Green, Healthy Home Builders

Green buildings conserve materials, land, and water, as well as improve indoor health and productivity. Green building promotes water conservation, low-impact use of land, day lighting, indoor air quality, less construction waste, and the use of natural, local, recycled materials.

The assumption that green costs more is not a long term truth. You will typically spend several percent more on a green home for more insulation, better doors and windows, etc., but the initial investment pays for itself in a few years. After the payback, you save every year on your utility bills.

There are seven components to consider when creating a green home:
1. Integrated Site Preparation & Building Design; 2. Resource Efficiency; 3. Energy Efficiency; 4. Water Efficiency/Conservation; 5. Indoor Air Quality; 6. Contractor, Home and Business Owner Education; and 7. Renewable Energy.

1.) Integrated Site Preparation and Building Design: All Green Homes should minimally impact their natural environment. Careful planning can reduce a buildings impact on vegetation, soil and water, and enhance the buildings long-term performance and profitability. Integrated site planning and building design can provide significant value to the home or business owner, our community, and the environment.

2.) Resource Efficiency: Optimize the use of building materials to reduce waste. Use locally produced materials and products whenever possible to reduce the environmental and economic cost of manufacturing and transporting foreign materials and products (buying locally also keeps our money in our communities). Use materials that are naturally sustainable, recycled, or have the ability to be recycled in the future. Recycle all construction waste.

3.) Energy Efficiency: This is the most quantifiable aspect of green building. Integrated design allows advance heat & cooling calculations to guarantee building performance. Super-insulation, proper placement and type of windows and doors, and energy efficient mechanical systems, appliances & lighting create an efficient, sustainable building. The design should also include natural lighting & passive solar gain if possible. Integrated design yields long-term utility bill savings and increased comfort, health and productivity for the home and business owner.

4.) Water Efficiency/Conservation: Availability of water varies from site to site, but there are always utility costs for its use. Water conservation and preservation should be included in your overall integrated design. Solar hot water, efficient low-flow toilets and showers, and super efficient water heaters and hot water storage reduce water usage and save money on your utilities. Using less water also reduces wastewater treatment costs.

5.) Indoor Air Quality: The super-insulation of a Green Home eliminates drafts and cold spots, making the home more comfortable. However, the air-tight construction of a Green Home makes it imperative to have passive and/or mechanical fresh air ventilation systems to regulate indoor air quality and insure a healthy living environment.

6.) Contractor, Home and Business Owner Education: Integrated design allows all the parties to see and understand the big picture; this can save thousands of dollars for the owner by preventing delays for redesign. The owner should have all schematics & diagrams, and a verbal walkthrough by builder/designer until they understand all systems.

7.) Renewable Energy: We will advise what the renewable options are for your site. We offer solar photovoltaic and solar hot water, wind power, ground and water source geothermal, micro-hydro, and wood furnaces/boilers; using one or more of these can lead you to energy independence.

The age of cheap fossil fuel is over - it’s time to invest in a clean, reliable, sustainable future.