What is Building Green?
Building green is a lifestyle choice that can help you save money, live a more healthier and comfortable life, while at the same time preserving the environment in which we live. It means being conscientious with energy conservation for now and future generations. Typically a green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient than a non-green home which can result in lower utility bills. One of the good things about building green is that it is not an “all or nothing” proposition. There are many levels of green building. Your home investment must be taken into consideration when determining how green to go. Better energy efficiency provides long term savings for the homeowner. There are 5 areas to Green Building which are:
- Energy Efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows, and energy efficient appliances and lighting.
- Water Conservation such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping.
- Resource Conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainably harvested lumber, and more durable products.
- Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergen materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Site design planning such as minimizing disruption, preserving open space, and considering the direction of sunlight and wind.
Why Build Green with Action Builders?
Mark and Diane Rovere recognize the importance of green building and earned their “Certified Green Professional” (CGP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As a CGP, we can explain to you what green building is and how we use products to build green. We can also work with you to determine which green features will work best with your home project and investment. Having this designation is another example of the emphasis Action Builders places on furthering their education by earning designations, attending classes, reading trade magazines, and attending trade shows. Taking continuing education classes and staying updated is part of the renewal process in maintaining the CGP designation. Action Builders is a committed Leader in Green Building. When you think “green,” think Action Builders Inc.!
Green Features We Offer
The list of green products that can be incorporated into a new custom home is absolutely endless. Of course, your home budget needs to be taken into consideration when deciding how green to go in your new home. The list below is some green products we have installed in our custom homes.<\br>
Passive radon systems Multi-function modular timer sprinkler system
Low-E windows Geo thermal
Low flow shower heads Reflective shingles
Low VOC HP subfloor, LVLs, and I-Joists Conditioned crawl space
Tech shield roof decking Conditioned attic space
Tankless water heaters Foam insulation (open and closed cell)
Indoor air quality fresh air exchange system Occupancy sensors
High efficiency heating & cooling system Compact florescent lighting
Blown fiberglass insulation Insulated garage doors
Low/No VOC paint Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
Energy Star appliances Hybrid Insulation
Low volume sprinkler heads
If you are interested in a green product and do not see it listed above, please contact us. If we are not already familiar with your product, we would be glad to research it and price it for your new custom home. We are always interested in learning about new green products being introduced.
How Does Green Building
Benefit My Family?
Your green home can be a more comfortable home with better airflow that makes it easer to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the home.
A green home can offer a healthier living environment thanks to better protection from outside pollutants and allergens. Most homes have dust but a green home can be equipped with central air conditioning and electrostatic dust filters.
Additional health benefits may be derived from the use of less toxic materials resulting in reduced off-gassing of chemicals.
Your green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient which can reduce your monthly utility bills.
Energy Star Certified Homes
& Tax Credit Advantages
To earn the energy star rating, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency established by the EPA. These homes include energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than a standard home.
The five areas that an Energy Star qualified home can include a variety of the following:
- effective insulation
- high-performance windows
- tight construction and ducts
- efficient heating & cooling equipment
- efficient products
For more information go to www.energystar.gov.
Each home Action Builders builds has the basics to qualify for Energy Star certifications. They can be 15% more energy efficient than a standard home with the potential to be 20-30% more efficient.
Our Green Showcase Home
Action Builders was selected to build the 2010 Showcase Home for the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association which was located in Midtowne subdivision in Huntsville, Alabama . This home was the first Showcase Home in North Alabama to be certified as a SILVER LEVEL GREEN HOME by the NAHB Research Center. The home also achieved an Energy Star rating. Green features in the home included 2 tankless Rinnai water heaters, 19-SEER HVAC system, conditioned crawl space and attic space, occupancy sensors, low-e windows, dual flush toilets, low volume sprinkler heads and multi-function modular timer sprinkler system, and Sealection 500 spray foam insulation, to name a few.
