Hammertime Construction announced today that its recent renovation of a Decatur home has received LEED Platinum certification — the first ever such a rating for any home renovation in Georgia.

“Platinum” is the highest level of certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. According to a Hammertime press release the owners of the Winona Park 1950s ranch-style bungalow, Doug and Yun Glasgow, work in the design and architectural trades.

Construction officially began in March 2009 with the careful dismantling of the existing interior.  All cabinets, trim, doors, light fixtures and appliances were donated for reuse elsewhere. All waste was ground down and recycled.

“When we first began the renovation, we estimated that the project would earn a LEED Silver certification,” said Herriot, “But each time we met with the homeowners, we would brainstorm new ways to increase the overall efficiency of the home.”  Sustainable features used in the home that contributed to the higher LEED accreditation include:

• Rain water harvesting system for irrigation and landscape.
• LED lighting.
• Evacuated tube solar hot water system.
• Triple glazed/Low-emissivity windows and doors.
• Energy Star® rated appliances.
• Low-VOC paints and sealers.
• Icynene® spray foam insulation.
• 18 SEER dual speed high efficiency heating & cooling system equipped with de-humidification & humidification modes.
• Energy recovery ventilator.
• Urea-formaldehyde-free plywood, adhesives and cherry cabinets
• 100% recycled kitchen and bathroom countertops.
• Trex decking containing 100% recycled content.
• Solatube daylighting systems.
• On-demand hot water in all bathrooms.
• Installation of plumbing lines for future greywater system.
• Local sourcing of all framing and wallboard materials to reduce carbon footprint.

One of the coolest things about the house is that a storm during construction knocked down an 80-year-old oak tree and a hickory tree on the 1.8 acre wooded lot. “Both were cut into sections and sent to a local mill where they were kiln-dried and milled. The oak was converted into the tongue and groove flooring of the basement and the hickory became the flooring in the laundry room and the ceiling of the screened porch.”

The project was completed in October, after the Southface Energy Institute completed its energy performance testing.  In addition to receiving the LEED Platinum certification, the home earned EarthCraft Premium certification, and a Home Energy Rating Score of 53, “meaning the energy usage and overall performance of the home is 47 percent more efficient than a similarly-sized home built to today’s standard building codes.” Says Hammertime:

The project fell in to the relatively new Gut/Rehab category of the program, which involved keeping the existing structure intact while designing and creating an extremely air-tight and energy-efficient home.

More at Hammerime’s website.

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