Despite the Super Bowl smackdown received by the Indianapolis Colts last night, residents of Indiana have a good reason to celebrate: the state recently received its first LEED certified-Platinum single-family home, the highest designation for newly built green homes in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program.

 

Located outside of Indianapolis in the town of Franklin, the 2,000 square-foot, three-bedroom/two-bath abode was built by Castalia Homes for Mark and Sibylle Jennetts, a couple who decided they’d rather invest in their new home than cope with outrageous energy bills. The super energy-efficient home — it boasts only 3 percent air leakage — sports foam insulation, bamboo flooring, dual-flush toilets, EnergyStar appliances, a tankless water heater, low-VOC paints and finishes, a salt-free water softening system, and double-pane windows filled with argon gas. And because the structure is so incredibly airtight, a fresh air recovery system that circulates fresh air in and stale air out of the home has also been installed. The Jennetts also hope to eventually install a vertical wind turbine on their property.