Environmental/Green Living Home Tour

VPIS sponsored a tour of 312 Van Buren Street with the hope of encouraging homewoners in Falls Church and the region to consider "green" options in home design. The home was open for a tour on Saturday, April 19th. The material below was provided to people as they toured the home and outdoor landscaping features. VPIS appreciates the willingness of the homeowners to make their home available for the tour and thanks them for providing this information.

Home Tour Brochure (PDF)

Here is the program VPIS offered:

Green Home Remodeling Tour to Benefit Tree Planting 
Saturday April 19th 11am-3pm
Falls Church, Virginia

Tour a green remodeled local home and meet the vendors!

Event Date:  Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 11am to 3pm. 
Address: 312 Van Buren Street Falls Church VA 22046 
Metro Accessible: East Falls Church Metro
Tickets: $10.00  (You'll also receive a membership to VPIS if you wish)
To request tickets or more Information:  vpisecotour@hotmail.com


A Northern Virginian home that has gone through a green remodel will be open for a tour on April 19th, just a few days before Earth Day.  The tour will support the Neighborhood Tree Program managed by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS).  

The tour will feature the vendors who participated in the remodeling to answer questions and provide information about the products and design. From metal roofs to soybean and denim insulation, permeable pavers to bamboo floors and cabinets, from solar panels to tankless water heaters, tour participants will have an opportunity to see products in the home and then talk with the vendors who provided them.  An informational brochure will be provided on all the products used in the home.

Green remodeling is gaining in popularity but putting it into action is a completely different story. "We toured a green home a few years ago but when we wanted to do our own home we went through a frustrating maze of resources and vendors.  Many times we would see a green remodeled home that was done by a celebrity who had unlimited resources, but that was not our case. We wanted to look at other factors such as long term costs, maintenance and reliability," says the homeowner.  

"As a father and a concerned citizen, I have been looking for real examples to show my children and neighbors how we can reduce our impact on the environment. This home shows us how we can change our city, and our lives, one room at a time," says Roger-Mark De Souza, Village Preservation and Improvement Society Board Member.

Green remodeling isn't just about buying green products, it involves simple design decisions such as southern facing windows for passive solar heating and natural light, or limiting room size to keep in warmth. "Working with such responsible and forward-thinking clients was a gratifying experience for our team.  Our goals for the project were united and a pleasure to achieve," says Jonas Carnemark, Carnemark Systems and Design.

"We wanted to inspire people and then make the resources readily available so that they can do some of these projects in their own home right away," says the homeowner. 

Founded in 1885, the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) is one of the oldest, largest, and most active nonprofit citizen volunteer organizations in the City of Falls Church. VPIS identifies preserves, and restores natural resources and educates the public on the issues affecting these resources.   More information about VPIS and the ecotour is available at VPIS.org.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be dedicated to support of the Neighborhood Tree Program (NTP).  VPIS started the Neighborhood Tree Program in 2000 in partnership with the City of Falls Church as a way to consistently focus on the replanting of street trees in Falls Church. Since its founding, NTP has planted over 400 trees in the City of Falls Church to reduce summer temperatures and storm water runoff, improve air quality and beautify neighborhoods.  The ticket price includes an optional VPIS membership for those that are not now members. 

Carnemark Systems and Design based in Bethesda offers design and build services for residential projects. 

Note to Editors: Jonas Carnemark is available for interviews on this and other green remodeling projects. Please contact Michael Stehlik at 301-657-5000 to arrange interviews.