The “Green Buildings for Cool Cities” tour, sponsored by The Sierra Club and The U.S. Green Building Council, will unveil exciting housing possibililities in Ann Arbor this Saturday and Sunday, June 12 & 13. As the world becomes increasingly  environmentally conscientious, you may be thinking of buying a new green home – or finding a home to make it more green – right here in Ann Arbor or the surrounding area. Offering guided tours each day from 9am-3pm (with self-guided tours until 5pm each day), this tour is an opportunity to learn about energy efficient, sustainable home building methods directly from the builders and architects who made them that way. You’ll experience the inner workings of homes that work hard to keep their owners, communities, and the earth safe and healthy.  

Ann Arbor has been resolutely becoming greener, making it attractive to homeowners concerned with protecting the environment. In 1990, during his first year in office, Mayor John Hieftje signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; he issued the Mayor’s Green Challenge, and he founded the Annual Mayor’s Green Fair on Main Street (see below). The eight homes showcased on the tour – found at locations throughout the city – all share commonalities which support these initiatives. Ranging from a ranch-style to a 4,000 square foot home designed to showcase green building (with annual heating and cooling costs of only $1,200!) to a home styled to look like a 1920s era Craftsman, the tour promises something for everyone.

Ann Arbor has more LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum level homes per capita than any other metropolitan area in the United States, according to Michael Klement, an Ann Arbor architect and tour planner. LEED is the national standard for measuring green building. The tour homes all feature shared elements such as geothermal heating and cooling systems and dual flush toilets. The homes all focus on efficient use of space, maximum use of natural daylight, respect for flora and fauna when selecting a site, and efficient use of space.

Locally, the Green Building Tour is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Ecology Center and is being held in conjunction with the Mayor’s Green Fair this evening on South Main Street downtown. Come out and discover creative and beautiful ways to go green. If you want the inside scoop on green features in Ann Arbor homes, Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – is your man. He can meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don’t forget to check out our Condo Hotline – we’ve got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.