Meadowlark House

Greensburg GreenTown | Our Story

Meadowlark House

Chain of Eco-Homes

Greensburg GreenTown | 402 S. Sycamore St. Greensburg, KS | 620.723.2790

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Framing issues of energy efficiency and the

environment in non-political and easily

understood language

Managing hundreds of thousands of

dollars of volunteer work hours and in-kind

contributions

Constructing the foundation for a new

eco-tourism economy by offering Green

Tours of the community and Eco-lodging to

visitors through our Chain of Eco-Homes project

Encouraging and supporting residents,

business owners and governmental enti-

ties to utilize their resources efficiently and

sustainably as they build for the future

Carrying out a major role in helping the

Green Initiative gain visibility in national

and international media

Building partnerships with individuals,

businesses and groups who are interested

in investing in GreenTown projects

Educating residents and visitors about

sustainable building techniques, technolo-

gies, and green living practices

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On May 4, 2007 the community of Greensburg, Kansas was destroyed by a powerful EF-5

tornado, one of the largest ever recorded. Shortly after the storm, the people of Greensburg

made the decision to rebuild as a national model for eco-friendly building practices and

sustainable living. Greensburg GreenTown is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit organization

that formed within days after the tornado and works daily with the local community to

realize their vision of becoming a model town for a sustainable future. Greensburg has

become an inspirational story of ordinary Americans making extraordinary strides in

sustainability.

While GreenTown is a private nonprofit, we maintain an official relationship with the City of

Greensburg and continue to work closely with them in a variety of capacities.

Important areas of work we are involved in include:

Chain of Eco-Homes | Design Competition

Meadowlark House | Grand Prize Winner

- Steven Learner Studio

Root/Breathe/Endure | First Runner Up

- Stuttio Workshop

Linear Villa | Second Runner Up

- Daniel Day Studio Daniel Day Studio

www.greensburggreentown.org

[email protected]

Over 150 Entries

Participants from 38 states and 13 countries

World renowned jury

Three dynamic rounds of judging

Cisco Systems telepresence conferencing

technology, supported by AT&T, connected

participants from around the country

1 grand prize winner, 2 runners-up

Greensburg is an inspirational story of ordinary Americans making extraordinary strides in

sustainability. That’s why we at Greensburg GreenTown and our partners at FreeGreen.com

invited designers and architects from around the world to participate in a competition in

2009. Over 150 teams from 38 states and 13 countries entered to help us find seemingly ordi-

nary homes that act in extraordinarily green ways. The competition participants were chal-

lenged with the following:

The winning design, The Meadowlark House designed by Steven Learner Studio, is now in

the works to become the next GreenTown Eco-Home!

Competition Highlights:

Think outside of conventional 2x4 construction and incorporate one

of three innovative wall systems: HIB-System, Virginia Lime Works

EMU or Amvic ICF.

Uphold the goals of The Chain of Eco-Homes Project by designing a

home that exhibits sustainable techniques and can function as an

educational center and eco-tourism destination.

Create a financially accessible home for the average American hom-

eowner by keeping the buildable design cost under $110/SF.

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http://www.stevenlearnerstudio.com/

Meadowlark House

Street view Garden view

Interior view Interior view

Meadowlark House

Chain of Eco-Homes


The Meadowlark House was designed as a sustainable

prototype a growing family with a modest budget

could afford. The result is a compact yet spatially

dynamic home for contemporary living, with an eye

towards the future. The home’s central function is to

serve as an educational tool to demonstrate affordable

green building practices and living techniques. It will

feature the latest in sustainable products as well as

showcase emerging technologies we hope to see in

homes all across America. This includes harnessing the

sun’s abundant solar energy to provide heat, generate

electricity through the aid of solar panels, and heat

domestic water with a solar water heater. Cooling

needs will be provided through natural ventilation and

the use of an energy recovery ventilator, an energy

saving alternative to air conditioning. Innovative and

first-of-its-kind construction practices include the use

of the Passive House US rating program and the

prefabricated HIB-System for exterior walls. State-of-

the-art appliances and other features will make this

home an exciting showcase of “the future today”.