Download the Energy Star Certification
Incredible Insulation
I want to share with you something interesting that I discovered at the 2010 Showcase Home. As you know, the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association hosted the Spring Tour of Homes last weekend and this coming weekend from 1-5 p.m on June 11-12, 2010. We used Sealection 500 spray foam insulation in the exterior walls and rafters and put in a conditioned attic along with the conditioned crawl space. The local weather people were predicting 95+ degree temperatures during the Spring Tour of Homes which is HOT. Since I knew the conditioned attic was supposed to be cooler than the normal 130+ degrees on such a hot day, I decided to take a thermometer with me to the open house to see what it actually was. The home temperature was set at 74 degrees. In checking the attic temperature around 3 p.m. I was surprised to discover it was only 78 degrees….incredible!
This eventually helps the entire envelope of the home thus saving you money on your monthly electric bills and making the home more comfortable. Although the Sealection 500 insulation does cost more than blown insulation (and definitely is more than batts), if you plan on staying in your new home for 5-10 years or longer, you may recoup the additional cost in your savings on your monthly electric bills. If your new home budget does not allow you to use Sealection 500 insulation, a blown insulation along with using tech shield deck boards on your roof can also make a difference and provide you cost savings to your monthly electric bill. Call me at (256) 316-1438 if you want to discuss using this green product or any other green product out there.
Building green is a lifestyle choice that can help you save money, live a more healthier and comfortable life, while at the same time preserving the environment in which we live. It means being conscientious with energy conservation for now and future generations. Typically a green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient than a non-green home which can result in lower utility bills. One of the good things about building green is that it is not an “all or nothing” proposition. There are many levels of green building. Your home investment must be taken into consideration when determining how green to go. Better energy efficiency provides long term savings for the homeowner. There are 5 areas to Green Building which are:
- Energy Efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows, and energy efficient appliances and lighting.
- Water Conservation such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping.
- Resource Conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainably harvested lumber, and more durable products.
- Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergen materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Site design planning such as minimizing disruption, preserving open space, and considering the direction of sunlight and wind.
Mark and Diane Rovere recognize the importance of green building and earned their “Certified Green Professional” (CGP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As a CGP, we can explain to you what green building is and how we use products to build green. We can also work with you to determine which green features will work best with your home project and investment. Having this designation is another example of the emphasis Action Builders places on furthering their education by earning designations, attending classes, reading trade magazines, and attending trade shows. Taking continuing education classes and staying updated is part of the renewal process in maintaining the CGP designation. Action Builders is a committed Leader in Green Building. When you think “green,” think Action Builders Inc.!
Green Features We Offer
The list of green products that can be incorporated into a new custom home is absolutely endless. Of course, your home budget needs to be taken into consideration when deciding how green to go in your new home. The list below is some green products we have installed in our custom homes.<\br>
| Passive radon systems | Multi-function modular timer sprinkler system |
| Low-E windows | Geo thermal |
| Low flow shower heads | Reflective shingles |
| Low VOC HP subfloor, LVLs, and I-Joists | Conditioned crawl space |
| Tech shield roof decking | Conditioned attic space |
| Tankless water heaters | Foam insulation (open and closed cell) |
| Indoor air quality fresh air exchange system | Occupancy sensors |
| High efficiency heating & cooling system | Compact florescent lighting |
| Blown fiberglass insulation | Insulated garage doors |
| Low/No VOC paint | Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) |
| Energy Star appliances | Hybrid Insulation |
| Low volume sprinkler heads | |
If you are interested in a green product and do not see it listed above, please contact us. If we are not already familiar with your product, we would be glad to research it and price it for your new custom home. We are always interested in learning about new green products being introduced.
How Does Green Building
Benefit My Family?
Your green home can be a more comfortable home with better airflow that makes it easer to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the home.
A green home can offer a healthier living environment thanks to better protection from outside pollutants and allergens. Most homes have dust but a green home can be equipped with central air conditioning and electrostatic dust filters.
