Two "green" homes under construction
By Mary Shapiro

Kim Hibbs, owner of Hibbs Homes LLC and a Chesterfield resident, agrees with Kermit the Frog that it's not easy being green - but it's pretty rewarding.

He's in the process of building the first two verified "green" homes in Chesterfield. Green homes are more energy-efficient, more durable, require lower homeowner maintenance and promote healthier indoor living environments, among other things.

One is at 2375 The Courts Drive in The Courts subdivision off Kehrs Mill Road; that home likely will be finished in August. The other is in River Bend Estates subdivision, at 89 River Bend Drive, and is set to be completed in late fall.

"A third party verifies green homes are being built to a rather lengthy list of strict standards," Hibbs said. "So, in this case, Laclede Gas Co. engineers will inspect the checklist submitted to the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri (HBA) and verify we did everything we said we'd do."

Inspectors must come in twice, the first time just prior to drywall installation and the second time when construction is wrapping up, he said.

There are only a handful of verified green homes in the St. Louis area, through the federal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or HBA Green Building Initiative (GBI) programs, said Hibbs. He is a member of the Home Builders Association Green Building Council, formed a couple years ago to promote green building in the St. Louis area.

At the Courts, Hibbs said the first third-party inspection took place in June. That home features four bedrooms, 2-1/2 bathrooms and is about 2,650 square feet. At River Bend Estates, the home will have five bedrooms, five baths and almost 4,500 square feet.

Both new homes are infill projects in existing subdivisions, he said.

"That's one way to get green points," Hibbs said. "You don't create new building sites and more demand for water, sewer and electrical service, but instead use existing infrastructure.

"Other green methods include using recycled building materials such as recycled newspaper insulation, and also recycling waste products from construction, anything from wood to drywall to asphalt shingles and more."

Because these are infill projects, Chesterfield did not need to approve the site plans, but St. Louis County approved the architectural plans for both buildings, he said.

Energy and water efficiency in the homes include lighting, ceiling fans and appliances that consume less electricity; higher efficiency furnaces and zoned heating and cooling systems which save homeowners money; and water fixtures, including toilets and faucets, that are low flow, using less water than typical. Indoor air quality is better "because homes are built very tight, with advanced sealing, so controlled outdoor air comes in to allow recirculating clean air," Hibbs said.

He also tried to preserve more trees on the site when designing

"You try to transplant trees if needed, and situate the home to have windows get southern exposure and maybe even put solar panels on the roof during the winter to help heat, as well as use windows that keep the sun out during the summer," Hibbs said.

Pat Sullivan, executive vice president of the local HBA, said, "It's important to recognize the emerging trend of green building. Kim bringing these homes to Chesterfield is important to the city and the region.

"It's important to ensure use of recycled materials and energy efficiency, but also ensuring minimal waste from the building will enter landfills, operational maintenance and homeowner education, as well as global impact. Resources shouldn't be depleted when a green home is built."

A green home can be designated in the bronze, silver or gold level, based on a variety of factors, "which come down to points scored for the home being verified as green, greener or greenest," Sullivan said.

"A home like this serves as an example to other builders, but more so signals the general public, showing an increased interest in buying green products and a healthier lifestyle, more friendly to the earth and its resources," Sullivan said. "I feel Kim is bringing to Chesterfield something that is both proactive and reactive, responding to what consumers are looking for."

Hibbs has built homes traditionally in the past.

"But I firmly believe a green built home is better quality all around, providing the homeowner with a more efficient, durable building, needing less maintenance," Hibbs said. "And you're helping the environment. And a green home isn't boring. They look like any home, very architecturally pleasing."

You can contact Mary Shapiro at mshapiro@yourjournal.com.