In an effort to help our members build green homes, we are now offering the Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home Program. This program is based on the 2008 National Green Building Standard(TM) and the HBA of Greater Columbia is the certifying body. This series of articles is intended to give builders more information on certifying in general and on our program. More information is at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com.
1. Make the commitment to build green. Regulations and codes are getting tougher every year. The 2006 IECC was adopted for South Carolina a couple of years ago, and we’re about to move to the 2009 IECC. Rest assured that we will one day go to the 2012 IECC and beyond. Deciding to build more energy efficient and High Performance homes now will save you and your trade partners a lot of time and effort when these practices become mandatory.
2. Why Certify? Building to a program – whether it’s the USGBC LEED for Homes, NAHB Green, EarthCraft House or our CHiP Home Program – takes a little extra effort on the part of the builder to accomplish. But having your home certified by a third party gives you credibility and your buyer peace of mind. Any one can say that their house is built a certain way, but with a certification, someone else is saying you built it that way. Liability is also a good reason for certifying your homes in a third party program. Misrepresentation of items in a home is easy to do, and can get you in a lot of trouble. Certifying in a program helps take away any questions as to how the home was built and what it contains. Get ahead of the mandates and start building better homes NOW.
3. Choosing a program. As we just mentioned, there are a lot of third-party green certification programs out there for you to choose from… and that’s a good thing! It means you can shop around and find the one that is best for you. But, to help you out some… when it comes to building to the program, they are all about the same. However, they are different when it comes to the fees charged to have access to the program and on a per-house basis. This is the reason we have developed our own, local program… we want our members to build green and spend the least amount of money doing so. Our program, the Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home Program beats the USGBC and NAHB per home certification fees by more than half.
The next article will lay out the five main points to building/remodeling green in a certification program.
Showing posts with label green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, December 8, 2011
BPI classes at a greatly reduced price
In partnership with the SC Energy Office - Midlands Technical College will offer Building Performance Institute [BPI] Weatherization/Energy Efficiency classes at a reduced price for a limited time.
They will be offering BPI Building Analyst classes in January 2012 at a per student costs of $500/student. List price for the class is $1620/student so this is an extremely good deal, but it is currently only available for the classes listed below. Funding is limited so registrations will be on a first come first serve basis. Please enroll today to reserve your seat.
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 9 – 15, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-28
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 16 - 22, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-29
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 23 - 29, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-30
All classes will be held at the Airport campus in the RSC Building. Classes will begin promptly at 8 AM – 5 PM M-F. You must also complete your 2 hour “one on one field exam” either in the evening or on Saturday/Sunday/or the following Monday.
You can enroll online here or by calling MTC Registration Dept. at 803-732-0432.
If you have any questions, please call John Leighty on at 803-466-4055 [c].
They will be offering BPI Building Analyst classes in January 2012 at a per student costs of $500/student. List price for the class is $1620/student so this is an extremely good deal, but it is currently only available for the classes listed below. Funding is limited so registrations will be on a first come first serve basis. Please enroll today to reserve your seat.
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 9 – 15, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-28
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 16 - 22, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-29
· BPI Building Analyst class, January 23 - 29, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-30
All classes will be held at the Airport campus in the RSC Building. Classes will begin promptly at 8 AM – 5 PM M-F. You must also complete your 2 hour “one on one field exam” either in the evening or on Saturday/Sunday/or the following Monday.
You can enroll online here or by calling MTC Registration Dept. at 803-732-0432.
If you have any questions, please call John Leighty on at 803-466-4055 [c].
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Green: The New Standard?
Greater Columbia Business Monthly magazine is looking at the state of real estate in our area in their July 2011 issue (now available). HBA President Wade McGuinn and Vice President Tony Thompson weigh in on the local market in this issue.
Another article takes a look at "green" residential construction in the Greater Columbia, SC area. Green Building Council of Greater Columbia Chairman Joseph Gilmore, past Chairman Mark Bostic, and members Thom Chumney and David Watkins all speak on their experiences with building and remodeling green. Check it out here.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Responsible Bathroom Water Conservation Tour 2011
Water Utilities are at the forefront of water conservation. We are ready to inform consumers, as well as plumbers, about wisely using the available supply of clean water. As a water customer, you can benefit from water conservation tips to save water, energy, and money in your own household.
