Green Building… Is it for you?

"Green" building, in its various forms, has been around for many years and is becoming increasingly popular as we all become more keenly aware of our limited natural resources and growing health problems.
NAHB LogoThe David Smith Group is a Certified Green Professional and Energy Star Partner and welcomes the opportunity to talk with clients about the many benefits of green building. We enjoy sharing information about green construction techniques, materials, and appliances with our custom-build clients and want them to be as informed as possible with regard to the benefits as well as the costs of green.
Indoor Air Quality Matters
Air Quality Photo
Did you know asthma is the number one reason for absenteeism in our public school systems? And poor air quality inside our buildings is one of the primary causes of asthma . With many Americans, including children, now spending as much as 92% of their time indoors, the benefits of Green make more sense than ever.
Just How Green?
There are literally thousands of ways to make a home "greener" and just how green to build a home can be a very personal decision. Whether it's advanced framing or insulation, more efficient heating and air conditioning, use of reclaimed materials, sealed crawl space, or a floor plan that makes better use of the sun's energy, we'll help you with everything you need to know to make the right decisions.
We want our clients to understand that while green technology, materials and building techniques have seen drastic improvements, even today there may still be some trade-offs, both economically and aesthetically.
Energy Star Partner
Energy Star LogoWhile some green decisions may require serious deliberation, others do not. Most everyone wants an energy-efficient home and the best way to make certain you achieve this is by using an Energy Star builder. The David Smith Group is a recognized Energy Star partner.
Just as the Energy Star label on an appliance indicates you're getting an energy efficient appliance, a builder with Energy Star certification means you're dealing with a builder who meets the stringent energy efficiency standards set for home construction.
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR include four "must have" features behind the walls that will make you more comfortable, reduce utility bills, and help protect the environment.
  • 1. Air sealing and insulation that works
  • 2. Heating & air conditioning ducts that don't leak
  • 3. Advanced windows for comfort
  • 4. Independent testing and inspection to ensure quality construction
Most builders will tell you that they build energy-efficient homes. But builders whose homes earn the ENERGY STAR back up their claims. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are inspected and tested by an independent Home Energy Rater to meet EPA's new and more rigorous guidelines for energy efficiency.
Go Green?
Green construction is not just for homeowners tired of facing huge utility bills, and it's not just for those with asthma, allergies, and breathing problems. It's for anyone concerned about improving our stewardship of natural resources. It's about reducing waste and pollution, and improving what's left of our environment.
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I feel good about building a home that both conserves energy and provides cleaner air for my family.

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Green Building is defined by Wikipedia as the outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use (energy, water, and materials) while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.