Features Include:

“Being a part of the Chain of Eco-Homes competition in Greens-burg was a thrill for us. Building the first North American HIB-System home under the Passive House standard in Greensburg, KS is not only a huge commitment from GreenTown but also a clear sign that the landscape in the North American building industry is continuing to evolve.”

-Jan Hoetzel, HIB-System Representative

Built to Passive House US standards

Modular wood block wall system

Passive heating & cooling

High level of insulation

Powered by solar panels

Energy recovery ventilator

Rainwater collection

Solar water heater

Natural ventilation

Solar carport

Dining Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

BedroomBedroom

Living Room

InnovationMeadowlark House will display

the latest in a variety of excit-

ing and innovative sustainable

construction products and

practices. Our plan is to

achieve a net-zero energy

home through the use of

passive solar design for heat-

ing and cooling needs, solar

panels for electricity needs,

and a solar water heater for

domestic hot water needs. An

electric vehicle will even be

charged under a solar carport!

Meadowlark House will be built to Passive House

specifications: a rigorous, voluntary building standard

for energy efficient buildings. Combining state-of-

the-art technology with old-fashioned quality

construction, the result will be a very well-insulated,

virtually air-tight building that requires little energy for

heating and cooling saving up to 90% of energy costs

compared to an average home. There are currently 10

other certified projects in the United States, with 19

projects pre-certified and 27 in the planning stage.

Meadowlark House has been pre-certified and will be

one of the first Passive House projects in the State of

Kansas.

What is a Passive House?

Meadowlark House utilizes an award winning innovative, prefabricated

wood block wall system popular in Europe but new to the US market. The

100% biodegradable toxin-free wood blocks provide excellent insulation

qualities, extreme sound dampening, and are structurally able to with-

stand the high winds of southwestern Kansas. The HIB-System is a virtually

problem free, self-build system. The pre-

manufactured blocks are shipped ready-to-

assemble and are easily handled without the

need for expensive lifting devices. They quickly

and easily lock into each other in a “Lego” style

operation saving time and money. This will be

the first project in the U.S. to use this innova-

tive and organic wall system.

What is the HIB-System?

ego style

his will be

s innova-

Kansas. tive and organic wall system.


[email protected]

Chain of Eco-Homes |Silo Home

Meadowlark House

Chain of Eco-Homes


2 kW solar panel

Energy monitoring

Instantaneous hot -

water heater

Intensive green roof

Rainwater collection

High efficiency heat pump

Bamboo flooring

Dual-flush toilets

Recycled glass countertops

High-efficiency windows

Reclaimed kitchen cabinets

Green Visitors Center

Resource Center for Community

Over 60 Individual Private & Corporate Donors

Over $250,000 of Capital Invested

The Chain of Eco-Homes Project plans to build as

many as 12 homes designed to be “Living Laborato-

ries” featuring a variety of building techniques, sizes,

prices, and energy efficiency features. Each home

will serve both as an informational center and as

eco-lodging where people can experience green

living first hand. This is the first such project in the

nation and is key to further developing an eco-

tourism industry in Greensburg.

The Silo Home was the first to be completed in the

Chain of Eco-Homes and houses a bed and breakfast

suite, the local Green Visitors Center, and the admin-

istrative office for GreenTown. Designed and

constructed in partnership with Armour Homes, the

round concrete form is designed to withstand

sustained winds over 200 mph and visually relates to

the grain elevator located just 5 blocks north of us -

one of the few structures to survive the storm.

Features Include:


[email protected]

Silo Home | Selected Images

Funding Opportunities

Donations to Date:

Donor Menu:

Meadowlark House

Chain of Eco-Homes


We intend to focus on sustainability, affordability and innovation as the main themes in this project. If you manufacture or sell a product along

these lines, we would be interested in visiting with you about sponsorship opportunities. This is an excellent marketing opportunity to promote

your product and receive direct exposure to the thousands of visitors who pass through Greensburg every year. Sponsors can also contribute

services such as labor, or provide direct monetary contributions that can be applied to the project in a variety of capacities. The Meadowlark House

offers many exciting opportunities for an individual or company to get involved and we offer an array of benefits. Join this rapidly growing list of

sponsors already involved in the Meadowlark House today!

