“Our students are going to be a lot more employable if they know the current trends,” says Jeff Larson. “I want them to be marketable, knowledgeable, and know the best ways to do things.”

 That’s why Larson, who teaches the Building Trades class for the Duneland School Corporation in Chesterton, jumped at the opportunity to build a Touchstone Energy Home with Kankakee Valley REMC. The class recently completed the house, which is listed for $296,000, and features techniques and materials that provide a superior level of energy efficiency, as well as a higher level of comfort.

 “This is the fourth home we’ve completed in the nine years of our program,” Larson explains, “and it’s the largest one we’ve built. Because we’re working with the REMC, we wanted to follow their lead with energy efficiency.” The home features a 2,080-square-foot main-floor living area with a 200-square-foot three-season room. In addition to a full basement, it includes a 780-square-foot garage. “There are lots of nice features like solid-surface countertops, ceramic tile, and hardwood floors.”

 But what really makes the home different is the amount of efficiency and comfort the students built into it. “All of the exterior walls are framed with 2x6 lumber, and we used a lot of green material such as engineered I-joists and recycled blown-in insulation,” Larson recalls. “We went the extra mile on sealing the house. For example, all of the cavities around wiring have been caulked and sealed, and we wrapped the house in Tyvek-type material. Instead of typical double-hung windows, we chose more efficient Anderson casement windows.  We even had recirculation lines on the plumbing.”

For efficient heating and cooling, the students paired a 92-percent efficiency furnace with an air source heat pump. Thanks to the careful sealing, the home is able to maintain its temperature without a struggle, even when the garage door is open.

In addition to encouraging the class to follow the standards for building a Touchstone Energy Home, Kankakee Valley REMC financed the construction of the house. Once a buyer is found, any money beyond the initial cost of financing will be returned to the Duneland Building Trades Corporation for investment in future student projects. For many years to come, the buyer of this home will enjoy both the quality and comfort built into the home, as well as savings on every month’s energy bills.

This project is a wonderful example of a community/education partnership to help train the future workforce of our community.

Posted 3/6/2008