"GrupeGreen" Homes Earn LEED Certification
The Grupe Company, a three-decades-old home builder, is one of the first builders in the U.S. to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Responsible for the award is Grupe's new community of homes at Carsten Crossings in Rocklin, California at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. These premier homes are a part of the larger Whitney Ranch master-planned community, and Carsten Crossings is the first U.S. subdivision to be totally comprised of LEED homes.
There are six different home designs ranging from 2,168 to 2,755 square feet and 3 to 5 bedrooms with home prices starting just below $500,000. Each home site has at least 6,000 square feet of area with fully fenced side and rear yards.
The Carsten Crossings development plays a landmark role in Grupe's ongoing "GrupeGreen" program, which strives to further develop and implement green building practices. Helping the homes to earn LEED certification is a laundry list of green home features, including:
- SunPower Sun Tile roof-integrated solar electric systems providing up to 70% of power needs
- Tankless hot water heater
- Energy efficient, low-e windows
- Energy efficient HVAC system
- Energy efficient lighting
- Enhanced attic insulation (R-49) as well as an attic radiant barrier
- Dimmer switches
- Water saving plumbing fixtures
- Energy Star dishwashers and
- Foam-wrapped building envelope (R-5 rating)
Carsten Crossings, as part of the Whitney Ranch community, also enjoys plenty of open space on sustainably developed land. There is a 40-acre community park with sports fields, extensive biking and walking trails, and several acres of preserved natural landscape. As a matter of fact, The Grupe Company, over the years, has developed more than 12 master-planned communities, including over 400 acres of lakes and preserved wildlife habitat, created more than 200 parks and planted more than 500,000 trees.
The Grupe Company's philosophy, as evidenced by these LEED homes, is that "a deep respect for the land is always the first step in building a timeless living environment." In addition to earning LEED certification, each home also exceeds Calfornia's own strict standards for new home construction. According to Grupe, homeowners will save $1,400 per year on utilities -- 65% lower than average. In terms of the actual construction, a minimum of 75% of construction waste (by weight) is diverted from the landfill.
As if to prove that energy efficient building need not sacrifice the comforts equated with the modern home, the Carsten Crossings models come with plenty of amenities, including custom designed landscaping, automated sprinkler systems, and covered front porches on the exterior and vaulted or cathedral ceilings, a gas-burning fireplace, and raised-panel interior doors throughout the home. Optional upgrades under the flexible floor plans include dens, offices, retreats, game rooms, super-sized family rooms, workshops, and tandem garages.
The popularity and feasibility of this and future LEED home developments is exemplified by the fact that the majority of the 144-home subdivision is sold out, including all but one floor plan.