Events : Workshops

West Des Moines Affordable Green Demonstration Workshops

About the project:

Project Partners

The City of West Des Moines, in partnership with COSC and HOME, Inc., collaborated to build a community supported affordable green demonstration home in Historic Valley Junction. The home is located at 927 Maple Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265.

The main objective was to provide easy access to and participation in the construction of an affordable and practical new green home. The home was built in a low- to moderate-income neighborhood, illustrating that green can be attainable and affordable for residents within our community who can least afford high energy bills and medical bills. Affordable green options have been the focus of the planning, design and construction processes.

In 2009, COSC held workshops at each phase of construction that targeted professionals in the industry as well as homeowners. Details below >>

Upon completion of the home, COSC will host open house events in early 2010. Details to come.

Funding Support Provided by:

West Des Moines Affordable Green Demonstration Workshops

Professional Series: 8:45am - 1:00pm

Meet at the West Des Moines Fire Station

1401 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265

Map

Homeowner Series: 11:30am - 1:00pm

Meet at the Demonstration Home site (address below)

927 Maple Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265

Map

To register: Pre-registration is required. Contact Emily at info@icosc.com or (515) 277-6222.

General Workshop Information:

Professional Workshop: 8:45am - 1:00pm

This workshop will include 1 1/2 hours in the classroom and 2 hours on-site at the demonstration home. Lunch will be included. You can sign up for the ten week series, or each class individually. There is a 15 person maximum for the whole series, plus a 10 person maximum on a class-by-class basis.

Ten Week Series: $200, $150 for COSC members

Individual Classes: $35, $25 for COSC members

Due to small class size, a $25 cancellation fee will be charged per class for no-shows,

or you may substitute someone from your company. We want to make sure the classes are full!

Homeowner Workshop: 11:30am - 1:00pm

The homeowner portion of the workshop will join the professional workshop for an hour on site at the demonstration home and lunch. You can sign up for each class individually. There is a 25 person maximum for each homeowner workshop.

Individual Classes: $20, $10 for COSC members

Curriculum:

Class #1	Green Building Basics
June 19, 2009 Homeowner Class: June 22	The House as a System; Planning and Design; Landscaping Theory; Passive Solar

Class #2	Foundations, Basements, Radon Mitigation
August 7	Instructors: Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines, and Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Class #3	Framing, Roofs and Attics
September 11, 2009	Instructors: Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines, and Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Class #4	Windows, Doors and Insulation
September 25, 2009	Instructors: Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines, and Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Class #5	Electrical and Heating, Ventilating & A/C (HVAC)
October 9, 2009	Instructors: CENERGY, Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines, and Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Class #6	Plumbing and Water Management
October 16, 2009	Instructor: Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Class #7	Alternative Energy Options: Solar, Wind, Geothermal
October 30, 2009	Instructors: Innovative Kinetics

Class #8	Interiors
November 6, 2009	Instructors: Julia Fish of Fishaus and Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines

Class #9	Landscaping, Decking & Exterior Water Management
November 13, 2009	Instructors: Jennifer Welch with Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines

Class #10	Review and Assessment
November 20, 2009	Professional: Test
	Homeowner: Home Maintenance Instructors: Linda Schemmel with the City of West Des Moines, and Bill McNally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Curriculum is based on David Johnston’s book Green From the Ground Up

Supplemental books recommended for the course are:

EEBA’s – Cold Climates by Joseph Lstiburek
EEBA’s – Water Management by Joseph Lstiburek
EEBA’s – Ventilation by Armin Rudd

Planning and design assistance provided by COSC's Builder Advisory Council:

Greg Moeller, Council Chair – Hubbell Homes
Linda Alfson Schemmel – City of West Des Moines
Bob Brice, Tim Hanes, Slias and Erin – Cenergy
Dave and Julia Fish – Fishaus: Craftsman Builders
David Hade – Iowa Home Crafters
Chaden Halfhill – Silent Rivers Design + Build
Devan Kaufman – Kaufman Construction
Jacob Kvinlaug – Jacob Kvinlaug Design
Bill McAnnaly – Iowa Central Community College

The West Des Moines Affordable Green Demonstration Home workshop curriculum was developed to serve as the core residential education in COSC's Re-Building a Sustainable Iowa statewide training program. With funding support from Iowa Department of Economic Development and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Re-Building a Sustainable Iowa supports Iowa's disaster recovery efforts and covers residential, commercial and energy-specific sectors of the green building industry. Green building encompasses energy efficiency, resource conservation and healthy indoor air quality.

A key outcome of this project is to measure a green home's impact on the environment by tracking energy consumption, resource consumption, waste production, water use and accessible community resources. This will be accomplished through documenting options, choices, decisions and performance of the home. Specific costs of materials, products, labor and services will be compared to a standard build in a comparable neighborhood.