Here's one way to do that: Attend this event! (Details below)
- Get info to save you money on purchasing water-efficient products
- See hands-on demonstrations featuring new technology
FREE water conserving showerhead with purchase of low flow toilet to first 25 attendees!
Join us at HD Supply on Monday, June 20 from 11a to 1:30p for this free event. Located in West Columbia at 1065 Sunset Blvd., W. Columbia, 29169.
Here's one way to do that: Attend this event! (Details below)
- Get info to save you money on purchasing water-efficient products
- See hands-on demonstrations featuring new technology
FREE water conserving showerhead with purchase of low flow toilet to first 25 attendees!
Join us at HD Supply on Monday, June 20 from 11a to 1:30p for this free event. Located in West Columbia at 1065 Sunset Blvd., W. Columbia, 29169.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
2011 Energy Expo and Fair Housing Event
Lexington & Richland Counties along with the City of Columbia present this free-to-attend event Friday, April 29 from 10a to 6p at the Saluda Shoals Park River Center. We'll be among the energy efficiency and demo exhibits and we're also giving a talk on green homes. Come on out and see us!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Nationally Recognized Solar Training Comes to South Carolina
Greener Product in association with Midwest Renewable Energy (MREA) has opened a solar training facility in Charleston, SC. Please see the attached news release for details. People looking to be training for the coming “green jobs” or others interested in expanding their knowledge in this growing field are welcomed to register.
With the recent announcement that “80% of the energy by 2035 will come from clear/renewable energy” and the new wind research facility in North Charleston, we believe that renewable energy training will be of considerable interest to the people of South Carolina.
We are very fortunate to have Mr. Clay Sterling, Education Director, MREA and one of America’s leading solar educators, lead the sessions. Clay is the only ISPQ-certified instructor in the country to hold certifications in both small wind and photovoltaic. Recently the IREC Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) recognized Clay’s accomplishment and commitment to excellence in renewable energy training by awarding him their prestigious Affiliated Instructor Certification in both small wind and photovoltaic technologies.
MREA, a non-profit established in 1990, is one of the Nation’s oldest and largest providers of solar, solar thermal and wind programs. Through their 38 NABCEP certified instructors they train over 2000 people a year.
The initial program will be presented March 7th and 8th in Charleston and lead to a Certified Solar Assessor accreditation. Click here to learn more and register for the program.
With the recent announcement that “80% of the energy by 2035 will come from clear/renewable energy” and the new wind research facility in North Charleston, we believe that renewable energy training will be of considerable interest to the people of South Carolina.
We are very fortunate to have Mr. Clay Sterling, Education Director, MREA and one of America’s leading solar educators, lead the sessions. Clay is the only ISPQ-certified instructor in the country to hold certifications in both small wind and photovoltaic. Recently the IREC Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) recognized Clay’s accomplishment and commitment to excellence in renewable energy training by awarding him their prestigious Affiliated Instructor Certification in both small wind and photovoltaic technologies.
MREA, a non-profit established in 1990, is one of the Nation’s oldest and largest providers of solar, solar thermal and wind programs. Through their 38 NABCEP certified instructors they train over 2000 people a year.
The initial program will be presented March 7th and 8th in Charleston and lead to a Certified Solar Assessor accreditation. Click here to learn more and register for the program.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Gentlemen - Grab Your Caulking Guns
A featured article in today's State newspaper business section, “Plan encourages home upgrades” says that the Electrical Cooperatives of South Carolina want to tie the cost of retrofitting homes to monthly utility bills. If approved, the Co-ops expect to retrofit 225,000 homes over the next 10 years at a cost of $750 million. This represents about 1 in 10 of all the homes in South Carolina.
The proposed Legislative Bill provides a huge opportunity to put a lot of people back to work, and help transform the "leaky sieve" of our older housing stock into energy efficient homes.
Read the story in The State newspaper here
See the Bill that would make this happen
The proposed Legislative Bill provides a huge opportunity to put a lot of people back to work, and help transform the "leaky sieve" of our older housing stock into energy efficient homes.
Read the story in The State newspaper here
See the Bill that would make this happen
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Actual Value of Green Retrofits and Remodels
This article was submitted by GBCGC member David Watkins. The article is by By Steve Hargreaves, staff writer for Yahoo! Finance, on Thursday February 4, 2010, 12:39 pm EST
This is a problem that the green-home movement faces on the whole... despite being the right thing to do for personal and environmental reasons, spending money to make a home more energy efficient does not make financial sense in the short-term. Home appraisals and the value they assign to energy-efficiency (or lack thereof) is the main offender.
