Kaufmann House
Completed July, 2006
Architect: John Schroeder
Green
Technologies of Kaufmann Home:
· Urban
Infill Brownfield Remediation: The house site was a historically
contaminated parcel within the fabric of a city neighborhood. Extensive
environmental testing and hazardous waste remediation were completed
to return the parcel to usefulness. The home catalyzes economic
development in the community and returns a parcel vacant more than
25 years to the tax rolls. Brownfield remediation tax credits will
be claimed by the owner.
· Geoexchange
System: Geoexchange systems provide heating and cooling
at efficiencies that are far better than most systems by using
the nearly constant temperature of the earth's mass as a heat source
in winter and a heat sink in summer. The Kaufmann House uses a
closed, horizontal loop of tubing placed at 6 feet below ground
surface level and infused with a refrigerant to transfer heat year-round
without use of any fossil fuels. Compared to traditional heating
and cooling, geothermal systems cut energy bills dramatically,
cut greenhouse gas emissions, drastically reduce the cost of hot
water and maintenance costs while increasing year-round comfort.
Upfront costs are about twice that of traditional systems, but
can be recouped through annual savings early in the life of a home.
Soil removal from the site necessitated by environmental remediation
made this approach economically feasible. Also, a slightly larger
than typical urban lot-size allowed sufficient surface area for
a horizontal loop system. For more information see the images at
the bottom of the page and visit www.geoexchange.org
· Green
Roof: A green roof system includes a high quality water
proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth,
a lightweight growing medium and plants. The Kaufmann Coach House
green roof system is modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth,
growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking
grids. Green roof technologies not only provide a proven return
on investment, but also represent opportunities for significant
economic and environmental benefits, particularly in cities, including
better rain water management and more efficient heating and cooling
management. Find out more at www.greenroofs.org
· Steel
roof: Recyclable, standing seem galvalume steel serves
as the roofing material on the main Kaufmann House home. Besides
lasting at least 4 times as long as an asphalt roof, steel releases
its heat faster in the summer (reducing cooling costs), it allows
for rainwater harvesting (without the granules and petroleum that
washes off asphalt). Harvested rainwater is managed through an
integrated garden irrigation system.
· Rainwater
retention: By letting downspouts empty into rain barrels
and a rain garden, no storm water will leave the lot. If every
home in Milwaukee had this feature sewage overflows into area waterways
would be a thing of the past.
· PEX
Plumbing:
Used in modern plumbing systems, PEX offers many advantages over
other plastic and metal tubing. Health benefits result from its completely
non-toxic formulation free of harmful lead, copper and other minerals.
Ecomomic benefits accrue from its durability resulting from no joints
behind the walls and guarantee not to corrode or erode. PEX is quiet,
virtually maintenance free, and competitively priced.
· Reclaimed
Flooring: Tons of construction waste is landfilled every
day in cities across the country. The owners, through simply talking
with contractors on the job, were able to identify maple flooring
from a warehouse redevelopment underway in an adjacent neighborhood.
For merely the cost of removal, the floor will be refinished and find
new life in the Kaufmann home. Floor surfaces not covered by reclaimed
materials will be covered with cork flooring, a renewable resource
with insulating and sound dampening qualities. For more information
see www.ecofriendlyflooring.com
