Green Dream 2 is nearly complete. As these pictures illustrate, a set of steps, final hookup of electrical and installation of the HVAC compressor are all that is needed for the homeowner to return. Plumbing fixtures are in place and most of the trim is done. Finishing out a few details on the porch and with regards to some of the vents should happen soon. A reality check for those of you who find this website creates the appearance of smooth sailing: there are a few sticking points in the financial picture, a common issue for nearly everyone struggling to rebuild. Despite the enormous generosity and efforts of all involved, the government-run assistance systems that everyone affected by the flood and the hurricanes depend upon to help us get back in our homes more often than not forces us to struggle and strategize in ways we never imagined. The team is working hard to resolve any lingering issues and get the homeowners into this house very soon.

RESNET Home Energy Rating Systems blower door and duct blaster testing of the house was conducted in March. The results exceeded expectations. Air infiltration rates were below design specs and the ducts registered no loss. This means GD2 is going to perform at a higher level of efficiency than intended, a real bonus for the homeowner. These pictures show the basic testing, including sealing the HVAC registers for blower door testing and the installation of the duct blaster on the air return grill. We'll post specific numbers soon.

Thanks in large part to the work of Spring Break volunteers, Green Dream 2 is nearing completion. As a result, energy testing will take place Wednesday, March 24 starting in the morning. As these picture show, the HVAC system compressor will sit on a raised platform behind the home. Most of the penetrations into the home have been finished with trim and will be sealed before testing begins. The next set of pictures will be of the testing and with the results. We're looking forward to verifying that energy guidelines and standards have been met and will post more details next week.

The home is nearing completion as siding is installed over the exterior insulation panels. Note the drainage plane, flashing and screen (to keep out bugs) that will ensure superior moisture management. Inside, countertops have been installed in the kitchen and in one of the bathrooms and shelving is in place in the closets. The sewer hookup is complete and the house in nearly ready for HERS rating (blower door and duct blaster testing).

The tile floors are installed. Doors and trim are underway and the walls have been painted. The interior of the house is looking more like a finished home. A truly grateful and happy homeowner is looking forward to the next steps. Siding remains at a standstill and the porch, electrical, water and sewer hookups await installation. Under the floors, Hardi-board was used to close-in the joists, giving the crawlspace a finished look that has the homeowner pondering storage and other potential uses.

The rigid foam insulation panels are in place along one wall. Note the drip flashing and screen. This is a combination to provide a path for any moisture that collects behind the siding and to prevent bugs from getting into the space. The next step is to install furring strips for the siding.

Ceramic tile flooring is being installed throughout the house to make the house "wash & wear" flood-ready. In the unlikely event flooding ever reaches this level, the house is designed to recover quickly.

The municipal water system is in place and the yard is being leveled and filled.

Blower door testing is anticipated to be done in the first week of February which means the homeowner can expect to be moving in soon.

Installation of the paperless drywall is complete. Joints were sealed with paperless tape and all walls are floated and skimmed. The kitchen cabinets are in place. Note the gull-wing door and plate slots. The kitchen and great room are spacious and filled with functionality. At this pace, the homeowners can expect to be living there in just a couple of months. We will be staging Open House tours on Fridays in January between 2 and 4pm.

AmeriCorps volunteers are hard at work installing paperless drywall ceilings and walls. The product is mold and moisture resistant, a quality that all homes in hot, humid environments should have. The volunteers are cutting furring strips and framing openings to provide robust mounting/connections for the drywall.

Because the exterior walls will have a multi-layered system including rigid insulation, the wall cavities are open. However, each wall area has been carefully sealed with foam to ensure no air leakage, increasing the R-value of the walls via air pockets.

The bathrooms were lined with masonite as backer-board, and the vents from each bath are routed to the outside with few turns via the shortest possible route. This improves the moisture-removing performance of the bath vents by reducing the distance between the source and the exhaust, and limiting turns and surface area (long, winding ducts impede airflow and create more area for condensation) in the ducts.

Also, note the placement of the attic hatch in a hallway near an exterior door. This makes it possible to provide service and access to the attic via a more direct path which does not interfere with any of the living spaces.

The HVAC system is in place. And plumbing, electrical and cable/networking systems are installed. Note the two shower systems, one with a tub, and one with full handicap access. Spray foam has been installed with closed cell R-13 under the floor and open cell R-30 in the attic. Because of the attic foam, standard can lights are acceptable because they will no longer represent an air leakage point between conditioned and unconditioned space. Installation of drywall will be the next major step. Special Note: we will be staging Open House tours of Green Dream 2 on Friday afternoons from 2 to 4PM (except holidays) for the next couple of months. For more information contact Steve Picou at the LSU AgCenter at 504-838-1170.