Chicago Home Renovation Receives the Most LEED Points Ever Recorded

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-church-renovated-into-modern-bookstore/">Renovations</a> are all the rage in this downturned economy - especially green renovations like this Chicago home which was gutted and transformed into a high scoring <a>LEED Platinum</a> residence. The home has earned the most points ever recorded for a LEED for a home, with 119 points out of 136 points received. Designed by Mariusz Bleszynski, AIA, and built by Square 1 Precision Lighting (which was led by owner Jacek Helenowski), the green home renovation is an impressive project with tons of great examples of sustainable remodeling strategies.

The Chicago, IL Helenowski Residence was gutted and all the inefficient systems, insulation and appliances were removed.

The 3,300 sq feet renovated home earned 119 points out of 136 in the LEED for Homes certification.

Additionally, the home earned a HERS rating of 13, an Energy Star rating, 3 Stars in the Chicago Green Homes Program, and it is also net-zero energy due to three rows of photovoltaics on the roof and a vertical axis wind turbine.

The entire renovation took 4 years to complete.

Three rows of photovoltaics and a vertical axis wind turbine mean the home produces all the power it needs.

Reclaimed Douglas Fir wood from a nearby damaged building was used on the interior, along with fly-ash cement, recycled-content tiles, recycled content drywall, reclaimed dimensional lumber, reclaimed copper for the roof, gutters, and fascia, and on the exterior, reclaimed stone from blast fragments.

These windows feature automatic shades to help heat or cool the room below as necessary.

The home's roof features a small green roof to help absorb stormwater as well as a rainwater storage cistern underground, which is used for landscape irrigation.

Permeable pavers help water absorb into the ground rather than becoming stormwater runoff.

Soy based spray foam insulation with no CFCL's was sprayed into the walls for extra insulation.

Windows are tripled paned, argon filled and have interior shades to block the sun.

Reclaimed copper is used to construct the roof using a stitch weld seam installation for durability.

All paints, sealers and primers used are low VOC, and all new wood was FSC certified. Instead of LED lighting, cold-cathode lighting was used throughout the home.