Project File: Net-Zero NeighborhoodCompany: Steiner Plumbing, Electric, Heating Inc., River Falls, Wis., in partnership with: Habitat for Humanity; the City of River Falls, Wis.; the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Wis.; Frisbie Architects, River Falls, Wis.; and the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development, River Falls, Wis.

Customer: St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity® Eco Village in River Falls, Wis.

Installation: Zehnder CA 350 HRV (Zehnder CA 200 in SOG homes); Fujitsu 12RLS2 mini-split reversible heat pump; Uponor radiant floor heating in concrete slab (boiler/control system still in development); and rough-ins for cove heat in the bedrooms as a backup option.

Completion: Several homes were completed in spring of 2013; the project will have a total of 18 homes and a community center by the end of 2014.

Objective: Develop a master-planned Eco Village community featuring LEED® Platinum, carbon-negative, net-zero energy-use homes.

Work Completed: The Eco Village project launched in 2012 and consists of 18 home sites and a community center on five acres of land that share renewable energy systems (solar and geothermal), walkways, community produce gardens, edible landscapes, green spaces, and a proposed fleet of shared electric automobiles for the neighborhood. Among the sustainable features in the homes — including solar, geothermal, and rainwater harvesting — are Uponor’s plumbing, fire sprinkler, and radiant floor heating systems. As with all Habitat for Humanity projects, the homeowners donate time to constructing their own homes with the help of volunteers. Since the groundbreaking in the spring of 2012, several Uponor employees have volunteered their time at the project site with the help of the company’s paid volunteer time off (VTO) program.

Quote: "At Uponor, we truly believe in the triple-bottom-line approach to sustainability that aligns people, planet, and profit. Being an anchor partner in the Eco Village project, having our product in the homes, and having our employees volunteer at the site is a perfect example of our mission." -- Ingrid Mattsson, director of Brand Management, Uponor Inc. (Apple Valley, Minn.)

Publication date: 7/15/2013 

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