Posted: Jan. 6, 2010

Muskego — What is believed to be the city's first totally "green" house is rising right now on Stags Leap Court on the northeastern side of town.

This "green" earth-friendly home is literally swathed in bright green insulation from roof to foundation.

The home incorporates two major energy-saving features.

One is a geothermal heating and cooling system that uses the 55-degree constant temperature of the earth. It incorporates a system of wells and heat exchanging equipment. The geothermal system means there is no furnace burning gas or oil.

The other "green" feature is the use of insulated concrete forms used in the construction of the walls. In ICF construction, a kind of sandwich is created with boards of insulation as the "bread." One is on the exterior and one is inside. The center of the "sandwich" is poured concrete reinforced with metal rods, or rebar. The double insulation and the fact that the insulation is not interrupted by wall studs reduces heat loss compared to traditional building methods with wood.

Muskego building inspector Jason Hendrix said that, as far as he knows, this is the only home in Muskego that combines geothermal and ICF construction. Other homes have one or the other, but this is the only one he knows of that has both, he said.

Together, they are expected to bring heating bills down drastically.

For example, a heating bill of $75 per month in the winter is expected for a different 4,200-square foot home that is being built in another community by Excalibur Builders of Slinger, which specializes in ICF and geothermal systems.

Construction method costs more

But Excalibur owner David Hamilton acknowledged the energy-saving systems cost more to build.

The ICF construction costs 7 percent to 10 percent more per square foot than traditional construction, Hamilton said. But if the owner plans to finish the basement anyway, the ICF basement would cost no more than a traditional basement and the higher floors would cost 5 percent to 7 percent more per square foot than traditional construction, he said. Those estimates assume application of spray-on insulation around windows and thick walls, he said.

But right now, geothermal systems can be installed for no more than a regular heating system with a furnace, thanks to environmental tax credits, Hamilton said. The credits, offered through 2016, knock off a third of the cost of geothermal, he said, and it comes right off the top of the federal income tax bill.

That leaves the added expense just for the ICF construction.

But that extra expense will be paid back through energy savings. Hamilton estimated a payback of five years. But the payback period depends on how good the insulation is and how thick the walls are.

Builders in the metropolitan area have been seeing more demand in the last half-dozen years for both ICF and geothermal as heating costs have climbed, said Patricia Stone, vice president of public and consumer affairs for the Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee.

The "R" or insulating factor for ICF walls is R-19 to R-26, she said, verses traditional wooden stud construction using R-13 to R-19 insulation. But actual insulating power is probably less than the insulation's ratings, she said, because heat is lost at studs between rolls of insulation.

The most popular energy-saving option right now is geothermal, Stone said.

"When people are looking for alternatives, geothermal is the most likely route to go because the payback is much quicker than solar," Stone said.

Estimates range from five to 10 years, she said.

Homes will be in high demand

"Even if people do not live in their homes that long, it will drastically increase the value of the home," she said, because of the low operating cost.

As time goes on, energy-saving homes will be more in demand, she predicted, and she applauded the Muskego home's progressive features.

"To have both geothermal and ICF shows a strong commitment to energy conservation," Stone said.

The Muskego home is being constructed by custom home builder Quality Craft Homes. Robert Stack, Quality Craft Homes founder, said five 180-foot wells were drilled for the geothermal system. Tubes bring air to a heat exchanger system to heat the 2,700 square-foot home, he said. That system also will provide most of the heat for hot water.

This is the company's first all green home, Stack said.

And with all the green features of the home, he said, "The owner is going to save a ton of money."

AT A GLANCE

For more information, contact Focus on Energy:

• (800) 762-7077

• focusonenergy.com