APRIL 2009_final 3/29/09 12:19 PM Page 18 If You Build It, They Will Come! Tour a green home at the home show Cover Story By Marissa Reaume
The men and women responsible for building the Green Home at the home show are pictured after a planning meeting. Front row from left: Rose Gneo, Marquis Fireplaces; Kyle Gregoire, LapicoGreen; Elise Clark, Meloche Windows; Bernie Gneo, Marquis Tile; Timothy O'Neill, O'Neill, Harrington Interiors and Vern Myslichuk, BetterMade Cabinets. Back row from left; Dave Cartier, APW Electronics; Michael Matte, Granite Design Works; Allan LaMarre, Bay-View Glass & Mirror Limited; Paul St. Pierre, Landscape Effects Group; Rod Mahler, Meloche Windows & Doors; Stuart Galloway, Galloway Show Productions and Kriston Gene, Tsunami Glassworks. Missing from photo: Eva Milinkovic, Tsunami Glassworks; Stephanie Harrington-O'Neill; Kathy Weidl, Details and Kurt Sutts of Veteran Plumbing. Carhartt overalls supplied by Mark’s Work Wearhouse, Tecumseh Mall. Photo by Rod Denis. On April 22, many countries around the space but also reduces damage to the “As an organization, Windsor Family world take part in environmentally friendly earth. While this innovative concept may Credit Union (wfcu.ca) is committed to activities in celebration of Earth Day. seem unreachable in the industrialized investigating and implementing ‘Green’ Although we can all make a difference by world, Windsorites need look no further initiatives,” explains Martin J. Komsa, turning off taps and dimming the lights to than the 27th Annual Windsor Home WFCU President & Chief Executive conserve the earth’s resources, did you know and Leisure Show (WHLS) for a chance Officer. “Features like the ‘Green Home’ that we can also use natural elements to our to tour a Green Home. The show at the Windsor Home and Leisure Show advantage while simultaneously contribut- operates from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, are the resources needed to assist in ing to a healthier planet starting with the April 24; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, demonstrating how businesses and homes in which we live? April 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday individuals can do their part.” Imagine an energy efficient home that April 26 at the Windsor Expo Centre. By making it possible for this home to not only promotes a comfortable living (Admission is $5 for those 16 years and appear at the show, WFCU is not only above, children are free to attend, more helping the environment, but also making details at windsorhomeshow.com). the world aware of Windsor’s drive to Produced by Galloway Show better the earth. Productions Inc. (GSP, “Never before, outside of a Toronto www.exposition.com) and sponsored by show, has there ever been a home built RE/MAX Preferred Realty for the third within a show,” explains Stuart Galloway straight year, the WHLS includes almost of Galloway Show Productions, the 200 companies to source out a plethora WHLS Producer and Manager. “This says of home related needs, from inside to a lot about the character of this area as outside, from products to services. many local company owners worked Making its official debut at the show is together to build this home, in what a Green Home presented by Windsor seemed like an impossible task at its Family Credit Union (WFCU). inception.”
