VELUX Products Utilized in First Active House in USA - Homeowners Preparing for Move-In Day

    LAS VEGAS, NV, January 03, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- VELUX America supplied skylights, SUN TUNNEL skylights and the solar water heating system for the first Active House prototype in the United States. The home is being built in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves and is scheduled for occupancy in early 2013.

Active House USA balances three key sustainability factors: actively balanced energy consumption, outstanding indoor climate, and positive impact on the surrounding environment.

VELUX Group, the Danish parent company of VELUX America, was involved with the founding of the Active House Alliance in 2010 in Copenhagen Denmark. The Alliance has been involved with the construction of many Active House projects in Europe. Active House design standards meet or exceed four North American sustainable building certifications: Energy Star, EPA Indoor Air Plus, Building America Builder's Challenge and ANSI ICC-700, the NAHB National Green Building Standard.

St. Louis homebuilder Kim Hibbs of Hibbs Homes and consulting partner Matt Belcher of Verdatek Solutions in Wildwood, MO, partnered with the Active House Alliance to build this custom home. Hibbs says that the 2600 square foot home incorporates industry leading sustainable building practices in the United States with Active House practices developed in Europe "to define the next generation of sustainable building."

Project architect Jeff Day, of Jeff Day & Associates in St. Louis, says that the two-story Webster Groves home blends visually with the surrounding neighborhood, unlike the more modern styles seen in some European Active House models. "A goal was to build the house with traditional design while incorporating efficiencies that make utility costs negligible," he says.

The University of Missouri Columbia Center for Sustainable Design will monitor and document energy data for the home during the first year of occupancy.

VELUX is an ENERGY STAR partner and has been recognized as a Partner of the Year. For more information visit activehouse.info, velux.com, veluxusa.com, hibbshomes.com or activehouse.usa.com.

VELUX is the world leader in skylights and roof windows and is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector. VELUX America products are available nationwide through home centers, building material suppliers, lumberyards, and independent door, window, or roofing retailers. Consumers can locate local suppliers and installers, and access information on skylight selection and the benefits of bringing more natural light and fresh air into the home, as well as on solar water heating systems by calling 1-800-283-2831 or emailing www.veluxusa.com.

Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - [email protected]

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