Why FSC Was Important to This Project
The Aitkin House focused on FSC-certified wood as a sustainable material as part of Dovetail’s Eco-Affordable Housing Program. The program is aimed at meeting local housing needs while incorporating green building practices, including a focus on sustainable and local materials. The primary objectives of the program are to create environmental awareness, demonstrate the use of housing as an economic development tool for rural communities, and facilitate the process of obtaining and constructing eco-affordable housing so that it may be replicated easily. Besides using FSC-certified wood, the house also featured solar passive design, an energy-efficient in-floor radiant heating system, energy-efficient appliances and fixtures, and a small floor plan that minimized site disturbance and impact.
Aitkin County, Minnesota, had a need for housing and similarly a demonstrated market interest in FSC. In 1997, nearly 223,000 acres in Aitkin County became FSC certified, (among the first public lands in the nation) and in 2003, local businesses joined together to form a group chain-of-custody program for the purpose of selling their FSC-certified products to a larger market. Dovetail Partners joined with Aitkin County Land Department to try to meet these needs. What was created was a project that promotes environmental sustainability, stimulates local economic development, and provides information and education to vendors and the general public about green building and sustainable wood certification.
Dovetail’s founders have been involved with FSC certification from the beginning and believe it is a significant tool for managing the economic, environmental, and social aspects of forestry. Not only did the Aitkin House use FSC-certified wood products, but it maximized environmental sustainability by choosing local FSC-certified wood products. Nearly all of the finished wood materials were FSC-certified and came from within 80 miles of the project, and all of the vendors and suppliers used were local. The area has mostly hardwoods which is why the project focused on finished materials instead of structural wood products. A basswood ceiling was added as a tribute to the local wood in the area and to create awareness for that local sustainable building product.
Aitkin is located in north central Minnesota, about 120 miles north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The house is located within the city limits and is connected to city water and sewer. The house sold in 2007, after being on the market for only 3 days.
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Project Name: The Aitkin House
Location:Aitkin, MN
Building Type: Single-family Residence
Square Footage: 1,300 sq ft
Owner: Original owner was Dovetail Partners, Inc.; currently privately owned.
Architect:Talor Building Systems
Use of FSC-certified Wood
FLOORING: FSC-certified burr oak, birch and maple
STAIRS: FSC-certified birch
MILLWORK: FSC-certified maple
SIDING: FSC-certified white pine
CABINETS: FSC-certified birch
CEILING: FSC-certified basswood |