20 BIZ X MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009 APRIL 2009_final 3/29/09 12:19 PM Page 19 e! The project is a Galloway reveals that w collaborative effort by in its finished form, the local businesses which three-storey Green takes four weeks to Home presented by build. The structure WFCU, will be 80% and exterior have been more energy efficient engineered by Lapico than a house built to Homes (a division of minimum code and LapicoGreen) and the 70% more efficient than interior designed by a home built to Energy O’Neill-Harrington. Star standards. The home will be “The Green Home finished inside and will be 30' high, 42' out by Meloche Martin J. Komsa, WFCU frontage with 20' side Windows & Doors, President & Chief Executive walls and 1,000 sq. ft. of BetterMade Officer is proud to sponsor the the home will be Cabinets, Marquis Green Home built in only completed finished,” says Tile, Marquis four weeks. Galloway. “The house will Fireplaces, Veteran more than likely be stored Plumbing, within the building after Landscape Effects Group, Bay-View Glass the show.” & Mirror, APW Electronics, Tsunami While the home’s interior and exterior Glassworks, Granite Design Works and will be amazing sights for visitors to see, Details. the Green Home has another outstanding “These reputable contractors are attention getter: Mike Holmes, putting the very best in energy efficient “Canada's Most Trusted Contractor” and products and design into the final Host of HGTV's “Holmes on Homes”, product,” explains Galloway. in person, chatting in the backyard. (See accompany- ing sidebar on page 28 for information on Holmes and what he discusses in two performances at the WHLS). “Such exciting star power from the renovation industry is a first for Windsor,” Galloway says. The Green Home Team The Green Home team was created when Elise Clark, President and Owner of Meloche Windows & Doors proposed her idea to create an energy efficient home at the WHLS to other Windsor companies. “We all agreed to come together and explore this idea further,” says Clark. As a result of her innovative idea, 13 Windsor companies, Mike Holmes, the Host/Creator of “Holmes On plus Galloway Show Homes” attends this year’s Windsor Home and Productions, joined in Leisure Show. The back of the Green Home is the collaboration to form stage for his seminars. Windsor’s Green Home Team. » BIZ X MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009 21 APRIL 2009_final 3/29/09 12:19 PM Page 20 APRIL 2009_final 3/29/09 12:19 PM Page 21
The Earth Friendly the timing to showcase Foundation our integrated design LapicoGreen (www.lapicogreen.com), philosophy in the home a division of Lapico Custom Homes and introduce Passive (LCH, www.lapicohomes.com) 2865 House technology to Normandy Street in LaSalle, gives the Essex County couldn’t Green Home its structure. have been better.” LCH, founded in 1969, builds Although the resource-responsible homes, focusing on environment can the entire building system to maximize benefit from Green energy and materials conservation choices, Lapico reveals without sacrificing lifestyle or design. that education is Local contractors are putting the very best in According to Kyle Gregoire, necessary for us to energy efficient products and design into the final LapicoGreen’s Engineer and Designer, the decide which choices three-storey Green Home. company is contributing to the Green are right for us. Home project by “building the house’s “Choosing to build responsibly, Gregoire feels that the Green Home façade, as well as demonstrating a integrating conservation technology, and project is a large step for Windsor in revolutionary construction technology, minimizing our need for fossil fuels is a learning to make Green choices. Passive House technology, that is 80 to necessity for modern home building, but “The Green Home Project is this area’s 90% more energy efficient than current it can also be intimidating for first opportunity to see what choices are construction. Additionally, we will customers,” admits Gregoire. “There are available locally and a great demonstration highlight some of the complementary a lot of Green washing and mixed of how we can merge science and esthetics systems we can incorporate into a Green messages in the market place. In fact, seamlessly,” he says. “I think people want Home, such as grey water recycling, some choices can even contradict one to make the best choices for our planet micro-wind generation, and solar thermal another on the surface, so having an and for our children’s world – and we at water heating.” educated builder that can help sort LapicoGreen want to be able to help them Just as the Green Home is a new and through all of the choices and then put make those decisions and make sure they innovative idea, LapicoGreen is as well. the puzzle pieces together into a make sense for their budget and for their Gregoire explains that “with the launch of beautiful, well-built home, is a big conscience.” LapicoGreen as a new division of LCH, advantage.” To learn even more about Green Homes »
