by Sean | Sep 12, 2015 | Building Green, Energy Efficiencies, Energy Efficient, Green Building
Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) is a system of formwork for concrete that stays in place as permanent building insulation for energy-efficient, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls, floors, and roofs. The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with concrete.
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by Sean | Jul 8, 2014 | Energy Efficiencies, Energy Efficient
All of our homes are certified Energy Star vs 3. We hire a 3rd party, independent energy rater to help us at the very beginning of design to ensure we are building our clients a healthy, energy star, green home. Our Energy Rater continues to work with us throughout the building process. She is at this job today for a blower door test, along with the building inspector and the heating and cooling contractor. For more information about our standard of building green and the why please click here.

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by Sean | Oct 28, 2013 | News
For many American families, homeownership brings a sense of stability, accomplishment and peace of mind. Owning a home also means being responsible for its upkeep, in order to make sure it is a safe, comfortable sanctuary for your family to enjoy. As the winter months approach, the first measure of protection for a home against rain and snow in many parts of the country is the roof.
These tips from GAF (www.gaf.com), a New Jersey-based roofing manufacturer, offers advice to home owners for how to get your roof ready for the cold winter.
- Start off by checking the roof framing structure to make sure it is not compromised. Visually scan the roof for any sagging or uneven areas. If you do see an area that looks uneven, this may mean damage to the roof deck below the shingles.
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by Sean | Sep 26, 2013 | Building Green, Green Building, News
Managing moisture in and around your home is one of the most important things you can do to ensure its longevity, make it comfortable to live in, and prevent damage to its contents.
The National Association of Home Builders’ MyHome Press has published a handbook for home owners, “Home Maintenance Made Easy,” and the excerpt below contains helpful advice on how to control your home’s moisture.
High Performance Home Benefits
New high performance homes incorporate the latest building science principles to control temperature and humidity, maintain indoor air quality and increase energy efficiency. Although your home may not include all of the latest air-sealing, ventilation, and moisture-management technology, you will be more comfortable in your home and it will last longer it you do everything possible to manage moisture. This includes replacing filters, controlling humidity, and—when outside air is cool and dry—allowing fresh air into your home.
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by Sean | May 15, 2013 | Building Green, Green Building
Every home Living Stone builds is Energy Star Certified and receives a HERS rating. With this rating our clients also receive a projection of energy usage for their home. We are excited to announce that we can now offer an ENERGY USAGE GUARANTEE! The home warranty we offer through Bonded Builders has just announced a new program for our clients. Bonded Builder's Energy Guarantee is a unique way to enhance the HERS rating we secure on each home by making it just that, guaranteed that the house we deliver will actually preform as designed, without any risks! This program is designed to capture those buyers desiring such energy savings and also to attract potential buyers who are learning that energy-efficient homes is where they need to be focusing their efforts towards. The easiest way to describe the process would be if a home is slated to consume $1,000 of energy throughout a year, any amount over that is paid back to the homeowner at the end of each year, up to $1,000 (100% of the anticipated amount). For instance, if a home is slated to consume energy in the amount of $1,000 and after 1 year the homeowner used $1,200, we would send the homeowner a check for $200. Subsequent years are reset at the $1,000 and any overages are paid at the end of each year for 2 years!