What does it mean to be green? It seems that every person I talk to about green construction has a different take on what it means and how to achieve it. What I have determined is that it means being as careful and thoughtful about your choices of materials and methods of construction as you can be. For some that means using as little water as possible or eliminating storm water runoff that might pollute neighboring streams or waterways. For others it has to do with minimizing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) from the interior spaces of their homes, for still others it has to do with lowering the Carbon Footprint by reducing the dependence on electricity which comes largely from burning fossil fuels. For you it means something that I haven’t even touched on or some hybrid of the above mentioned ideas. The point is that conserving or working for change that betters the lives of you, your family, or your world is a good thing and something to strive for. What does matter is that change for the better, no matter how small or incremental, is still change in the positive direction. At Dan Guinn Homes we like positive changes, so we have been working on some this past month. Since our last newsletter we have become Energy Star Rated Builders. The little blue star that has been helping you choose things like better dishwashers and refrigerators for years can now help you build a better house.
An Energy Star house is different from the standard home in several ways. Some ways that they differ are better insulation that exceeds minimum requirement in the Building Code, tighter building envelopes to keep unconditioned air from penetrating the house, high efficiency windows and doors, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and of course, Energy Star rated appliances and lighting fixtures. The best part about the Energy Star ratings system is that your home is evaluated by an independent professional to confirm that it was built to Energy Star’s high standards.
Having an Energy Star rating for you home raises its resale value as well as gives you peace of mind that you have some part in making positive changes for your future and the futures of those around you. Let us show you how we can help you make those changes.
