The Department of Architecture is building a green house. No, it's not for plants. Instead, it's an eco-friendly home from floor to ceiling, known as TERRA.
TERRA, which stands for Technologically and Environmentally Responsive Residential Architecture, is a 1,700 square foot, two-story house in Uptown Memphis on the corner of Main and Greenlaw.
"The only thing I can say is that, in my more than 28 years practicing architecture, this has been one of the most rewarding projects I have had the opportunity to work on," said Jim Lutz, who managed the project before relocating. "I have worked on much larger projects, much more expensive projects, but nothing that is more important than this project."
TERRA will be completed in December. The garage will be used to showcase its different environmentally-friendly designs and construction technology factors for three months.
Once complete, the home will be open to the contractors, architects, students and the general public. It will be the site of numerous presentations, lectures, discussion panels and tours.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for students in the department of architecture to work on a building that is being constructed as a part of the revitalization of the Uptown neighborhood," said Michael Hagge, professor and chair of the department of architecture on campus. "This has provided them with 'hands-on' experience in 'cutting-edge' technology and will certainly benefit them as they enter the professions of architecture and interior design."
Faculty and students have been working and researching for seven semesters to ensure the house complies with the US Green Building Council's LEED evaluation system. Buildings are rated based on indoor environmental quality, material resources, water, energy and land resources.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System is based on a point system. Buildings that meet its criteria are presented with either platinum, gold or silver certificates.
"We are solidly silver, but we are dreaming gold," said Alzbeta Bowden, an architecture grad student. Documentation and drawing plans are two contributions that she has made over the past seven semesters to TERRA.
This different kind of green house also follows EcoBuild standards, created by Memphis Light Gas and Water. The program was designed to motivate Memphians to use energy efficient materials and increase green awareness in home building. These Ecobuild houses are designed to be 30 percent more energy efficient than typical residential construction in Shelby County.
Buildings use 15 trillion gallons of drinkable water every year, according to the US Geological Service. Water conservation plays a role in environmental consciousness. Mary Carroll, a senior architecture student, said TERRA will have the first officially authorized grey water reuse system in Shelby County. She said it will have the first officially authorized, metropolitan grey water reuse system within the state of Tennessee.
She explained that the process of grey water recycling involves capturing the water from showers, bathtubs, sinks and washing machines, filtering and treating it with a small amount of chlorine and then redistributing for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing or sub-surface irrigation. TERRA will be reusing this grey water for toilet flushing purposes resulting in an annual reduction in water usage of approximately 30 percent.
Carroll has been involved with building the green home since fall 2005. She gained approval from the City of Memphis' Chief Plumbing Inspector earlier this year to implement the grey water reuse system
Water preservation does not stop there at TERRA. The home has a modest irrigation system, which will employ rainwater captured from the roof for sub-surface irrigation. Other areas of saving water include high efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.
The landscaping around the home consists of plants that thrive in our area while requiring minimal water. Trees are also strategically planted to provide the home with shade, and this minimizes energy used by an air conditioner. When the temperature decreases, their leaves fall and the sunlight hits the building, which helps keep the house warm in the winter.
"I love the fact that we're doing this in our city. I believe in clean and alternative forms of energy consumption," said Charlie Laster, political science major. He is also a member of the Environmental Action Club on campus.
The air quality inside TERRA will meet the standards of the American Lung Association, and the home is an ALA Health House. The use of low VOC paint, environmental friendly and formaldehyde-free supplies contribute to better breathing in the home.
The house is equipped with a lighting control system. Rooms have motion sensors that turn off lights in rooms that are motionless for a certain amount of time. They can also detect when the sky gets lighter or darker, and the lights are adjusted accordingly to conserve energy.
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