First Green single family home in Minneapolis

Home features geothermal heating system and much more.

The celebration of first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) registered “Green” single-family home in Minneapolis, built at 1415 18th Ave. NE, was July 10. The heating/air conditioning is geothermal heating through a forced air system. A geothermal system draws cool or warm air, depending on season from the ground beneath the house. It allows the home to be heated for around $450 a year. Closed cell spray foam insulation was installed in all wall cavities and the second floor lid (roof). The driveway and sidewalk are eco-stone permeable paving system (pavers) and the landscape has sunken rain gardens planted with non-intrusive plants to help reduce storm water runoff from the house and yard. Windows are Energy Star rated with low E Glass. The house has 1,914 finished square feet with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car attached garage.

Doron Clark from Windom Park Citizens in Action said their committee on land-use planning got proposals for the work. The job was awarded to Hartman and Sons Builders, Inc. The city of Minneapolis sold the property to the builder and construction began in February. The celebration included comments by Mayor R. T. Rybak, City Council Members Paul Ostrow and Scott Benson, builder Shafer Hartman, broker Ron Touchette, and Clark.