Home Tour descriptions

8210 Hillcroft – MC2 Architects

The plan of this house is based on 3 squares rotating 10° from each other creating a courtyard around a large Live Oak tree. The first square contains the garden, the second the living spaces, and the third the sleeping area.

4412 Effie – Studio Red Architects

Built on a tight urban site, this house emphasizes sustainability and energy efficiency and incorporates as much natural light as possible. Outdoor spaces were designed as extensions of the interior.

4300 Betty Street – Hollenbeck Architects

This stucco, stone and mahogany house was inspired by Mexican architecture. A natural light-filled, two-story axis divides the living spaces.

2115 Wroxton Road – Stern and Bucek Architects

Built on 2 lots, this 6,500SF house is planned around three courtyards onto which each first-floor living space opens creating imaginative inside-outside relationships. The plan has two intersecting bars – one brick and the other cypress planks. Flat zinc panels enhance the exterior materials palette.

2207 Milford – StudioMET

This live/work project explores the design possibilities of mixed uses on a small scale. The program included an office space for her interior design company, guest quarters, and a private residence in 3,690SF.

2712 Colquitt Street – Val Glitsch, FAIA

A 13’ wide addition to the east side of the owner’s original 1,400SF studio transformed the studio into a house with an enclosed garden and pool.

1921 Westheimer – Murphy Mears Architects

This classically inspired one-story stucco residence is located behind the owner’s antique store in an old brick commercial strip on a busy street. Salvaged materials were used in new construction, including steel casement windows.

1212 Hyde Park Boulevard – Collaborative Designworks

By using formal balance and common finishes two houses on adjacent lots imply a relationship without repeating the same design. One house has living spaces on the second floor organized around a large outdoor terrace; the other flips this part with living areas on the ground floor opening onto a private courtyard and pool.

2125 Troon – Jay Baker Architects

This traditional-style house has a steep incline at the street, but manages a rear alley. Spatial sequences focus on an interior-exterior architectural promenade and room-to-room gardens.

Source : AIA Houston 2010

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Houston Mod Tour – Glenbrook Valley

September 28, 2010

Join Houston Mod for a celebration of mid-century modern architecture on October 9^th, 2010.

Houston Mod will feature tours of the interiors and exteriors of six homes in Glenbrook Valley, plus a driving tour of notable nearby architecture in Southeast Houston. Glenbrook Valley has met the criteria to become the first post-war historic district in Houston and Texas.

Celebrate the modern movement by attending the tour and becoming a member of Houston Mod, Houston’s modern architecture and design preservation advocacy group.

Tickets for the tour are $15.00 per person, $10.00 for Houston Mod members. A list of all tour sites (6 houses confirmed, other sites to be added) will be distributed on your final admission ticket.

Tour ticket includes admission to a reception at the last tour stop where you will have the opportunity to mingle with special guests including original architects, local historians and neighborhood leaders.

Source: Houston MOD

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Houston Solar Tour 2010

September 9, 2010

Houston Solar Tour – 2010 Guide (PDF)

The Houston Solar Tour is coming up on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Green Mode Designs townhome development at 6120 Maxie St will be featured on the tour with the 6.3 KW Solar PV system. Start your tour there and get information on the homes as well other solar site around town on the tour.

The 2010 7th Annual Houston Solar Tour is a self-guided tour that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about solar energy systems, energy-efficiency and sustainable building technologies by visiting residences and businesses in the Houston area that use these technologies in real world applications.

The Solar Tour’s mission is to raise awareness of solar energy and provide an opportunity for the public to see working solar systems in action.

How to Take the Tour

Look over the Tour project site locations and visit the projects that interest you. Gather a few friends to carpool with and spend the afternoon learning about solar systems and energy efficiency. The self guided tour runs from 12-5p.

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Houston’s newest LEED certified production home

September 2, 2010

Green Mode Designs LLC successfully attains the US Green Building Councils certification for the project at 6120 Maxie St. The home at Unit A achieved a LEED Gold level certification after complete review by IBS Advisors, Ontility and the US Green Building Council.

Highlights of this home include:

56% improved energy efficiency over International Energy Conservation Code
33% indoor water use reduction compared to conventional home
89% construction waste diverted from landfill

View the LEED label to learn more about which areas the home was awarded points.

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6120 Maxie Street – Solar powered townhomes

June 15, 2010

Modern homes powered by solar panels and focused on environmentally conscious design and living spaces which are located near Memorial Park and the trendy Washington Avenue Corridor in the Rice Military/Woodcrest neighborhood. Completed June 2010. Unit A is certified by the US Green Building Council as LEED GOLD.

Energy Savings Benefits

Overall Energy Efficiency – 56% more efficient than a conventional built home (based on HERS Rating)
Water savings – 33% more efficient than conventional built home
Electric savings – 25% reduction in energy usage with Solar Photovoltaic generation offset
Air Conditioning – 96% efficient – 16 SEER HVAC system zoned to each floor

Indoor air quality Benefits

Fresh air intake – supplied to air conditioning system provides a outside air to keep the home inside air fresh
Paint – does not have any volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that would offgas into the home. Inside of the home is painted with all Sherwin Williams Harmony – ZERO VOC paint, primer and enamel
Automatic Exhaust Vents – motion sensing activated vents in bathrooms and garages to exhaust out odors automatically when occupied
CO Monitors - carbon monoxide monitors installed, in addition to standard smoke detectors, to alert you of any presence of harmful carbon monoxide gas.

Development Slideshow

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Highlights

Freestanding townhomes, located near Memorial Park and the trendy Washington Avenue corridor.
2.1 KW Photo-voltaic Solar Panels tied into Electric Grid designed and installed by Alternative Power Solutions
3 Story with roof terrace
3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage
Engineered foundation with 8ft deep drilled piers
Open modern design
Independently Third Party LEED verification by BlueGill Energy-Ontility
6″ exterior walls with Stucco and Metal exterior
Tankless water heaters by Rinnai
Toto Dual Flush Toilets – 0.9 gallon half flush/1.6 gallon full flush
High efficiency water faucets and shower heads by Hansgrohe, Moen, Cifial
Bamboo Wood Floors
Energy Star Compliant Low-E Windows, Skylights, Appliances, Air Conditioning
Green Label recycled Carpet by Shaw – Clear Touch
Zero-VOC paints by Sherwin Williams Harmony and low VOC adhesives
Recycling systems integrated into Kitchen cabinets

Filed under news, solar Tagged with Green Homes in Houston, Solar powered homes

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Green Mode Designs

Dickson City Point – Garden Villas

Highlights

Houston Modern Home Tour – Spring 2012

2011 Houston Modern Outdoor Design Tour

Houston Modern Home Tour 2011

Luxe Downtown Home Tour April 16, 2011

Heights Home and Garden Spring Tour

Gulf Coast Green 2011

Environmentally Conscious Home Buyers Checklist

Tour Houston’s only LEED Platinum Net-Zero Energy Home

Heights Holiday Home Tour – 2010

Source: Houston Heights Association

Houston AIA Home Tour – October 2010

Houston Mod Tour – Glenbrook Valley

Houston Solar Tour 2010

Houston’s newest LEED certified production home

6120 Maxie Street – Solar powered townhomes

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