Green, Greener or Greenest
Building “green” is the hottest topic in new home construction and the wave of the future. Everywhere and every day, from industry trade journals to Good Morning America, articles, discussions, demonstrations and introductions of green materials and methods abound.
The professionals at Connecticut Valley Homes can help you by defining green building terminology and introducing to you what is available. We will guide you to the Green, Greener or Greenest new home that suits you, your life style and your budget goals.
What is Green Building?
The four primary topical areas are Energy Efficiency, Resource Efficiency, Water Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality. Under each of these headings are a vast array of choices in methods and materials that can both reduce energy costs and save resources. You will find many of these choices are standard features at Connecticut Valley Homes. Others are available at little additional cost, while some are a substantially higher investment with long-term paybacks.
Energy Efficiency topical areas include:
- Building Envelope and Durability.
- Heating and Cooling Systems.
- Solar Heating and Cooling.
- Air and Water Distribution Systems.
- Lighting and Appliances.
Resource Efficiency include:
- Site Selection and Stewardship.
- Site Development and Design.
- Structural Envelope Strategies.
- Interior and Exterior Material Choices.
- Recycling Construction and Demolition Waste.
Water Efficiency considerations are:
- Indoor Conservation Practices.
- Outdoor Conservation Practices.
Indoor Air Quality topics are:
- Ventilation.
- Filtration.
- Radon Reduction Techniques.
Rating Systems And Programs
The two primary rating systems in Connecticut and Rhode Island are Energy Star and the NAHB Green Building Program. LEED for Homes is also available but used less often due to complexity of use and cost for verification.
Green certification programs rate individual building projects to determine if specific green standards are being met. The scoring is done by accumulating points from a menu of possible inclusions, methods and results. Customers can choose to either use the rating system for personal satisfaction, or take additional steps for certification. If an owner wishes actual certification of their home’s score, say to reach a measurable goal such as the National Association of Home Builder’s Bronze, Silver or Gold certification, an independent third-party “Accredited Verifier” must be engaged to certify the materials and methods used as well as the performance results. In either case, Connecticut Valley Homes can help clients score their project.
Modular Building is Inherently Green
Using building components that are manufactured efficiently in a plant will use less energy, make better use of resources and create less waste than site-built components. Modular construction takes this to a high level...which is why rating systems award green points to a Connecticut Valley modular home just because it’s modular.
Connecticut Valley Homes Standard is Energy Star Ready
Without adding or altering a single specification, all Connecticut Valley Homes are Energy Star Ready. Our standard material specifications and building methods meet or exceed the requirements for an Energy Star rating. If an owner wishes actual certification of their home’s score, an independent third-party “Accredited Verifier” must be engaged to certify the materials and methods used as well as the performance results.
Tax Credits
Federal and/or state tax credits are possible for variety of green building initiatives. As these are constantly evolving, we recommend consulting with your tax advisor when planning to seek these credits.
Our QualificationsSince committing to modular building methods at its founding in 1981, Connecticut Valley Homes (CVH) has been at the forefront of home building technology. CVH built their first home using geo-thermal heat way back in 1998 in Stamford, Connecticut. That type of heating was so new to CT at the time, the Stamford building department had no guidelines for inspecting the work so we aided them in creating a policy. As recently as 2008 Richard Wildermuth, president of CVH, was in the first Connecticut graduating class of the National Association of Homebuilder’s “Green Building for Professionals” and now holds their certification.
Your Home, Your Way
Here is what has worked so well for our customers over the years: offer many choices so people can customize their homes to their wishes, needs and budget; make complex, technical, jargon-filled information understandable; itemize choices by cost for clarity of choice and understanding. We bring that same system to green building so you get your home your way.
Narragansett Model: (toll free) (888) 217-8252 Fax: (860) 739-8141
