CHICAGO, IL, Sep 13, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) —
Industry-leading online real estate brokerage Dream Town Realty has
been named the listing company for one of Chicago’s greenest homes.
The 4,250 sq. ft. eco-friendly abode in East Village has one of the
biggest residential solar energy generating systems in the city and
is going to be featured in two high-profile events showcasing Chicago
homes this year.
When built in 2010, the 10 kilowatt solar generation system at 1459
W. Walton was the largest system of its kind installed in a Chicago
residence. It has 36 solar panels connected to a special
performance-monitoring command center that maximizes each panel’s
individual production level. On sunny days, the home produces more
electricity than it can use, so it sells energy back to ComEd. It has
an electric car charging station in the garage and Energy Star
top-rated mechanicals.
The home generates electricity through a sophisticated configuration
of 280 Watt solar panels attached to the roof, breezeway and garage.
There are 36 panels in all, operated by a Tigo computerized
management system that allows for constant online evaluation of its
output. The system is so efficient it actually makes enough power on
clear days to run the entire house and have extra to resell to the
city’s main electricity supplier ComEd.
Listing agent for the property Stephanie Wesson of Dream Town Realty
points out the system is also eligible for government rebates and
incentives. “The owner of this house not only gets the cost savings
from lowered utility bills, but also qualifies for money back from
the government for clean energy generation,” she explained. The
combination of energy production and reduced energy consumption
greatly downsize the carbon footprint of this large, 3-level Chicago
residence.
The property has four bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms and a custom atrium
stairwell that extends the full height of the house. A sizeable
skylight at the top of the atrium helps illuminate the interior of
the home with natural sunlight, minimizing the need to turn on lights
(and use up electricity) during the day. 1459 W. Walton has
high-insulation Pella windows throughout and a high-grade brick
construction that further increases the home’s insulating ability.
“In addition to green features, this house was designed with very
upscale finishes,” said Wesson of the contemporary-style East Village
home. “Appliances include all the high-end brands. There is a
temperature-controlled wine cellar in the media room, a 4-person
cedar sauna in the lower level, custom hardwood doors throughout and
heated floors in the master bath.”
The solar-powered residence went on the market in early August for a
price of $1,190,000. It will be showcased in a temporary exhibit in
the Lecture Hall of the Chicago Architecture Foundation this fall.
Presented by the U.S. Green Building Council, Neighborhoods Go Green!
focuses on “scaling up sustainability” in the local community. The
show is free to the public and opens November 17th at 224 South
Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.
1459 W. Walton will also be included in this year’s Illinois Solar
Tour, a free self-guided tour of green businesses and private
residences throughout the state. Guidebooks for the October 1st tour
will be available in the September issue of Mindful Metropolis
Magazine.
“The Solar Tour is a great opportunity to see first-hand what
homeowners in the state of Illinois are doing to decrease energy use
and increase property values through green building practices,” said
Wesson, adding that anyone looking to purchase green Chicago real
estate doesn’t need to wait until October to see the solar-powered
property at 1459 W. Walton. Immediate showing appointments can be
made through Wesson at Dream Town Realty. Dream Town lists
single-family homes and Chicago condos throughout the city and
suburbs.
About Dream Town Realty
Dream Town is largely recognized as the
leader in online Chicago real estate. Its top-ranked website receives
tens of thousands of unique visitors weekly. The company has
developed proprietary technology and applications to improve online
house hunting and offer the most advanced Internet home search
available to Chicago buyers today. Dream Town Realty provides
residential buyer and seller services, as well as commercial and
international divisions and REO sales. The company also has a new
home construction and renovation branch called Dream Town Builders
and Remodeling.
Dream Town Realty
Email Contact
312.265.8000
SOURCE: Dream Town Realty
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