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WHO WE ARE
THORNTREE GUIDELINES
MASTER DEED & BYLAWS
THORNTREE SITE PLAN
LEED AND SUSTAINABILITY
PRESS RELEASE: 3/13/06

Conceptual Designs

OPEN LETTER TO ARCHITECTS
DESIGN: JANA K. VANDER GOOT

Articles

WHY BUILD GREEN?
TEN PRINCIPLES
DR. JONG-JIN KIM: EXCERPTS
A VISIT TO TRYON FARM
LETTER FROM HANNA DONIGER
A SOLAR ENVELOPE HOME
HYBRID HOMES
CONSIDERING LEED FOR HOMES

Hybrid Homes

I have been communicating via e-mail and cel phone with Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes for the last several weeks. This guy is impressive; it almost makes you wonder if he's for real. The message came across loud and clear early on from Adam: "Don't even talk to me if you're not really committed to doing something better."

A visit to www.wmhybrid.com will quickly show you why we're so impressed. Adam has two generations worth of investigation into products and processes that lead to very energy efficient homes, designed to be as attractive and pleasing as any home on the market but with the payback of significant reductions in cost of ownership as compared with homes with less thoughtful construction methods.

We have been passing information back and forth on our respective involvements in sustainable and Green building practices. The more we talked the more we each had the sense that we shared a common interest in sustainable building and could work together for the future.

The photos you see here are from my visit to a home just under construction in Holland, Michigan. I wanted to get some shots so that Thorntree visitors could have an introductory real-world view of a home going up with the BuildBlock Insulating Concrete Forms

(www.buildblock.com) system. For some detailed information about Insulating Concrete Forms, the Wikipedia entry on ICFs is extremely helpful.

I was very impressed with this product, and Adam swears by it. Anyone who considers making Thorntree their home should take the time to look at this product and seriously consider making it a part of their design process.

Adam (left) and his right hand man, John Beyrle, working on the site.

We are talking about doing a joint presentation of green building at the

2007 Michigan Energy Fair in Onekama, Michigan June 22-24. This annual fair brings together energy experts, vendors and companies to educate the public about solutions to our energy future. More information on the fair can be found at the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association website. I will be on hand to answer any questions about Thorntree Commons, and I know that Adam and his well chosen colleagues will have a wealth of information to share.