THE KSN DREAM HOUSE FOR THE CURE

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Building a green dream house

by Leon Smitherman
KSN News

WICHITA, Kansas -- The KSN Dream House for the Cure is a project that more than 30 companies are helping out with, and we are going to introduce you to one company that is working to make the dream house "green."

Star Lumber and Supply are really doing a lot to make this house environmentally friendly and safe for the eventual owners.

Green seems to be the color for the 21st century -- not Kermit the Frog green, not 70's shag carpet green -- we're talking environmentally friendly. Cars are going green, Hollywood is going green and our Dream House for the Cure is going green as well.

"It is a home that we have taken ideas from all across the country with innovation and green building and incorporated it all into one," said Sharmin Bachman, New Home Marketing. "So this is something new and different to the Wichita market."

Building a green home means more than just adding solar panels or windmills like we often think about.

"Green building starts with energy efficiency," said Cherie Nies-Cowgill, Nies Homes. "You try to do the Energy Star rating on your home as you are building it -- orientation of the home as much as possible to take advantage of the sun, which in a development is not always possible."

Using green materials means building with products that come from a sustainable source and will last a long, long time.

Take flooring for instance.

Patrick Goebel, vice-president of marketing for Star Lumber showed us a floor sample.

"This is an example of a green product -- it's got a beautiful finish with a durable surface that will last a long time, but instead of using the whole piece, it's got a veneer wood finish and there is an inner core that is made of various products. It could be recycled, it could be waste from other manufacturing processes."

"With the green building and technology that we have incorporated into the house, it will be one on the most innovative homes that we have out here," said Bachman, referring to The Oaks Community where our home is being built.

So not only will the house be custom made, like nothing you've ever seen before, it'll be the most environmentally friendly home in the area.

And with all the proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, it's just one more reason why the KSN Dream House for the Cure is such an amazing project to be a part of.

Coming up this week:

Imagine a $50,000 audio and visual system. That's what Dynatek plans to install in the KSN Dream House for the Cure. On Thursday, we'll talk with the owner about why he's on board with this project.

And on Friday, we'll show you the reason for this project. Hear from breast cancer survivors and find out how the money from this house can help thousands of people across the area.

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