Do you have a product or service for Mead-

owlark House not listed and are interested in

joining this exciting project? Please contact

us at 620-723-2790 to discuss the possibility

of your donation. There are many exciting

projects GreenTown is working on if Mead-

owlark House is not a perfect fit for you. Con-

tact us today to find out more!

Construction & Operations

HIB Modular Wood Block

Appliances & Electronics

$100,000

$50,000

$25,000

$175,000 +

Raymond C. & Anna T. Johnson Foundation | Macomb, MI

HIB-Systems PLC | Meissenheim, GER

LG Electronics | Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Item: Donor: Donation Value:

Total Donation Value to Date:

Kitchen

Living room

Bathrooms

Dining room

Bedrooms

Landscaping

Laundry/Recycle room

$25,000

$25,000

$25,000

$20,000

$20,000

$15,000

$10,000

Room Sponsor*:

Donation amounts are calculated based on the sum of cash and the

wholesale value of goods donated to the project

*Sponsors will receive naming rights for rooms with donation value of

$25,000 or more

Donation Value:

Core Sponsor: $60,000+

Flooring

Insulation

Lighting

Windows

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Product Sponsor: Donation Value:

Solar carport

Alternative Energy

Electrical

Plumbing

Heating & Cooling

Siding

Roof

Water Collection

$60,000

$25,000

$15,000

$15,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

System Sponsor*: Donation Value:

Sponsor Program


[email protected]

In addition to the unique opportunity to be involved in a one-of-a-kind project being followed closely by individuals and media the world over,

our partners in the Meadowlark House project will receive the following benefits. (All benefits available cover a minimum of two years)

Advertising space in Mother Earth News or Natural Home maga-zine, commensurate with donation value

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Free stay in one of our Eco-Lodging destinations or oppor-tunity to host private event in one of our facilities

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Product and/or company materials displayed in our Green Visitor Center

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Name recognition in GreenTown press releases, newsletter, Meadowlark House media coverage and naming rights for a room or system

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Company logo displayed on construction signage•

Company or product displayed in home with dedicated signage explaining sustainable benefits

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Your company included on two page spread in Green Builder Magazine feature article

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Representation in Meadowlark House materials, including printed and digital brochure, commensurate with donation value

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Dedicated blog entry about your donation on our website and Facebook page

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Detailed representation of donation and product on Mead-owlark page of our website

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Benefit: Bronze Level:$1,000 to $4,999

Silver Level:$5,000 to $9,999

Gold Level:$10,000 to $24,999

Platinum Level:$25,000 or more

Media Coverage

Meadowlark House

Chain of Eco-Homes

Greensburg GreenTown | 402 S. Sycamore St. Greensburg, KS | 620.723.2790 | www.greensburggreentown.org | [email protected]

Greensburg has captured the attention of the media and the imagination of the world. Our comeback, and the idea of turning adversity into some-thing positive, is a story for our time. The story is uplifting, inspiring and a beacon of hope. One of GreenTown's most important roles has been to help media representatives understand the scope and importance of the Green Initiative as it applies to Greensburg. Below is a sampling of news organizations that have covered our story since the community made the decision to rebuild green.

“...Greensburg has managed to dramatically rebuild while also becoming an example for sustainable communities everywhere. And, with projects like the upcoming Chain of Eco-Homes that will study the most effective and comfortable ways of eco-friendly living, Greensburg shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.”

-National Geographic

“Eco-tourism will be our primary economic engine for a while, as we try to attract new industry. We want this to be a place where people can come and expe-rience environmentally sustainable living.”

-Daniel Wallach, GreenTownfounder and Executive Director,as quoted in The New York Times

“...Greensburg is taking its name to heart and striving to become a green community of the future. City and county officials, residents and business owners are leading by example, making Greens-burg a national model for environmen-tally conscious living.”

-CNN

Meadowlark House

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