BURNS HARBOR | U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and others made a house call to the Village in Burns Harbor on Tuesday to celebrate the first home in Indiana to receive Emerald certification by the National Association of Home Builders.
The Gem, built by Treasure Homes, Inc., is one of only 22 homes nationwide to receive the Emerald certification -- which means it reached the highest level of sustainable "green" building incorporating energy savings of 60 percent or more.
Sarah Oudman, president of Treasure Homes, said homes of this type contribute to the economic, social and environmental stability of the region.
Visclosky applauded Oudman's vision for safe, affordable housing good for the environment that would increase the benefits and wealth of local communities.
"It shows that we can do things (in Northwest Indiana) better than anyone else," he said.
Indiana Builders Association President Andy Place Sr. also lauded Oudman and said building a home like The Gem is no easy task.
"You have to balance a lot of your investment to get the most bang for the buck on it and yet you have to be marketable," he said.
Place said "green" building is here to stay.
"It's the largest growth market for home builders," he said. "We haven't had a lot of growth in home building in the last five years. Green building is the one bright spot."
There are four green certification levels for homes based on the National Green Building Standard -- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald.
To attain Emerald certification, a builder, remodeler or developer must incorporate a minimum number of features in the following areas: energy, water and resource efficiency; lot and site development; indoor environmental quality; and home owner education.
The Gem, located at 1168 Chesterfield Ave., also features an ADA accessible main floor. The three-bedroom home is listed at $249,950. Energy bills average about $50 or less a month compared to a standard home, Oudman said.
Tours of the home are available from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit http://www.1168chesterfieldave.com.