Click here to read this article
This is a problem that the green-home movement faces on the whole... despite being the right thing to do for personal and environmental reasons, spending money to make a home more energy efficient does not make financial sense in the short-term. Home appraisals and the value they assign to energy-efficiency (or lack thereof) is the main offender.
Click here to read this article
Friday, January 8, 2010
When a home energy audit pays - Jan. 7, 2010
When a home energy audit pays - Jan. 7, 2010
This article appeared on CNN Money on January 7, 2010. Green Building Council Member Larry Newton forwarded it to our attention. Larry is an instructor of the Building Performance Institute (BPI) classes offered locally at Midlands Technical College. For more information on this story and BPI certification, please contact Larry Newton by e-mail at lnewton@sc.rr.com.
Posted using ShareThis
This article appeared on CNN Money on January 7, 2010. Green Building Council Member Larry Newton forwarded it to our attention. Larry is an instructor of the Building Performance Institute (BPI) classes offered locally at Midlands Technical College. For more information on this story and BPI certification, please contact Larry Newton by e-mail at lnewton@sc.rr.com.
Posted using ShareThis
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Green Not Always an Easy Sell to Skeptical Consumers
- This is a portion of an article from the June 22 issue of Nation's Building News Online. See the full article here.
Although “green” is now very much in the nation’s vernacular, green builders should not assume that consumers are sold on sustainability, Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, told the NAHB National Green Building Conference last month in Dallas.
Shelton said that prospective buyers of green homes are more concerned about what sustainable features will do to improve their lives than to save the planet, and at a time when the state of the economy is the leading concern, consumers are looking to save money on energy but also to avoid paying some of the higher prices they associate with green.
Education is key to motivating mainstream consumers to make sustainable choices, she said, and the trick is to provide information that doesn’t overwhelm them.
Armchair Environmentalists
Green builders need to know what they’re up against, and Shelton said that they can use data such as findings from her company’s surveys and focus groups to talk to customers about what they really care about.
For instance, one of her surveys found that 96% of the public doesn’t know that electricity is bad for the environment; two-thirds don’t know that electricity is generated by burning coal. A small majority correctly identifies coal-fired electrical generation as the leading cause of global warming; most think it’s traffic.
“Consumers know enough about green to get them through a cocktail party conversation,” Shelton said.
More than half of those surveyed agreed that it’s important to have a green house, but only about a third could name a green home feature.
“People say one thing and do another,” she said. “They are great armchair environmentalists, but not great at doing it themselves.”
While 49% of consumers say a company’s environmental policies are an important factor in making a decision to make a purchase, only 21% say they have actually bought a product this way and only 7% can name that product.
“There’s a fuzzy cloud around what’s green,” Shelton said, “and consumers are afraid of making the wrong decision. When they don’t know what to do, they do nothing.”
- This is a portion of an article from the June 22 issue of Nation's Building News Online. See the full article here.
Although “green” is now very much in the nation’s vernacular, green builders should not assume that consumers are sold on sustainability, Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, told the NAHB National Green Building Conference last month in Dallas.
Shelton said that prospective buyers of green homes are more concerned about what sustainable features will do to improve their lives than to save the planet, and at a time when the state of the economy is the leading concern, consumers are looking to save money on energy but also to avoid paying some of the higher prices they associate with green.
Education is key to motivating mainstream consumers to make sustainable choices, she said, and the trick is to provide information that doesn’t overwhelm them.
Armchair Environmentalists
Green builders need to know what they’re up against, and Shelton said that they can use data such as findings from her company’s surveys and focus groups to talk to customers about what they really care about.
For instance, one of her surveys found that 96% of the public doesn’t know that electricity is bad for the environment; two-thirds don’t know that electricity is generated by burning coal. A small majority correctly identifies coal-fired electrical generation as the leading cause of global warming; most think it’s traffic.
“Consumers know enough about green to get them through a cocktail party conversation,” Shelton said.
More than half of those surveyed agreed that it’s important to have a green house, but only about a third could name a green home feature.
“People say one thing and do another,” she said. “They are great armchair environmentalists, but not great at doing it themselves.”
While 49% of consumers say a company’s environmental policies are an important factor in making a decision to make a purchase, only 21% say they have actually bought a product this way and only 7% can name that product.