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in general and the construction of Windows, OHI’s client of over 15 years, them, be sure to attend a presenta- invited them to participate. tion on Saturday April 25 at WHLS OHI is a perfect candidate for the when Gregoire discusses building a Green Home Team because it has been a Green Home and some of the humble proponent for L.E.E.D. products and systems available to (Leadership in Energy and Environmental incorporate. Gregoire will also use Design) for sometime now. the back of the Green Home as a “Energy savings for one’s home is not stage for his presentation. only good for the pocket book, it's good for the community and thus the planet,” The Green Interior reveals Stephanie and Timothy. “We O’Neill-Harrington Interiors believe in high design and low impact. (OHI, oneillharrington.com), Everyone involved in this task wanted to 12545 Riverside Dr. East in show their best at being ‘Green Friendly’.” Windsor, is in charge of the Green Details, 1475 Tecumseh Road East in Home’s interior design. In Windsor, adds the finishing touches to the business for 24 years, OHI is interior of Green Home. known for its professional residen- As a company which specializes in tial and commercial interior window treatments, upholstery, and design. For this reason, the beddings, Details is in charge of dressing company is making all decisions the home's windows. involving layouts, surface selections, colour schemes and The Healthy Planet Details Ins & Outs The team at O'Neill-Harrington Interiors from left are coordination of the inside of the Ada Ng, B.F.A.; Stephanie Harrington-O'Neill, Green Home. Responsible for the home’s entrances A.R.I.D.O. (Association of Registered Interior Designers Stephanie Harrington-O’Neill, and exits is Meloche Windows & Doors of Ontario) and Timothy O'Neill, B. Sc. & A.R.I.D.O. President and Timothy O’Neill, (www.melochewindows.com). The 52 The trio go over the “Green” materials used for the Vice President of OHI explain year-old company, located at 6144 display model home. Photo by Rod Denis. that their company entered this Morton Industrial Parkway in Windsor, project when Meloche specializes in the manufacturing,
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installation and service of windows and the fact that changes need to be made in something uplifting, something that will doors and is producing and installing all Windsor during tough economic times. save dollars. We are hoping this event and windows and doors in the Green Home. “Windsor has the highest unemploy- the Green Home can do this.” As the company who coined the Green ment rate in Canada,” says Rod Mahler, This year’s WHLS is the 20th home Home idea, Meloche Windows recognizes General Manager of Meloche Windows. show that Meloche Windows has “We want to introduce citizens to participated in. Walkways & Warmth Sister companies, Marquis Tile (www.marquistile.com) and Marquis Fireplaces (www.marquisfireplaces.com), both located at 1825 Manning Road in Windsor, are supplying the Green Home with flooring and heat. Established in 1996, Marquis Tile is the largest retailer of surface products for walls, floors, countertops, indoor and outdoor products. Opening two years later in 1998, Marquis Fireplaces retails hearth products such as gas, wood, pellet, bio-fuel and electric fireplaces, as well as decorative home accessories. Both companies offer products, installation and service. Bernie Gneo, President of Marquis Tile and Rose Gneo, President of Marquis Founder Bob Meloche (father of current President and Owner, Elise Clark) of Meloche Windows Fireplaces, explain that their efforts in the & Doors, a family owned and operated business established in 1957. Photo by Rod Denis. Green Home project are earth friendly as their companies are contributing renewable products such as Teragreen »
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bamboo flooring and glass tile, and electric ‘Green’ kitchen using the four ‘Rs’ in which consumes very little energy. fireplaces to the home. “All products Green design: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, BetterMade Cabinets designs projects that featured are environmentally conscious, and Rethink.” are efficient and functional, while practicing for cleaner air and minimum Myslichuk explains why being aware of achieving your Old World or carbon offsets,” assures the couple. the environment is a priority for BMC: Contemporary design.” In addition to promoting a When asked why his healthy earth through company chose to partici- their participation in pate in the Green Home the Green Home project, Myslichuk says, construction, these two “Everyone is becoming companies do what they more and more ‘Green’ can for the environment and we at BetterMade on a daily basis. Cabinets are no different. “We practice what we BetterMade Cabinets preach,” assert Bernie wants a world that our and Rose. “We are very children and children’s conscious in our own children can grow up in stores. We recycle and re and enjoy all that this use. We promote world has to offer.” products that are Also involved in the efficient, conscious and construction of the socially responsible.” home’s kitchen is Concern for their Granite Design Works community and the earth (GDW, www.granit- are reasons why these two edesignworks.com), a BetterMade Cabinets hopes to make a “better” world for future generations. Owner companies decided to take Vern Myslichuk is doing his part as these custom cabinets are made five year-old custom part in this project. with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials and water based finishes. fabricator of natural According to the Photo by Rod Denis. stone kitchen and bath husband and wife team, designs, located at “Our goal is to make a 1260 Crawford Avenue in positive impact by “We want our clients to know we are Windsor. GDW is constructing and educating consumers on products that are environmentally conscious when installing a granite countertop for the environmentally smart and promote designing their projects. Because we use Green kitchen. healthier living, not only for the individ- CNC technology, we optimize the President Michael Matte explains his ual