Whitehead-Elniski Residence

Location
1313 W. Ohio, Chicago Map

Owner
Frances Whitehead and James Elniski

Architect
James & Kutyla Architecture

1313 W. Ohio is one of the first in the current wave of custom single-family homes seeking to be the greenest in Chicago. The project includes an unusually extensive laundry list of green features, going above and beyond the standard green measures in every category, from energy to materials to landscape. In addition, it includes inherent design features just making their way into green awareness. As with the Mauceri Residence, the home is live-work - the first floor houses studio space for the artist owners. In addition, the first floor is fully accessible, with an at-grade entry, ramps for elevation changes, and an accessible bathroom - items rarely included in a single-family home.

The most unusual energy technology is a pair of 1 kW Windside vertical-axis wind turbines not previously used in Chicago, visible in the photo. Other major energy features include (hold your breath): cellulose insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, solar thermal domestic hot water and heating, photovoltaic panels, and energy recovery ventilation. A rooftop greenhouse will soon include phase change material for thermal storage. Considering the home was primarily designed and built before the launch of any major green building programs in Chicago, it is a considerable accomplishment. The green roof and solar equipment were partially funded by grants and rebates from the City of Chicago and State of Illinois.

The structure itself is a converted underused brick warehouse. A central courtyard was introduced, providing daylight to the center of the building and creating a small interior garden, which houses a custom-fabricated rainwater cistern. There are numerous recycled-content, regionally manufactured, or salvaged materials throughout the home which the owners have meticulously documented. The most celebrated is hardwood floors milled from Chicagoland-area elm trees by Bruce Horigan.

Expect additional media coverage as the owners put this demonstration project to work - finishing touches such as the wind turbines were installed in fall of 2007.