“There’s a fuzzy cloud around what’s green,” Shelton said, “and consumers are afraid of making the wrong decision. When they don’t know what to do, they do nothing.”
- This is a portion of an article from the June 22 issue of Nation's Building News Online. See the full article here.
Monday, June 22, 2009
How much does it cost to build a Green Home?
This is a very popular question with a complicated answer. The situation depends on what the customer is looking for. First, you should determine what level of Green is right for you. The best way to do that is to figure out your goals in these six categories of Green.
- Lot Design – Do you want to purchase a lot that takes full advantage of Green aspects or is lot selection less of a priority?
- Resources – Are you interested in using only sustainable, recycled, and renewable materials that are designed in the most efficient way or do you prefer using only a few of these practices and products in the home you’ve selected?
- Energy – Do you want to use every possible method to make your home as energy efficient as possible, including the use of solar energy to generate energy, or would you rather use methods that give the best results for a smaller initial investment?
- Water – Do you want to reduce water usage, reuse water where possible, and capture rainwater for irrigation, or do you want to utilize low-flow fixtures and other economical choices, such as a centrally located water heater?
- Air Quality – How much of a priority are filter systems and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) which help reduce chemicals and allergens?
- Operation, Maintenance, Education – How involved would you like to be in the operation of your new home – are you looking for a home that is both economical and low-maintenance or are you looking to build a system that uses the best of technology and design to reduce your carbon footprint?
The next step is to determine the type of builder to use. Are you interested in a builder that has the education and experience to work directly with you to achieve the level of Green you desire or a builder who uses the Green label simply to charge more for a home by meeting only the basic, minimum requirements.
Paradime Construction, Inc. is set up to build Green as a standard but some minimum eco-friendly steps do cost more. For example, the Green verification process will add to the cost of the home. Energy efficient windows cost more than those of standard builders’ grade. These products and techniques do increase the price of turning a starter home into a Green Home.
The bottom line is that the cost really depends on the level of Green desired, in both the design and construction costs of your home. As a base guideline, a home that costs more than $250k would not see much of an increase to build to minimum Green standards. For a home in the lower price ranges, it may cost anywhere from $5k to $7k above the base price to bring it up to such standards. Obviously, the sky is the limit and there are many products on the market now that, while environmentally-friendly, can greatly increase the cost of Green Home construction. You can even add solar products and become much more energy-independent for the right price.
Paradime Construction, Inc. works with each of its clients to determine exactly which level of Green is both comfortable and cost-effective. The main goal is to have a home that performs better, uses today’s technology to balance the costs, and achieves the level of eco-impact our clients want.
- Submitted by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc.
- Lot Design – Do you want to purchase a lot that takes full advantage of Green aspects or is lot selection less of a priority?
- Resources – Are you interested in using only sustainable, recycled, and renewable materials that are designed in the most efficient way or do you prefer using only a few of these practices and products in the home you’ve selected?
- Energy – Do you want to use every possible method to make your home as energy efficient as possible, including the use of solar energy to generate energy, or would you rather use methods that give the best results for a smaller initial investment?
- Water – Do you want to reduce water usage, reuse water where possible, and capture rainwater for irrigation, or do you want to utilize low-flow fixtures and other economical choices, such as a centrally located water heater?
- Air Quality – How much of a priority are filter systems and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) which help reduce chemicals and allergens?
- Operation, Maintenance, Education – How involved would you like to be in the operation of your new home – are you looking for a home that is both economical and low-maintenance or are you looking to build a system that uses the best of technology and design to reduce your carbon footprint?
The next step is to determine the type of builder to use. Are you interested in a builder that has the education and experience to work directly with you to achieve the level of Green you desire or a builder who uses the Green label simply to charge more for a home by meeting only the basic, minimum requirements.
Paradime Construction, Inc. is set up to build Green as a standard but some minimum eco-friendly steps do cost more. For example, the Green verification process will add to the cost of the home. Energy efficient windows cost more than those of standard builders’ grade. These products and techniques do increase the price of turning a starter home into a Green Home.
The bottom line is that the cost really depends on the level of Green desired, in both the design and construction costs of your home. As a base guideline, a home that costs more than $250k would not see much of an increase to build to minimum Green standards. For a home in the lower price ranges, it may cost anywhere from $5k to $7k above the base price to bring it up to such standards. Obviously, the sky is the limit and there are many products on the market now that, while environmentally-friendly, can greatly increase the cost of Green Home construction. You can even add solar products and become much more energy-independent for the right price.