consumer, but for the environment.” material used to manufacture your company and its products by saying, “I project, therefore there is no waste.” am the preferred granite fabricator in An Earthy Kitchen In addition to utilizing earth friendly Windsor; Natural stone is the most The task of creating an environmental- practices, Myslichuk also reveals that desired countertop surface because of its ly friendly kitchen goes to BetterMade products the company uses are natural beauty, timeless appearance and Cabinets (BMC, www.bettermadecabi- environmentally considerate. value retention.” nets.com), 1428 Argyle Road in Windsor, “Finishes are water based or of low When selecting the type of materials to which has been known for designing, VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds),” use for the Green kitchen’s countertop, manufacturing, and installing kitchens, he says. “Sheet goods, along with having GDW kept the environment in mind. vanities and wall units for over 20 years. low VOC, are also comprised of wood “Granite is not a trendy item, it is a Owner Vern Myslichuk reveals that his particles, therefore reducing waste in our lasting purchase, saving our landfills from company will, “Design and showcase a landfills. We also suggest LED lighting waste,” reveals Matte. “Granite is not
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fashioned out of toxic polymers and glues like engineered quartz stone; It is the oldest building material known to civilized man.” Green Glass You can even help save the planet in your home’s shower and glass designs! Responsible for this facet of the project for the Green Home is Bay-View Glass & Mirror Ltd, www.bayviewglass.com, 1455 Matthew Brady Blvd. in Windsor, which is installing the home’s back painted glass and an all-glass shower, along with designer glass. Owner Al LaMarre explains that Bay- View Glass, a company in business 22 years, is “a company that does both commercial and residential installations. We specialize in custom designs and carry a large selection of designer glass. Our expertise is in all-glass shower stalls and mirror designs.” The company has also introduced a new product – back painted glass. LaMarre admits that his company’s involvement in the Green Home construction is due to “the fantastic concept and the amazingly talented trades involved to accomplish this first-ever project.” Bay-View’s contribution will be environmentally friendly as their glass is made up of 30% recycled glass and their back painted glass includes no isocyanate (a potential health hazard) and is air dried. Although the Green Home is a creative project in itself, the artistic touches of Tsunami Glassworks Inc. (TGI, www.tsunamiglassworks.com) also add to the home’s originality. Located at 1167 Mercer Street in Windsor, TGI, a four-year-old business, specializes in decorative blown and hot- cast glass manufacturing. The company, headed by Eva Milinkovic, Co-Owner and Creative Director, and Kriston Gene, Co-Owner and Principal, supplies retailers and designers across the US and Canada. Milinkovic and Gene explain TGI’s involvement in the Green Home project by saying, “We are showcasing new hand- made blown glass sculptures from the WISP (glasses curving into and away from each other) series which resemble blades of grass ranging in heights as tall as 40”. We are also showing a sculptural water feature made out of reclaimed window glass.” The company willingly accepted the
» BIZ X MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009 27 APRIL 2009_final 3/29/09 12:19 PM Page 26 MEET HOLMES AT THE HOME SHOW Mike Holmes, “Canada's Most Trusted Canadian Safety Association of Ontario, the Contractor” and Host/Creator of HGTV's Ontario Building Inspectors Association and the “Holmes on Homes” is the star attraction of this Canadian Association of Home Inspectors. year’s Windsor Home and Leisure Show (WHLS). Holmes performs two shows (they are not taped “Holmes on Homes”, which has been the #1 for TV) at the WHLS during Earth Week. He is show on HGTV Canada since the summer of looking forward to coming to Windsor and enjoys 2004, also airs in the United States, United meeting home owners and providing them with Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, information. His stage is the back of the three- and Germany. storey “Green Home” presented by Windsor Holmes is an ideal candidate to lead this year’s Family Credit Union. The shows take place WHLS as he knows the importance of resourceful- Sunday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ness and craftsmanship. In 2006 he was Holmes will provide consumers with his “Make acknowledged by Canada’s House of Commons as It Right” message and will cover such topics as how an “extraordinary craftsperson” and “an to hire the right contractor and how to make sure accomplished master builder with a social your renovation is done right the first time. He will conscience.” That same, year Holmes launched also offer green renovation information. In “The Holmes Foundation”, a charitable Canadian addition, there will be a question and answer foundation to support the training of youth in the session where audience members can find answers skilled trades, through apprenticeships, scholar- to their specific problems. ships and bursaries. Tickets to see Mike Holmes are $20 each and As the national spokesperson for Skills Canada also include free admission to the WHLS. They are and for World Skills 2009, Holmes is often invited available at the Chrysler Theatre Box Office, on- Photo courtesy of Brian Dupuis. to speak by professional organizations, such as the line at www.chryslertheatre.com.
