We have all heard the buzz word “Green!” But do we truly understand what green building is or how green building can benefit you, the home owner? Many green projects viewed on HGTV or other luxury home programs only show how someone with a large bank account can “Live Green”. What about the other 95% of the country? Believe it or not, building green can be completed in an economical way that we can all afford. Frankly with the constant rising cost of energy we simply can’t afford not to build green. So, what does this really mean? We’ve outlined below the steps we take while designing and building your home to make green building affordable.
Site design principles such as home orientation to maximize passive solar heating and cooling, onsite storm water retention and infiltration features, and saving trees are some of the basic processes used in green home design and construction.
The most successful green homes start with considering the environment during the design phase. Most of the materials are selected at this time. Our resource efficient designs maximize function, optimize the use of natural resources, and reduce waste. Small steps like using engineered wood products can help optimize resources by using materials in which more of a tree is converted into structural lumber than conventional lumber. By reducing waste we reduce the cost and impact at the landfill.
Efficient energy consumption is by far the best way to lower the overall cost of operating your home. One of the largest costs of homeownership in our climate is heating and cooling. Our partnership with Mark Utz Heating and Cooling Company has made us a leader in Geo Thermal and efficient radiant heating methods. This is an area of your home where spending more will cost you less in the long run. Not only will a great HVAC system save energy, it will also keep your indoor air quality at the pinnacle of healthy levels. To assure the quality of the systems operation we study the building envelope and leave nothing to chance. Installing the proper insulation where needed, sealing voids and air infiltration points, and controlling humidity and moisture transfers ensure peak performance. Other methods we offer include low voltage lighting, tank-less water heaters, energy star windows and energy star appliances to name a few.
The average water use in today’s homes is slightly over 64 gallons a day. Implementing water conservation measures can reduce consumption to 45 gallons or less per day. Products such as water saving showerheads, duel flush toilets, and motion activated faucets can help to reduce the indoor use without cleaning out your wallet. Storm water management and drought resistant landscape choices will help prevent the waste of valuable water resources.
As we mentioned before the indoor air quality of your home is a major concern of ours. We take the idea further than just the HVAC and exhaust systems. The use of low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, formaldehyde free insulation, and formaldehyde free plywood are a few ways to improve every breathe you take inside your home.
Improper or inadequate maintenance can stunt our best efforts to create a green home for you. Not using an exhaust fan in a bathroom to remove moist air or not changing an air filter regularly are the most common home owner mistakes. We will provide you with all the operation manuals and suggestions in an easy to read format. We also are known for our extraordinary customer service should you need us again.
All of the methods and practices we use to design and construct your Green Home can benefit not only your health but also your wallet. Green Building will;
- Lower operating cost
- Increase comfort
- Improved environmental quality
- Enhanced durability
- Reduce maintenance
