Green on a Mission
Our work is driven by the way things are, and by the way we hope them to be. It is our dissatisfaction with current reality, when compared to what is possible, that spurs us toward excellence and toward creating better homes and healthier, more sustainable communities. We aim to set the standards of excellence for the green building industry in Illinois and we encourage all to join us in this mission.
As Northeastern Illinois’ first real estate group dedicated to the marketing of green homes, we lead this industry by helping consumers understand the benefits of owning a green home. As consumers understand the consequences of their home-buying decisions, they will make smarter housing choices that will ultimately lead to a long-lasting and profound effect on the health and well-being of the planet.
We understand green building because we too, are developers. We strive to make a difference by developing Chicago’s most energy efficient and environmentally friendly single-family homes. These are homes that make a difference. We firmly believe that home ought to be a place where we always feel comfortable, safe, and healthy. We believe the home should be a place that possesses architectural flair, great attention to detail and has a floor plan that reflects a modern lifestyle. Further, we see the home as a prudent investment--homes should be built to last, made from fewer and more sustainable resources, be much more energy efficient, and sold at a fair price. Our homes follow these principles and our work is guided by the Quality Standards listed within these pages.
Green Home Partners
Hans Fedderke:
Hans is the only licensed Illinois Realtor® in Northeast Illinois to have earned the LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) designation. Hans has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Boston University and a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Mark Ahlheim:
Mark enjoys working with buyers who are looking for uncommon property. Mark has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Detroit and an MBA with majors in finance and marketing from the Wharton School of Business. Prior to real estate, Mark worked in transit and organic foods where he developed a passion for cities, architecture, and transit-oriented, economical, eco-friendly, sustainable development. He has successfully rehabbed property in the Bronx and Chicago.
Kirk Fox:
Kirk is a licensed Illinois Realtor®, who has also worked as an attorney and mortgage broker. Kirk was the first certified EcoBroker in Illinois and he has been featured on WGN Television and Realtor Magazine for his work educating the public about “green” homes. He has also created an independent record label whose artists have received regional and national recognition.
Hans, Mark, and Kirk joined together in early 2006 to establish Green Home Partners—Chicago’s first and only real estate group dedicated to the buying and selling of green real estate in Northeast Illinois. Their complementary skill sets, network of green builders and architects, and in-depth knowledge of green distinguishes their work.
Quality Standards
1. We are committed to resource conservation. Our designs economically leverage nature’s most abundant sources of energy.
2. Our homes are built to last while costing less to operate and maintain.
3. We are dedicated to building Chicago’s most energy-efficient homes that meet or exceed Energy Star Standards.
4. We build homes that adhere to Not So Big design principles.
5. We actively seek out and support local sources of environmentally conscious building materials.
6. We dramatically reduce construction waste through design and comprehensive on-site recycling.
7. We strive to build formaldehyde-free homes.
8. We use only paints, adhesives, sealants, floor coverings, and finish materials that meet or exceed Green Seal and Green Label standards, greatly improving indoor air quality.
9. We are committed to minimizing the use of petroleum-based products.
10. We strive to use materials that are natural, rapidly renewable, minimally processed, salvaged or recycled.
Green Facts
Each gallon of gasoline used requires 1,000 gallons of water to produce.
A faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year.
Every year, Americans throw away enough paper to build a 12 ft. wall from New York to Los Angeles.
Recycled paper takes half the energy and creates half the air and water pollution than producing paper directly from trees.
Under-inflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency by 2 percent.
If every U.S. household replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulb, it would be the equivalent of removing one million cars from the road.
Only 10 % of the energy used by incandescent bulbs actually produces light; the remaining 90 % is given off as heat.
If just 1 in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, the benefit to our air quality would be the same as planting 1.7 million acres of trees.
Trees properly placed around buildings reduce air conditioning needs by 30%.
Approximately 67 million pounds of pesticides are used each year on U.S lawns.
Source: Conserve Chicago Together 2006
Green Home Partners
Fall Programs
What Makes a Home Green
Historic Chicago Bungalow &
Green Home Expo
Merchandise Mart
Saturday, September 30th
10am-4pm
Is Your Home Green
Whole Foods Market
3300 N Ashland
Tuesday, October 3rd
6:30pm
Live Green Chicago
Buyer/architect/developer social
Funky Buddha Lounge
728 W. Grand
Thursday, October 12th
6pm
www.livegreenchicago.com
For more information on these and other upcoming events, please go to:
Website:
www.greenhomepartners.com
Email:
www.greenhomepartners.com