Paradime Construction, Inc. works with each of its clients to determine exactly which level of Green is both comfortable and cost-effective. The main goal is to have a home that performs better, uses today’s technology to balance the costs, and achieves the level of eco-impact our clients want.
- Submitted by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Set it to 78 degrees?? I think not!
I was reading the "10 Energy Efficency Tips" on our power company's website untill I got to number two:
"The best setting for your thermostat is 78. Each degree lower than that can significantly increase your cooling costs, especially in older homes with less thermal efficiency."
Had to stop right there. Geez what's wrong with this country anyway? Set my thermostat to 78 degrees? Why even have one? I don't know about you guys but if I set my thermostat to 78 degrees it would last until my wife got home then I'd be DEAD! This is Columbia not Texas! We don't have anything that even resembles dry heat. We've got the wet sticky kind...
They need to switch that tip to "crawl up in your attic and have a look at your ductwork, better yet have it tested." Do you know that 80% of homes have leaky ductwork? If it's over 10 years old it's not even sealed with mastic, just some old duct tape. Go feel around the joints and see if you can feel some leaks. I did. Man was that a surprise. Get some sealing mastic and get after it. Or you can call someone at the green council to test it, and fix it for you. Probably lots cheaper than all that money you're spending on your power bill.
That's the cool thing about green. You can build a new green home if you want, or you can green up the one you have. Energy isn't free anymore. It's not even cheap anymore. That said, there's no reason someone should suffer just to be able to pay the power bill. It's such a great feeling to realize that it's not me and my family wasting all that power, it's the house! And guess what guys, the house can be fixed!
- Submitted by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service - www.squareoneplans.com
"The best setting for your thermostat is 78. Each degree lower than that can significantly increase your cooling costs, especially in older homes with less thermal efficiency."
Had to stop right there. Geez what's wrong with this country anyway? Set my thermostat to 78 degrees? Why even have one? I don't know about you guys but if I set my thermostat to 78 degrees it would last until my wife got home then I'd be DEAD! This is Columbia not Texas! We don't have anything that even resembles dry heat. We've got the wet sticky kind...
They need to switch that tip to "crawl up in your attic and have a look at your ductwork, better yet have it tested." Do you know that 80% of homes have leaky ductwork? If it's over 10 years old it's not even sealed with mastic, just some old duct tape. Go feel around the joints and see if you can feel some leaks. I did. Man was that a surprise. Get some sealing mastic and get after it. Or you can call someone at the green council to test it, and fix it for you. Probably lots cheaper than all that money you're spending on your power bill.
That's the cool thing about green. You can build a new green home if you want, or you can green up the one you have. Energy isn't free anymore. It's not even cheap anymore. That said, there's no reason someone should suffer just to be able to pay the power bill. It's such a great feeling to realize that it's not me and my family wasting all that power, it's the house! And guess what guys, the house can be fixed!
- Submitted by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service - www.squareoneplans.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Think green for comfort, ecology and savings
Identify the areas in your home that are the major causes of energy loss and expense such as:
- Insulation defects – Missing, wet or insufficient insulation levels.
- Air infiltration – Exterior points that allow outside air to displace effectiveness.
- Exterior doors and windows – Insulation performance and seal effectiveness.
- HVAC duct leakage – Supply and return air leakage to and from the outside can reduce your systems performance and increase energy cost due to lost conditioned air that never enters your home.
Whether you are building, renovating, or considering a home purchase, investing in an energy audit allows you to make an informed decision that can not only save you money, but enhance the value and comfort of your home.
Utilizing state of the art equipment, we analyze the condition of the insulation in the exterior walls, attic and crawlspace of your home. In addition a air tightness test is performed on your home that produces the same effects that external winds generate. All tests are non destructive, do not require special preparations and can be performed with occupants in the home.
Combining the data from thermal imaging with the air tightness test, we generate a full report detailing the type and location of energy leaks. Documentation of this information about the home can make a significant impact in your negotiations, renovation plans or energy conservation plan.
Best of all, "An informed decision is one that you never regret."
- Submitted by Joseph Gilmore of Gilmore Consulting Services, LLC
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How Green Do You Want to Be?
