and consider this:
These days, everyone's talking about Green Building, everyone says they want a Green house, and everyone knows they should have a Green home, so why are we still building houses the same way we have been for over a hundred years?
The problem is that very few people -or builders- really know or understand what Green Building is, or how they can actually have a Green home, and for about the same price as a normal one.
First, we need to define a few terms, some of which you are familiar with, and some that may be new to you:
What is "Green Building"? Almost everyone has heard of this one, but just to be sure, here is a brief definition. In order for a structure to be considered Green, there are several criteria that need to be met. First, the structure needs to have a relatively small carbon footprint. This means that the construction of the building should use as few nonrenewable resources (such as wood, water, oil based plastics, etc) as possible. Energy consumption and waste materials should also be kept to a minimum during the construction of the building and manufacturing of the materials.
Second, daily operation of the building should also minimize the use of these and other resources, as well as energy. This can be accomplished by using energy-efficient building materials, water-saving plumbing fixtures, insulated windows, non combustible heating fuel, natural and energy-efficient lighting, etc.
Third, a Green building must provide a healthy environment for the occupants, by improving air and water quality and keeping the indoor temperature fairly constant for the life of the building. This also can be done with the use of the right building materials, fixtures, and fuel sources.
The goal is to reduce pollution and conserve energy and our natural resources, and to improve the environment, or at least reduce the negative impact we have on it.
What is "Universal Design"? This may be new to you. Universal Design (also known as "Transgenerational Design") is planning a structure in advance for the occupants' changing needs as they have children, become older or disabled, or just want to improve the simplicity and quality of life.
What is "High-Performance Construction"? High-Performance Construction includes all aspects of both Green Building and Universal Design, plus it provides a structure that is more rugged, requires less maintenance, is more comfortable and quiet, and will withstand damage from such occurrences as fire, wind, insect infestation, moisture, and even earthquakes. In other words, High-Performance Construction is Green Building and Universal Design, and then some, so from this point on we will only be talking about High-Performance Construction.
This is is why RiverBend Green Home was founded. Our mission is to help you build your next home using High-Performance materials and features, and finish with a much better-built home, but still in the same style and price range that you were planning on building originally.
Why should you talk to us before going to a builder? No matter what builder you may choose, you are limiting your options to those that they use and with which they are familiar, regardless of how Green they may (or may not) be. This is true in all aspects of home construction. Every builder has strong and weak points, whether we're talking about High-Performance or just the overall style or features of a house. No matter how good the builder, they can't offer carte Blanche on every aspect of the house.
What we do: This is where we come in. We will match your needs to the correct High-Performance solutions and the appropriate builders and subcontractors. Think of us as a part of your team, focused on helping you build the best home in your price range. If you have a builder that you want or need to work with, we will be happy to work with them. We will introduce you to product suppliers and subcontractors if your builder is hesitant to use the newer technologies. Our goal is to eventually get all builders to automatically think High-Performance first when building a house, but for now that's why we are here.
What we are: consultants to help you become fully informed of your High-Performance options, and then help you choose the right ones.
What we aren't: builders or contractors who are "stuck" on a traditional way of doing things instead of being open to new ideas and technologies.
