Richard Rodi, president of ClearPoint Builders, Inc., Sustainable Design & Build Specialists, of Cranston, is on the path towards Platinum.

For the past three years he has been methodically reconstructing a 110-year-old home on the East Side of Providence, using LEED guidelines.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system devised by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design.

Education for the public, homeowners and those in the contracting and real estate business is at the core of LEED. To that end, LEED requires a month-long weekend educational open house opportunity for the public, with educational stations throughout the home, inside and out.

Since May 26 Rodi has opened the home for tours on Saturday and Sundays, and they will complete this coming weekend, June 16 and 17. The house is open at 10 a.m., for four hours each day.

The home is at 509 Wayland Avenue on the East Side of Providence, and in accordance with LEED regulations, even has its own website, www.509Wayland.com.

"We registered the project with LEED in June of 2015, with no time constraints, and began an adventure in the rebuilding of a 100-year old home to create the most energy efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly high-performance home on the East Side, which was obviously the big challenge,” said Rodi. “The quaint, Dutch Colonial, was built on a lot in that is known as Freeman Plat, the oldest neighborhood in Providence. Even choosing the home was in accordance with LEED guidelines, as it is not out in the country, but located in a densely developed community, with walking distance to all community services, open spaces and public transportation, all LEED ideals.”

Rodi will know this summer if the certification will reach his goal – that of Platinum.

LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, using a rating system for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods, all aiming to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.

What does Rodi say about this whole experience, after three years? 

"It's my passion. It will be my preference to always build this way, and my next venture is to pursue LEED WELL certification, which goes even deeper into lifestyle issues, owner education and other ways to live a truly sustainable, energy efficient, 'green' life, inside and outside of your home or office."

Tours are free and open to the public; no RSVP is needed. For more information go to 509wayland.com. To contact Richard Rodi, email ClearPointBuilders@gmail.com or call 301-4714.