INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND COMFORT

Advanced sealing techniques employed in construction

Benefit: It all begins with effectively sealing the building envelope. Foaming and caulking the areas of potential infiltration, coupled with spray foam insulation virtually eliminates the potential for drafts and makes the home more comfortable. Controlled ventilation allows for a smaller HVAC system to work at peak efficiency – reducing energy bills.

HVAC systems are engineered and sized for maximum efficiency

Benefit: Taking the whole house into consideration, the HVAC systems are designed to take advantage of the high performance building techniques utilized. Centrally located air handlers and ducts within the conditioned building envelope, minimized duct run lengths, extensive mastic sealing of all ducts, advanced filtration and dehumidification, and high efficiency units all contribute to properly sized HVAC systems. These systems are incredibly effective and efficient thereby leading to decreased utility costs.

Blower Door and Duct Blast testing

Benefit: Third party independent inspectors perform these tests as part of the LEED for Homes and Energy Star certification process. These tests determine how much heat the home loses to infiltration. The less air exchange there is, the more energy efficient the home. Testing results are used to determine how much make-up air or ventilation is needed to provide fresh air to occupants.

Sealed “Direct Vent” fireplaces with outside combustion air.
“Ventless” fireplaces have been proven to create excessive moisture in the home and poor indoor air quality and will not be allowed.

Benefit: Sealed combustion means that the air needed for the flame comes from the outside directly. Rather than using already conditioned air, sealing the fireplace is necessary to keep heat in. If unsealed, the fireplace requires two to three times more energy that it provides to the home simply exhausting heat from the house out the chimney. Gas fireplaces burn cleaner than burning wood and reduce outdoor air pollutants.

All range hoods are vented outside and bath fans exhausted thru wall or roof

Benefit: Unburned hydrocarbons can result from cooking. More than smells, these particles are not healthy to breathe. Range hoods that vent directly outside eliminate exposure to hydrocarbons, overheating, and excessive moisture in the kitchen. Exhausting bath fans thru exterior walls or roof vents rather than terminating at the soffit vent in the attic eliminates the reintroduction of moist air into the attic which can contribute to mold and mildew problems.

Paint and finishes contain minimal Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Benefit: Zero or low VOC paints are used to improve indoor air quality by reducing exposure to VOC’s.
Water Efficiency:

Dual flush toilets save water

Benefit: The latest dual flush toilets use half the water of regular toilets low volume dual flush toilets can save a typical family around 7,000 gallons of water annually.
Rain water collection.

Benefit: Each home will have the option to be fitted with gutters and downspouts to control water runoff. The elevated foundation design of each home allows for the ease of collecting rainwater in an above ground holding tank mounted under the home. This water can be used for various things such as yard and planting irrigation, gray water for clothes washing and toilet flushing.
Energy Efficiency:

Programmable thermostats

Benefit: During most of the spring, summer, and fall just moving air in a high performance house can keep it comfortable. The fan switch allows you to circulate air even on the warmest days making the home more comfortable without the expense of air conditioning. Using temperature setbacks to suit your schedule automatically saves energy during those times when no one is home or everyone is sleeping.

Utilize compact florescent bulbs (CFLs)

Benefit: Compact fluorescent light bulbs, used where applicable are four times more efficient than conventional bulbs and last 10 times longer. One bulb can save enough energy in its lifetime to drive a compact car coast to coast.

Energy Star appliances and light fixtures

Benefit: The dishwasher, range, fridge, and clothes washer and dryer are all Energy Star rated for energy efficiency. Energy Star rated lighting fixtures utilize compact fluorescent bulbs for energy savings.

Water heating

Benefit: Tankless water heaters save energy by providing an endless supply of hot water. Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more efficient than tank type water heaters.

Sustainability and Environmental Concerns:

Job site waste is minimized by using materials wisely

Benefit: The homes are designed with minimizing waste in mind. Using materials wisely, effectively increase the value of the homes by reducing waste and the impacts of its construction on landfills and the environment.

Finish Flooring

Benefit: Recycled content carpet pad is made from the waste of the carpet industry. Recycled content carpet made from recycled soda bottles reverts them from the landfill and results in carpet fibers more naturally stain resistant. Bamboo flooring is harvested from non-old growth trees and is very sustainable by its nature. Cork eliminates the need to harvest trees.

Durability:

Advanced building techniques

Benefit: This practice allows for the maximum strength from the frame while accommodating insulation in places that have conventionally been sources of heat loss, such as wall intersections.

Vinyl Windows

Benefit: Vinyl windows are energy efficient, very durable, and never need painting. Low-E glass increases the R-value by 50% and makes indoor spaces much more comfortable year round.

Engineered lumber products

Benefit: Engineered wood uses fast growing farm trees for cellulose fiber, and can use up to 90% of the potential fiber. Engineered lumber products require 50% less wood fiber to perform the same structural functions better.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

It’s a habit that begins with a commitment to making small differences in our environment. The key to recycling is to make it easy to do. Providing built in storage bins in kitchen cabinets, and providing each home with local municipal recycle bins is a starting point. Beyond recycling, reducing landfill waste can also occur through the use of appliances such as trash compactors. Why not just eliminate creating trash all together by reusing existing packaging and containers such as water bottles.