I’ve been living just outside of Center City Philadelphia (about 8 miles to be exact) for nearly four years, and the more I learn about this city, the more I love it.  Just the other day I found yet another wonderful reason to love Philly and its people – The 100K House Project. 

The 100K House project is the brainchild of Postgreen, a Philadelphia-based green developer, located in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, just north of Center City (the equivalent of “downtown” in most other major cities).
Postgreen believes that green construction can be affordable if properly designed and executed, and the 100K House Project (Postgreen's first LEED Platinum development in Philadelphia) serves to prove this point.  Check out the stats on this house:

• Certification - LEED Platinum
• Energy star - certified
• Solar - solar thermal hot water
• Water - rainwater collection, low-flow, dual-flush
• Heating - radiant in floor
• Air conditioning - radiant, passive & ERV
• Lighting - CFLs
• Insulation - SIPs
• Finishes - low or no VOC
• Landscaping - ivy “green wall,” drought tolerant & 100% permeable

With a custom green, ivy wall lattice over a light grey stucco façade, modern concrete and plywood flooring, 1,150 square feet, two levels, and two bedrooms – there is a lot to love about this green loft-style townhome.   Especially the very reasonable projected price tag of $200,000.  You can check out actual photographs and renderings on the Postgreen Flickr page.

In a year or two, I hope to lift my ‘just outside of Philadelphia’ roots, and plant them ‘right in’ the city.  Hopefully, my roots will be green, and grow very soundly and sustainably in a 100K House.