5ive

The Gallos approached their new, low impact home as an opportunity to start a new lifestyle that would significantly decrease their footprint on the world. The owners began reshaping their mobility, their diets, their energy use, and even their rate of consumption.

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5ive

The Gallos approached their new, low impact home as an opportunity to start a new lifestyle that would significantly decrease their footprint on the world. The owners began reshaping their mobility, their diets, their energy use, and even their rate of consumption.

Their home was designed as a constant supporter of their new lifestyle and was intended to maintain a balance of economic, social and environmental benefit throughout its construction and lifetime.

The site is close to mass transit and community services. Planned rain gardens collect excess runoff. The plan allows the clients to gracefully age without having to move or remodel. The kitchen is laid out to promote a better diet with open and clear organization. Storage is designed to decrease waste and overconsumption. Edible landscapes are visible through minimal indoor-outdoor transitions. All interior lumber and plywood is FSC certified. All plumbing is PVC free. All adhesives and paints are low VOC. All flooring is recycled or locally harvested. Lighting exceeds Energy Star ELP Package standards. Energy efficiency is 34.6% better than code. The landscape integrates multiple carbon sequestering plant species. And, of course, everything in the building is the most energy efficient possible.

By the numbers, the low impact home exceeds energy code by over 35% and is on pace for LEED Platinum certification scoring a 93. This was one of the first LEED Platinum residence (new constructions) in Minnesota. As a result, the Gallos energy costs are less than half and Jeff, a long time user of allergy meds, is now breathing easy and med free.

Completed

2007

Team

Shelter

Accolades

USGBC LEED Platinum Certification | First LEED-certified house in MN | 2008 ASID MN First Place Award, Kitchen

Photographer

Jeff Gallo