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SKETCH_PAD © Press Release |
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CATALYST To Design Area's First LEED Certified Homes PRESCOTT, AZ– Catalyst Architecture is currently under contract on two homes destined to become the Tri-City area's first LEED certified homes. With both Catalyst principals Jeffrey Zucker and Matthew Ackerman LEED accredited, home owners seeking LEED certification have solicited the duo to provide architectural design solutions that will meet the rigorous demands of the LEED certification process. Catalyst Architecture was the design firm responsible for Prescott's first LEED certified building– The Highlands Center for Natural History's James Learning Center.  Home Owners Seeking Green Of the two homes seeking LEED certification, one is a 2,500 square foot custom residence, currently in design development, that will be located in the Talking Rock Ranch (TRR) development. TRR project manager Clint Poteet, eager to promote the Ranch's growing commitment to "green," is supportive of the lot owner's plans for resource and energy-efficient strategies such as water harvesting and the incorporation of photovoltaic panels. The second home, just now getting started in design, is a 4,000 square foot, two-story residence being planned for a site in the Enchanted Canyon subdivision of Prescott. LEED for Homes (LEED-H), the newest of the LEED Rating System programs, works a little differently than the other six existing LEED programs. Because the USGBC believes that an environmentally responsive residence must be considered within its regional context, the documentation for home builders seeking a LEED-H rating is reviewed by a regionally designated LEED-H "Provider," rather than being submitted to the US Green Building Council offices in Washington DC for review. There are twelve such designated LEED-H Providers disbursed throughout the continental United States. In Arizona, the City of Scottsdale's Anthony Floyd is the designated LEED-H Provider for our area. Like the original LEED programs, LEED-H is a point-based rating system that address design and construction issues in six distinct categories; Sustainable Site Design, Water Efficiency, Materials & Resources, Energy & Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design. Depending upon the number of points earned, a home can achieve one of four different LEED-H certification levels, Basic, Silver, Gold, and the highest level possible– Platinum. Only one building in Arizona has achieved a LEED Platinum rating– ASU's BioDesign Research Center recently completed in Tempe. Why Go LEED? While it is certainly possible to design and build an energy and resource-efficient structure without pursuing an actual LEED rating from the USGBC, the motivations of Catalyst's residential clients range from the personal satisfaction inherent in such a rigorous achievement, to the educational and 'statement' value that making such a commitment provides to the community at large. Either way, and regardless of the motivation, the design partners of Catalyst applaud those wanting to step up the LEED plate, in order to create an exceptionally high-performance, healthy, and resource-efficient home. For more info: LEED For Homes LEED For Homes FAQ USGBC CATALYST ARCHITECTURE is an award winning, full-service sustainable design firm located in Prescott, Arizona. The firm specializes in master planning, public/tribal, commercial, and custom residential work, with an emphasis on high-performance, resource-efficient design and construction practices. With both principals Jeffrey L. Zucker and Matthew B. Ackerman LEED accredited, Catalyst is committed to the thoughtful integration of our natural and built environments. |
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