Additional health benefits may be derived from the use of less toxic materials resulting in reduced off-gassing of chemicals.
Your green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient which can reduce your monthly utility bills.
Energy Star Certified Homes
& Tax Credit Advantages
To earn the energy star rating, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency established by the EPA. These homes include energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than a standard home.
The five areas that an Energy Star qualified home can include a variety of the following:
- effective insulation
- high-performance windows
- tight construction and ducts
- efficient heating & cooling equipment
- efficient products
For more information go to www.energystar.gov.
Each home Action Builders builds has the basics to qualify for Energy Star certifications. They can be 15% more energy efficient than a standard home with the potential to be 20-30% more efficient.
Our Green Showcase Home
Action Builders was selected to build the 2010 Showcase Home for the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association which was located in Midtowne subdivision in Huntsville, Alabama . This home was the first Showcase Home in North Alabama to be certified as a SILVER LEVEL GREEN HOME by the NAHB Research Center. The home also achieved an Energy Star rating. Green features in the home included 2 tankless Rinnai water heaters, 19-SEER HVAC system, conditioned crawl space and attic space, occupancy sensors, low-e windows, dual flush toilets, low volume sprinkler heads and multi-function modular timer sprinkler system, and Sealection 500 spray foam insulation, to name a few.
Download the Energy Star Certification
Incredible Insulation
I want to share with you something interesting that I discovered at the 2010 Showcase Home. As you know, the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association hosted the Spring Tour of Homes last weekend and this coming weekend from 1-5 p.m on June 11-12, 2010. We used Sealection 500 spray foam insulation in the exterior walls and rafters and put in a conditioned attic along with the conditioned crawl space. The local weather people were predicting 95+ degree temperatures during the Spring Tour of Homes which is HOT. Since I knew the conditioned attic was supposed to be cooler than the normal 130+ degrees on such a hot day, I decided to take a thermometer with me to the open house to see what it actually was. The home temperature was set at 74 degrees. In checking the attic temperature around 3 p.m. I was surprised to discover it was only 78 degrees….incredible!
This eventually helps the entire envelope of the home thus saving you money on your monthly electric bills and making the home more comfortable. Although the Sealection 500 insulation does cost more than blown insulation (and definitely is more than batts), if you plan on staying in your new home for 5-10 years or longer, you may recoup the additional cost in your savings on your monthly electric bills. If your new home budget does not allow you to use Sealection 500 insulation, a blown insulation along with using tech shield deck boards on your roof can also make a difference and provide you cost savings to your monthly electric bill. Call me at (256) 316-1438 if you want to discuss using this green product or any other green product out there.
I want to share with you something interesting that I discovered at the 2010 Showcase Home. As you know, the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association hosted the Spring Tour of Homes last weekend and this coming weekend from 1-5 p.m on June 11-12, 2010. We used Sealection 500 spray foam insulation in the exterior walls and rafters and put in a conditioned attic along with the conditioned crawl space. The local weather people were predicting 95+ degree temperatures during the Spring Tour of Homes which is HOT. Since I knew the conditioned attic was supposed to be cooler than the normal 130+ degrees on such a hot day, I decided to take a thermometer with me to the open house to see what it actually was. The home temperature was set at 74 degrees. In checking the attic temperature around 3 p.m. I was surprised to discover it was only 78 degrees….incredible!
This eventually helps the entire envelope of the home thus saving you money on your monthly electric bills and making the home more comfortable. Although the Sealection 500 insulation does cost more than blown insulation (and definitely is more than batts), if you plan on staying in your new home for 5-10 years or longer, you may recoup the additional cost in your savings on your monthly electric bills. If your new home budget does not allow you to use Sealection 500 insulation, a blown insulation along with using tech shield deck boards on your roof can also make a difference and provide you cost savings to your monthly electric bill. Call me at (256) 316-1438 if you want to discuss using this green product or any other green product out there.
