Ribbon Cutting - August 13, 2010 - 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wisconsin Trend Home™ 2010 will be held Friday, August 13, 2010. Following the ceremony, guests may tour the home and have the opportunity to speak with the trade contractors and suppliers who contributed “green” products and services to the project. The event will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the official ceremony kicking off at 3:45 p.m. at 1464 Plains Ave., Neenah (Liberty Heights Subdivision, off of County Trunk G).

The Wisconsin Trend Home has been constructed to the ANSI-approved National Green Building Standard. To date, just eight homes in the state of Wisconsin have been certified to this standard, including one previously built by the Trend Home’s general contractor, Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes, Appleton. Certification comes from third-party verifies through the NAHB Research Center.

The ANSI approval of the National Green Building Standard signifies it as the standard for green home building construction practices. Homes built to this standard conform to higher standards and testing by third parties ensures the homes are built and operate in a manner that is consistent with the standard. The Wisconsin Trend Home™ 2010 is a project of the 501(c)(3) Wisconsin Builders Foundation, created to raise awareness and provide educational opportunities surrounding green building techniques.

Press Release

Ribbon Cutting article in Appleton Post-Crescent

"Behind the Walls" offered insider view of advanced construction techniques

On June 4 and 5, 2010 the Wisconsin Trend Home™ 2010 was open to contractors as well as the general public for viewing the home before the walls were installed. General contractor Ed Schmidt, CGB, CAPS, CGP of Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes was on hand along with subcontractors and suppliers to answer questions about the advanced construction techniques and materials utilized in the Trend Home™

The Wisconsin Trend Home is being construction to the ANSI-approved National Green Building Standard. To date, just seven homes in the state of Wisconsin have been certified to this standard, including one previously built by the Trend Home's general contractor, Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes, Appleton. Certification comes from third-party verifies through the NAHB Research Center.

Behind the Walls release here (63kb pdf file)

Informational session highlights Code-Better-Trend practices

On Thursday, May 20, more than 20 building industry professionals and interested others gathered at the Valley Home Builders Association (VHBA) Member Center in Appleton to learn how a home’s efficiency can be improved as its building practices are improved. Comparisons were shown between a home built to Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code and the same home built to the better standards that most VHBA members employ. Further comparisons were shown between the better standards and the same home built to the standards that will be in the Wisconsin Trend Home ™ 2010.

Even before geothermal and photovoltaic elements are included (they are planned for the WI Trend Home, but not part of the presentation), savings building to “trend” are evident:

Code Better Trend Report here (220kb pdf file)

Ground Broken for WI Trend Home on April 15

At 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010, ground was broken for the Wisconsin Builders Foundation’s Wisconsin Trend Home™. Led by WBA Foundation President Leon Church, Sweetwood Builders, Neenah, shovels took to the dirt, ceremoniously wielded by WBA President Jim Kubasta, Classic Homes by Kuba, Oshkosh; Valley Home Builders Association (VHBA) President Mike Gibbons, GTS Construction, Appleton; VHBA member and Trend Home General Contractor Ed Schmidt, Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes, Appleton; VHBA member and Trend Home partner Jill Hendricks, Vision Realty & Development, Appleton (representing the Liberty Heights subdivision, Neenah, were the 2010 Trend Home is located); and prospective home owner Erin Deschane.

Ground Breaking Advisory here (45kb pdf file)

VHBA member company Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes named general contractor for 2010 WI Trend Home

The Wisconsin Builders Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in Madison and serving the residential construction industry statewide, selected Appleton-area builder Ed Schmidt, CGB, CAPS, CGP, of Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes, to serve as the general contractor for its 2010 Wisconsin Trend Home. This is a new home that will serve as an educational and research tool for housing professionals and for the general public regarding green building techniques. The home will be sold at fair market value and the proceeds donated to the WBA Foundation to fund future education and research projects for the benefit of the housing industry in Wisconsin.