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IN-PERSON TOUR – OCTOBER 3-5, 2025 | Lakeside Net Zero Passive House | National Solar Tour:

Paul Abueva and Mark Miller Virtual Tour Lakeside passive house

The Net Zero Passive House in Michigan, designed by Mark Miller Architects and built by Abueva Builders, exemplifies sustainable innovation through its circular, energy-efficient design, achieving PHIUS, LEED Platinum, and EPA certification by Catalyst Partners. The project incorporates a super-insulated double-stud wall envelope, triple-pane windows, a grid-tied 12.4 kW 30-panel solar array with backup batteries, a ducted mini-split heat pump system, and a conditioning ERV with a ground loop heat exchanger, boosting its efficiency by 15%. The project utilizes nearly all cellulose insulation, helping to grow the circular economy, and conscious building practices resulted in minimal job site waste. This holistic approach to its design reduces energy consumption by 85% and allows it to operate entirely on clean solar power. Unique features like a curved stairwell, 2-story window walls, aging-in-place strategies, including preparations to install an elevator if ever needed, and computer-modeled solar array placement optimized performance, indoor/outdoor connections, and aesthetics, earned the home the USGBC West Michigan’s Innovative Project of the Year Award.

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SCHEDULE YOUR IN-PERSON TOUR OCTOBER 3-5, Richland, Michigan

Schedule IN-PERSON TOUR –> Passive House Net Zero | National Solar Tour

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GreenHome Institute Virtual Home Tours – Pitsfield LEED Gold Zero Energy

Take a quick tour with GHI member Paul Abueva of an energy-efficient, accessible home in Southwest Michigan. This exceptional LEED Gold Zero Energy New Construction home was designed to be affordable, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly. The ranch-style design features ICF walls, advanced air sealing, and a smart HVAC system for comfort and air quality. Eco-friendly touches include locally sourced hickory wood, water-saving fixtures, natural landscaping, and a high-efficiency soapstone fireplace. The home also features accessibility enhancements, including a zero-clearance entry and curbless showers.

VIRTUAL TOUR –> Pitsfield Tour LEED Gold Zero Energy New Construction Home

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Abueva Builders completes LEED Gold Certified Pitsfield Project!

This distinctive home features a unique shell design and was constructed using Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls atop a Frost Protected Shallow Foundation (FPSF). By combining a highly insulated building envelope, a 6.5 kW solar array, and a Tulikivi soapstone fireplace, the home achieved net zero energy performance. Integrating a wood-burning stove within a Passive House-level airtight shell was a first for us—but the impressive results have made it a strong contender for future projects.

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Abueva Builders Awarded LEED Gold

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Framing begins on the Lakeside Net Zero Passive House!

Framing begins on the Lakeside Passive House! The architect referred to the design as a “symphony of circles” and its easy to see why.

The architect, Mark Miller, referred to the design as a “symphony of circles”. The round foundation will become the garage to the house; and with the installation of 2” of XPS insulation to the exterior of the walls and under the slab, we are creating a semi-conditioned space that will be comfortable for more uses than just parking a car. The framed core of the house will house the stairs, one of the two small mechanical rooms, and a shaft for a future elevator. It gets the same treatment as all the other exterior walls – 14” thick double stud walls that result in an R-54 insulated assembly.

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Abueva Builders completes LEED Gold Certified Project in Portage, MI

LEED Gold Certified House

Congratulations to David Bauer and Barbara Sneath on completion of their new LEED Gold Home! Over the past year we have worked to make their dreams of an environmentally conscious, energy efficient, universally designed home a reality. With only three other homes in Southwest Michigan having achieved the gold certification, the homeowners can take pride in knowing their new home is one of the greenest in the area!

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Abueva Builders presents “The Abueva Family Home – A Builder’s Proof of Concept”

Join us March 28th at 5:30 pm for our presentation at Louie’s Bar and Grille! The presentation is part of a series organized by the Southwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum called Green Drinks. Every month they invite a speaker to make an informal presentation about various environmental topics, and they have invited us to share our story about building one of Soutwest Michigan’s greenest homes.

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Abueva Builders completes southwest Michigan’s first LEED gold certified single family home!

Leed Gold Certified Single Family Home

We are proud to announce the completion of our first home!  Our Sandy Cove project was registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is currently being processed for certification at the gold level!  While the LEED for Homes program has been strongly embraced in other areas of the state,  ours is one of the first in the greater Kalamazoo Area and the first to receive the gold level certification.

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