by Sean | Jul 25, 2013 | Building Green, Green Building
Green building, where new homes are built using materials that conserve energy and environmental resources, is one of the fastest-growing segments of the home building industry today. But for the owners of the millions of existing homes in the United States, remodeling is the only way to incorporate green.
NAHB Remodelers offers the following suggestions to home owners who want to increase their home’s efficiency, decrease costs, and take advantage of the other benefits that green offers:
1. Install maximum insulation.
Forty percent of the energy consumed in a typical house goes to heating and cooling. Adding insulation is an easy way to increase efficiency. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat flow, known as “R-value.” The higher the R-value, the more effectively the insulation resists heat flow. Adding insulation will help save energy costs, increase comfort by better controlling temperature, and improve indoor air quality by eliminating gaps through which dirt, dust, and other impurities can enter.
2. Install high-efficiency windows.
Read More
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!
by Sean | Apr 30, 2013 | Building Green, Energy Efficiencies, Energy Efficient, Green Building
Today’s home owners and buyers are looking for ways to incorporate home technologies that increase the long-term value of their house but also provide convenience, safety and comfort. Energy management is a highly-desired feature in both newly-built and existing homes, along with multi-zone heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and lighting controls. Not only are these features easy-to-use, but they also provide energy-efficiency.
By incorporating the following technologies, home owners can save money on their utility bills:
- Automated HVAC systems can maintain a more energy-efficient temperature while the home owners are away at work, but switch to a more comfortable temperature prior to their arrival home. Zones can also be created to heat or cool only the areas most used by the occupants, keeping other areas, such as guest bedrooms, shut down until they are needed. They also can combat the problem of heat rising, keeping upper floors cooler in the summer without freezing the lower floors in a home. According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, programmable thermostats can save consumers about $180 per year in energy costs.
Read More
by Sean | Jan 4, 2013 | Craftsman Floor Plans, Floor Plans & Design Ideas
All of semi-custom plans are fully customizable to create your ONE OF A KIND home.
Price: Starting on your lot at $519,000
Contact: Sean Sullivan 828.669.4343
Features: Energy Star Certified, NC Green Built Home, Universally Designed plan
The Ava Simone is an alternate to the popular Alexandra model which affords a little extra entertainment area with one less bedroom. This home has a similar “feel” to our popular Rockcliff plan but in the Alexandra price point. This universally designed home that not only boasts a quaint craftsman architectural feel, but also incredibly energy efficient construction. This floor plan works well for families of all size and ages. Click “read more” to see more photos, floor plans and more!
Read More
by Sean | Nov 6, 2012 | Energy Efficiencies, Energy Efficient, News
What is a geothermal heat pump water heater?
Water heating is a thermodynamic process using an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. A geothermal water heater does exactly that… [it] utilizes the earth as a heat source to heat/cool water temperatures for your space. Your utility bills will usually cut in half by utilizing geo-thermal.
Heat Extraction
While it may be difficult to explain the technology of extracting heat from air, water or ground, the concept is easier to comprehend once one understands the principles of heat extraction and heat exchange. Consider the following:
- All matter contains heat. Zero degrees Kelvin/Rankine (minus 273 degrees Celsius/minus 460 degrees Farenheit) is absolute zero. This is a hypothetical, but fairly well substantiated, theory. There is nowhere in the universe where absolute zero exists. Temperatures in outer space have been found to be approximately three degrees Kelvin, which supports the theories developed by scientists.
- Cold is the absence of heat. Cold exists only in relative terms, and plays no part in scientific theory. While we all verbalize such expressions as “It is cold out”, to be technically correct we should say “the heat level outside is ten degrees farenheit” (which, admittedly, is pretty cold).
Read More
