McStain Neighborhoods, a Louisville-based homebuilder, has completed its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, home in Stapleton. McStain was one of four Stapleton builders selected to participate in the program, also known as the LEED-H pilot program.

The LEED program, launched by the United States Green Building Council, encourages environmentally friendly and sustainable building techniques.

The home has 2,872 square feet and is priced at $621,562.

"The LEED home project is aligned with McStain’s idea of a holistic approach to sustainable building, rather than just relying on Energy Star standards which focus solely on the energy efficiency of the home," said Jeff Medanich, manager of building sciences at McStain. "However, the Energy Star checklist and the new Indoor Air Package checklist are both embedded in the LEED checklist in the Energy and Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality categories."

The LEED home guidelines contain specific categories with checklist items with varying levels of achievable points. The LEED categories are location and linkages, sustainable sites, indoor environment quality, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, homeowner awareness, and innovation and design.

The LEED home upgrades include improved moisture management, water conserving plumbing fixtures, water conserving landscape design including advanced irrigation controls, tank-less water heater, advanced framing, airtight drywall application, advanced air-sealing strategies, continuous garage ventilation, passive soil gas mitigation system, and ventilation during and after construction.

LEED homes are expected to reduce energy consumption by 45 percent.