Warsaw couple builds area's first Touchstone Energy Home

)by Megan Baldino (mbaldino@wsbt.com

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Jim and Joi Mannan have met the highest green standards established by the National Association of Home Builders.

With the help of a local green builder and the Kosciusko Rural Electric Membership Corporation (KREMC), Jim and Joi Mannan have met the highest green standards established by the National Association of Home Builders. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 13, 2008 at 5:55 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2008 at 8:57 AM EST

WARSAW — A Warsaw family tired of paying high winter heating bills has decided to do something about it. Jim and Joi Mannan are building the area's first Touchstone Energy Home.

"The whole premise here was to lower our monthly energy bills," said Jim.

With the help of a local green builder and the Kosciusko Rural Electric Membership Corporation (KREMC), the Mannans have met the highest green standards established by the National Association of Home Builders.

Jim says early estimates show his bills will be down significantly.

"You know, the biggest surprise was the HVAC [Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning] — the heating and cooling bills,” said Jim. "$50 a month to heat and cool this house. Fifty bucks a month!"

That savings will be seen right away, but it does cost more to build a green home, said builder John Kidd.

"Yes, there are no ifs, ands or buts that it costs more upfront, but on the whole the cost of the house is minimal and the return on investments looks to be around five to eight years," said Kidd.

In addition to a geothermal heating and cooling system, the house is being built with insulated concrete forms, or ICFs -- white Styrofoam blocks that look like LEGOs.

"You assemble it, and fill it with concrete, and it's fully insulated," Kidd said.

Inside the home, the Mannans plan to use recycled glass counter tops, cork flooring and some solar lighting. Plus, all waste from the building site is being recycled.

Jim says it's been a gratifying project.

"We wanted to have a smaller carbon footprint on this planet, if you will."

Kosciusko REMC Energy Adviser Carol Presley said the cooperative has already been getting a lot of phone calls about the house.

"People ask, ‘What can we do to have one?’" said Presley.

Presley says there are simple things every homeowner can do to make their home more efficient, but she would like to see more homes built that way.

"So we make sure there is enough energy to last."

The Mannans are holding an open house this weekend. They wanted their contractors to show off their green building materials.

If you're interested in times and directions go to Warsaw Touchstone Energy home and click on Contact Us.

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