July 30, 2007 - Raleigh, N.C. - Kohler Co., a Wisconsin-based global leader in kitchen and bath design and technology, has teamed up with Cherokee Investment Partners, a world leader in the sustainable revitalization of environmentally impaired properties, to build a home that will reduce water consumption by at least 50 percent in a demonstration project designed to prove that green building can be both functional and earth-friendly.
The National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome
The National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome™ near Cherokee's world headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. uses Kohler's water-efficient KOHLER and STERLING brand fixtures and faucets. Along with touchless faucet technology that both saves water and reduces the spread of germs, Kohler is providing water-conserving plumbing fixtures that minimize the water usage of toilets, showers, and faucets, yet still provide adequate flow and practical, convenient design.
"Many homebuilders may not realize the importance and availability of environmentally-friendly building materials and construction techniques" said Rob Zimmerman, LEED AP and senior staff engineer for Kohler's water conservation initiatives. "With Cherokee's impact as the nation's leading brownfield redeveloper and its commitment to sustainability, the GreenHome is the perfect project to spotlight that green building can be easily integrated into conventional architecture, subdivisions, lots and homes that would be appealing to a wide range of homebuyers and homebuilders."
Highlights of the Kohler fixtures in the home include the WaterSense-labeled Cimarron EST toilet which utilizes 1.28 gallons of water per flush to save the average family of four 3,200 gallons of water per year. Water flow is maximized without compromising efficiency by using a canister flush valve and a direct-fed jet. In the GreenHome, these toilets will utilize filtered rainwater to further conserve water.
Other toilets in the home will use STERLING Dual Force™ flushing technology which saves the average family of four 6,000 gallons of water each year by allowing the user to choose between flushing with 1.6 or .8 gallons. Flapperless valve and trapway design maximizes the force of gravity for remarkable one-flush, bulk operation that eliminates the need for wasteful double flushing.
With an eye towards sustainability, the GreenHome uses lavatories and baths constructed of KOHLER Cast Iron which is crafted from 93 percent recycled and reclaimed materials. The kitchen sinks are stainless steel, made from recycled, durable steel. The targeted reuse of materials allows the use of high-quality materials and reduces materials being placed in our landfills.
To improve overall quality of life and reduce the spread of germs that may lead to illness, the GreenHome utilizes Kohler's Touchless™ faucet technology. The faucet has a factory preset that ensures water flow with a consistent temperature once the user is within seven inches of the lavatory. There is also an auto-temperature setting on the faucets, which can be set to help reduce energy.
"We are seizing the opportunity to influence the greening of large-scale development and vertical construction," said Tom Darden, CEO of Cherokee. "Starting with the tens of thousands of homes that will be built on the sites we are currently cleaning-up, and the hundreds of thousands in the future, we have launched our green initiative, and we are kicking it off with the Mainstream GreenHome. Not only are we cleaning and greening hundreds of brownfield sites nationally, but we are exploring innovative ways to integrate more sustainable features into the horizontal and vertical construction of our sites."
The Mainstream GreenHome showcases a number of innovative, environmentally friendly features, while looking and functioning as a traditional home. It is intended to help reverse the negative stigma sometimes associated with green building and show that environmentally-focused construction is compatible with conventional building and better living. The home utilizes a range of technological innovations to minimize impact on the environment without sacrificing comfort. As a result, the GreenHome aims to:
*Use 50% less fossil fuel than the conventional home
*Recycle or reuse 90% of all organic waste on site
*Consume 50% less water than the conventional home
*Recycle 75% of all construction and demolition waste
*Retain 95% of all storm water on site for reuse
*Create wildlife habitats
*Provide exceptional indoor air quality with 95% of all products having low or zero volatile organic compound
Cherokee's GreenHome is the first home in the nation known to be built in a typical subdivision under the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines. In addition, the home will be certified with the Environmental Protection Agency/ US Department of Energy (EPA/DOE) Energy Star Program and the North Carolina Solar Center's Healthy Built Homes state program, among others.
Conventional in almost every aspect, the GreenHome is designed as an idea home that will showcase a mix of products, systems and techniques that could make sense for individual construction projects or large-scale developments. As green building becomes more mainstream and is injected into the early design process, costs associated with green building will continue to fall. In addition, many technologies, such as solar hot water or ground source heat pumps, become more cost effective as centralized systems in larger developments.
For more information about the Mainstream GreenHome please visit www.MainstreamGreenHome.com.
About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America's oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.
For more information about these toilets and other KOHLER Co. water conserving products, visit www.KOHLER.com/conservation or call toll-free at 1-800-4-KOHLER.
Contact:
Matt Bartoloni (Cherokee)
973-286-8297
Tabitha Steinbock (Kohler)
(920) 457-4441, Ext. 70122