The Revitalization of Our Communities Through Sustainable Commercial Building Renovation

Des Moines, IA (PRWEB) September 20, 2008

Green & Main has launched a groundbreaking effort in the historic Sherman Hill area of Des Moines, Iowa to renovate a mixed-use building in a sustainable process that will create a roadmap to use on other buildings throughout the state and beyond. The conversion of older buildings in communities across the country will help to decrease our carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency and overall healthiness of our buildings and promote better use of materials.

The goal of Green & Main is to develop a pilot project that can be replicated and serve as the foundation for applied best practices to provide a plan to help preserve our most precious resource – our communities.

“It is a most critical task and responsibility of developers to aggressively change what we do with thousands of existing buildings,” said Chaden Halfhill, managing member of developer Indigo Dawn LLC and President of general contractor Silent Rivers, Inc. “It really is no longer a choice to build sustainably, it is a necessity for our future.”

“The ability to renovate downtown buildings and bring them back in line with current energy usage would greatly increase the ability to bring these buildings back into full use while retaining the overall character of the community,” states Tracy Lemar, Vice President of Barker Lemar and a member of the Green & Main design team. “Another important aspect of this project is the overall reduction of a building’s carbon footprint. As carbon caps and trading become more main stream, this may offer an opportunity to create a viable future revenue stream.”

Green & Main will work to obtain Iowa’s first Platinum LEED Renovation certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and provide a centrally located building to serve as an exemplary site for design-build best practices in sustainability.

Achieving 75% improvement in energy efficiency over a ‘code minimum’ standard, producing 15%+ of the building’s energy needs with on-site renewable energy, a reduction of 40% in water consumption and regulating storm water up to at least a 5″ rain event are several of Green & Main’s project main goals.

“Because buildings are responsible for 50% of greenhouse gas generation it is absolutely vital to establish a high-performance model renovation in a standard masonry building that will be regularly monitored and refined for energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2 output,” continued Chaden Halfhill, “If we document how effective design-build management decreases the embodied energy of buildings, especially existing buildings, we can limit the use of raw materials, support /regional economies with the purchase of products/materials manufactured within a 500 mile radius and divert demolition and construction waste from the landfill. We can provide a plan that endures.”

The Green & Main Applied Best Practices Manual will provide a roadmap for others to renovate existing buildings in a more sustainable way; they will be able to select the level of design, efficiency and certification they want to achieve.

Green & Main will also have an aggressive ongoing education and communications program to track the progress of the project online and in media; onsite events will also be hosted throughout the construction process and after the building is open.

For more information visit http://www.greenandmain.org


Indigo Dawn LLC – Developer

Indigo Dawn has already completed one award winning renovation in the Sherman Hills area in partnership with the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association and the Symphony Alliance of Greater Des Moines. The Hillside Penthouse, completed in 2005 is a condominium designed and converted from two apartments, is on the southern edge of The Sherman Hill Historic District. The Hillside Penthouse renovation project was a great representation of the caliber of Des Moines’ urban condominium marketplace coupled with design to keep intact an historic building in Sherman Hill. This project received multiple industry accolades for its design and construction, including National Best of Show at Qualified Remodeler’s Master Design Awards and highlighted on the cover a Qualified Remodeler’s magazine, National Assoc. of Remodeling Industries CoTY Award, Professional Remodeler’s Best of the Midwest, featured in Meredith Corporation’s Renovation Style Magazine and was also on HGTV’s National Open House program in November 2006.

Silent Rivers – General Contractor

Silent Rivers, Inc. brings 15 years of award-winning design+build to the Green & Main project as General Contractor. From concept to completion, our designers and artisans are dedicated to bringing forth the full potential of a building. As a long time advocate for sustainability in Central Iowa, we believe that our decisions influence the future and it is necessary to practice an environmental perspective. The design+build process naturally lends itself to sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly remodeling options. At Silent Rivers, we strive to use space more efficiently and to utilize healthy, eco-friendly materials whenever possible. As more green building options enter the market, there are now more ways than ever to practice ecological stewardship in every stage of a project. Our team is a creative blend of artistry, craftsmanship and expertise…each project is an innovative, personalized solution. Silent Rivers range of services reflects the depth of our experience as a locally and nationally recognized industry leader. We are known for blending traditional and contemporary design with impeccable attention to detail, sustainable planning and value-engineering. http://www.silentrivers.com

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