Overview

Owner: City of Chicago Departments of Housing and Environment

Architect: Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis Architect

Builder: Telion Contracting Corp.

Location: Chicago, IL

Building type(s): Detached single-family residence

Size: 170 m²

Project scope: new affordable housing in urban setting

Completion date: August 2003

Rating: AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project 2004
AIA Chicago Distinguished Building Award 2004
86 HERS ENERGY STAR® score

This infill residential project is notable for its award winning design, innovative yet relatively-low-tech green technology, and affordability. The two-story house in Chicago fits well in its traditional urban context and can accommodate a family of 4-5 people. It features some ingenious energy efficiency measures and uses plenty of recycled and low-impact materials. Its aesthetic appeal and modest yet elegant interior spaces have won the praise of design and green building experts.

Source:
AIA Chicago Sustainable Design Award website: http://www.aiachicago.org/special_features/2004DEA/winner.asp?regID=291;
AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects website: http://www.aiatopten.org/hpb/overview.cfm?ProjectID=271
Contact:
Marc L'Italien, Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis, 626 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661,
phone: 312-655-0690, http://ehdd.com
Photo: Doug Snower Photography

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

This project aimed to reduce life-cycle environmental impacts by a factor of 10 compared to the average new home in the United States. F10 is intentionally small, is sited close to the street and fits the form and scale of the neighborhood. The site is close to major public transit and bike routes.

Indigenous plantings requiring no watering were used. In order to minimize stormwater runoff and absorb heat, a green roof covering 37 m 2 was planted with sedum. Porous pavement was used for all hard walking surfaces and an off-street parking pad. The only impervious surface on site is the solar chimney roof (21 m 2).

During the summer, F10 is cooled passively, without central air-conditioning. The stairway acts as a solar chimney, augmented by a whole-house fan, which evacuates hot air during the summer. A wall of plastic water bottles acts as a heat sink in the winter. All appliances are Energy Star compliant, and the gas-fired hydronic-distribution water boiler is 90% energy efficient. An open floor plan and large windows allow daylight to illuminate light-colored walls, eliminating the need for supplemental lighting during the day and reducing glare. Controlling systems during most of the year consists of adjusting a single rheostat to operate the speed of the ceiling fans.