From an article by Liz Welter in The Stevens Point Journal:
MARSHFIELD — A ranch-style home under construction in Marshfield’s Prairie Run subdivision will be central Wisconsin’s first verified “green-built” home.
“That means it meets the national standards for green building and it will be certified” during different steps in the construction process, said Jeff Redetzke, owner of JR Builders of Marshfield, which is constructing the house.
“A green-built home is a good value for a home buyer,” Redetzke said. Using geothermal energy cuts a natural gas bill by 50 percent to 70 percent, he said.
There are a multitude of components considered and used in building a home that maximizes energy efficiency while diminishing its carbon impact on the Earth, Redetzke said.
“We try to use materials that will last for 50 years and are recyclable afterwards. Like a metal roof is very green. It lasts for the life of the house and later can be recycled,” he said.
Geothermal energy and other energy efficiency building standards are practices embraced by the developers and owners of Prairie Run, said Dan Helwig, one of the development’s owners.
“We’re just totally excited. This is the kind of home that hasn’t been seen in this marketplace,” Helwig said.
Prairie Run was conceived to utilize green or sustainable concepts in developing the site and in building a variety of homes and businesses, Helwig said.
“I’ve wanted to do something like this, and Prairie Run is the right place,” Redetzke said.