HomeTour: Affordable Energy-Efficient Construction

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Sustainable Tulsa is partnering with the Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) to invite the public to a home tour on Saturday, November 5th, spotlighting an affordable, energy-efficient home. Known as the Millennium House, it is located at 2104 N. Wheeling, near downtown Tulsa. The home tour is free and will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

With heating costs looming large, Tulsa's low-income families are expected to be hit particularly hard this winter. But Neighbor For Neighbor's Don McCarthy has guaranteed that high energy prices won't be a hardship for at least one Tulsa family.

McCarthy spear-headed the project to prove that an energy-efficient home could be built for low to moderate income families that operates on less than $20 per month in heating and cooling costs. Analysis of research from the previous year proved that the goal was attained. Oklahoma Senate Bill 610 tax credits, reduction on insurance premiums and low cost of construction also contribute to the affordability of the house.

In addition to being affordable and energy-efficient, McCarthy worked to ensure that the home provides a durable, low-maintenance living environment, is handicap-accessible (ADA compliant), fire resistant and strong enough to withstand the weather in Oklahoma's tornado alley. The home was designed for simplicity of construction and is easily replicable.

McCarthy, a retired engineer and board member for Neighbor For Neighbor, coordinated the project with a concert of organizations, companies and individuals who sponsored the labor and materials. To plan and implement the impressive list of goals for this home, McCarthy had the assistance of Tulsa Chapter of American Institute of Architects, Manhattan Construction Company, Nabholz Construction, Tulsa Partners Project Impact (with funding assistance from FEMA), American Lung Association, Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Oklahoma, Job Corps, Carpenter's Apprentice, Environmental Products, Micro Docs, Inc., Whirlpool and many volunteers.

Products and techniques featured on the tour include Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF), geothermal heating, cooling and hot water heating, ENERGY STAR® appliances, high thermal-mass energy storage, energy-efficient windows, environmentally-friendly finishes and ventilation for superior indoor air quality.

McCarthy is hopeful the Millennium House will not be the last of its kind in Tulsa. Vision 2025 includes a measure seeking to replace the 6,300 sub-standard moderate- to low-income houses in the city. That would require the city to build or remodel 300 units per year to accomplish its goal--a golden opportunity to expand the impact of innovative housing technologies on the quality of life. McCarthy hopes the city will use the Millennium House as a model for new construction.

To get to the home: from the intersection of Pine St. and Peoria Ave, go north to Virgin St. Turn east on Virgin to Wheeling. Parking is provided south of the home at Franklin Park. For more information about the November Home Tour or about Sustainable Tulsa, contact Rita Scott at 366-7017 or view details (including a map to the home) at the Sustainable Tulsa website: http://www.sustainabletulsa.org.

Sustainable Tulsa is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to responsible economic growth, environmental stewardship, and quality of life for all. The Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of AIA-COTE works to improve and sustain the environment by advancing and disseminating environmental knowledge and values, and advocating the best design practices to integrate built and natural systems to the profession, industry, and the public.