offer to take part in this project and feels “We provide beautiful hand-made three-storey custom home would allow us honoured to have the opportunity to work objects that have a perceived value that to demonstrate the ‘Green’ approach to with the esteemed participating transcends the mundane objects that can home entertainment with less equipment, companies. be purchased for less money,” they say. controllable lighting and single remote As a glass manufacturer, TGI is aware of “These mass produced items have filled a control,” he says. the ways in which glass and its production niche in our seemingly ‘disposable’ affects the environment. society. We believe that there is more A Green Outside “We recognize the importance of merit in producing fewer objects at high The Green Home project will make exercising Green ways of living to value versus the widely embraced mass sure that every detail of the home is contribute to the solution of stabilizing produced object that consume massive environmentally friendly – even the front the environment that we live in,” state amounts of energy and resources.” yard. Ready to take on the task of outdoor Milinkovic and Gene. “We also recognize landscaping is Landscape Effects Group that glassmaking is a major consumer of Earth Friendly Electronics (LEG) (www.landscapefx.com), 1125 energy and contributor to greenhouse The involvement of APW Electronics County Rd #42, R.R.#1 in Belle River. gases. We, at Tsunami Glassworks, of Chatham (www.apwelectronics.com) LEG is known for its 16 years of work in recognize that we cannot eliminate the in the Green Home project, demonstrates pools, patios, fencing, landscaping, irriga- energy that we use, but we can reduce our that home electronics can be safer for the tion, lighting, roof top gardens, and more. consumption of it.” earth than we may believe. Company President Paul St. Pierre talks While glass production can have certain Since 1978, APW, a Cedia (The about his company’s task in the Green adverse effects on the environment, European Confederation of Agronomist Home project and how they became Milinkovic and Gene outline TGI’s strate- Associations) Certified Electronic involved: “We are building an entire life gies for reducing the stress it puts on the Systems contractor, has been designing, size front yard as you would see in any earth: “We are interested in reusing selling, and installing media systems, residential area. We were invited to existing glass to make a body of work that integrated lighting control, dedicated participate and we obviously believe in the does not require the amounts of energy to home cinemas and lifestyle entertain- Green movement working with plant make glass out of its raw ingredients…we ment. material each day.” are taking measures to increase the As for the company’s involvement in LEG’s involvement in the project efficiency of our glass studio including the Green Home project, Owner and extends even further as St. Pierre reveals plans to switch to an electric furnace. Lead Designer Dave Cartier explains that that his company can really relate to the Currently, we have retrofitted our studio APW “is displaying flat panel monitors, project at hand. with energy efficient lighting, and are integrated lighting control (showing the “We truly are committed to bring using a heat exchanger to reclaim heat possibilities of energy saving by single awareness to our community and catch up from the furnace to heat the studio in the touch light dimming), media manage- with the rest of the world,” says St. Pierre. winter, and keep it cooler in the summer.” ment systems and other cool “We are years behind and truly it starts by In addition, TGI operates on the entertainment concepts.” letting people see what is possible. We philosophy that reusable objects produce Cartier’s company was more than eager have been building commercial Green less waste, and thus, less damage to our to participate in the project. “We became roofs for five years now and the residential planet. involved after learning that an on-site market should not be an exception.” X
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