This entry deals not with how green is green, but how green do you want to be? Green building and living means different things to different people. Some of the guys I work with regularly call it the "shades of green" discussion. For some guys cutting your power bills by two thirds is enough. Others are interested in the sustainable green discussion, knowing that their home will last for 100 years instead of 20.
Then there's less stuff to the landfill green, I take great pride that my new home sent almost nothing to the landfill in an industry that sends more to the landfill than almost any other. There are discussions on less water wasted green. This can be accomplished by a variety of means, more efficient devices, or by using water more than once, or saving water in the exterior areas of the residence. Lots of people realize that a green home can be a healthier home for the occupants because of measures taken by the builder to keep harmful chemicals removed from materials used to build the home. And then there are those that take certain pride that through the way they construct and live in their homes that they are playing a role in saving the planet.
- Contributed by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service. Mark is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia. See more entries from Mark at his blog.
Then there's less stuff to the landfill green, I take great pride that my new home sent almost nothing to the landfill in an industry that sends more to the landfill than almost any other. There are discussions on less water wasted green. This can be accomplished by a variety of means, more efficient devices, or by using water more than once, or saving water in the exterior areas of the residence. Lots of people realize that a green home can be a healthier home for the occupants because of measures taken by the builder to keep harmful chemicals removed from materials used to build the home. And then there are those that take certain pride that through the way they construct and live in their homes that they are playing a role in saving the planet.
- Contributed by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service. Mark is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia. See more entries from Mark at his blog.
Why does Paradime Construction, Inc. build Green Homes?
The initial driving force behind our interest in building Green Homes was purely economic. For our customers, paying a large utility bill just didn’t make sense. One way to cut down on these bills was to build more efficiently. This also saved on the overall cost of construction. Through “value-engineering” (an early form of Green design) and focusing on building a well-insulated home, the customer saved money up front and continued to see these savings throughout the life of the home. Paradime Construction, Inc. has always used “value-engineering” principals as both the designer and the builder. Through our years of experience in both fields, we are able to save our clients money right from the start, beginning with our design process. Also, by utilizing resources that use less waste and more renewable products whenever possible, significant savings can be seen in both construction costs and home maintenance expenses.
With the introduction of the approved standards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Green Homes were clearly defined and all aspects that go into their design and construction are now measurable and verifiable by qualified third parties. For Paradime Construction, Inc., implementation of this program was both logical and simple, as we were already using many of these techniques in several aspects of our business, and they can now be verified by a third party and receive the seal of approval from the home-building industry.
There are varying degrees of Green when it comes to new homes. You can achieve both a well designed and energy-efficient home with small but deliberate steps. There is also the extreme option of an off-the-grid home that provides its own energy. Most Green Homes fall into the middle of these categories. People want Green Homes for various reasons and that is why these programs allow the homebuyer to customize the level of Green they are looking for in their new home.
Paradime Construction, Inc. is pleased to provide these services to our clients. Planet Earth has only a finite amount of natural resources. Through Green design and construction, today’s homes can do their part to conserve both energy and resources. At Paradime Construction, Inc., new construction is the perfect place to take advantage of the ever changing technology and products that allow our Green Homes to outperform other standard homes, easing the impact on both the wallet and the environment.
- Contributed by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc. Stan is an Executive Committee Member of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia.
With the introduction of the approved standards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Green Homes were clearly defined and all aspects that go into their design and construction are now measurable and verifiable by qualified third parties. For Paradime Construction, Inc., implementation of this program was both logical and simple, as we were already using many of these techniques in several aspects of our business, and they can now be verified by a third party and receive the seal of approval from the home-building industry.
There are varying degrees of Green when it comes to new homes. You can achieve both a well designed and energy-efficient home with small but deliberate steps. There is also the extreme option of an off-the-grid home that provides its own energy. Most Green Homes fall into the middle of these categories. People want Green Homes for various reasons and that is why these programs allow the homebuyer to customize the level of Green they are looking for in their new home.
Paradime Construction, Inc. is pleased to provide these services to our clients. Planet Earth has only a finite amount of natural resources. Through Green design and construction, today’s homes can do their part to conserve both energy and resources. At Paradime Construction, Inc., new construction is the perfect place to take advantage of the ever changing technology and products that allow our Green Homes to outperform other standard homes, easing the impact on both the wallet and the environment.
- Contributed by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc. Stan is an Executive Committee Member of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia.
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