From eco-friendly coffee cups to hybrid cars, no one can deny that Americans are jumping on the green bandwagon. But while some environmentally friendly lifestyle changes remain somewhat small—reusable grocery bags, anyone?—others are large. You’ve seen it with Energy Star appliances and windows, but what about environmentally certified homes? Here is where the passive house… Continue Reading
A recent Yahoo survey about the American consumer’s evolving view of housing provides interesting and strong evidence of a definite market trend. According to the Yahoo survey, energy efficiency is a top hallmark of the “dream home” – more consumers cited energy efficiency as a desirable attribute than any other feature. (The Yahoo survey can… Continue Reading
According to Buildipedia.com – here’s what to watch for in the next few months. Many of these trends will sound very familiar; some have evolved out of economic necessity, while others exist thanks to great advances in technology. Whether you already own a home or plan to build a new one, there’s bound to be… Continue Reading
Read this article posted on HousingZone.com conserving water without sacrificing design and performance! Now is the time for remodelers and designers to outfit their design/selection centers with high-efficiency plumbing products and to start advising their clients on how they can save water in their homes when undertaking kitchen and bathroom projects without sacrificing performance and… Continue Reading
4 projects that prove lavish homes don’t have to be wasteful! Many green-building advocates would say that “high-end green” is an oxymoron — that large, lavish custom homes can’t possibly be sustainable. While clients may not walk into a builder or architect’s office thinking green, much like other home buyers they’re still looking to reduce… Continue Reading
They say that if you want to know your future, you have to look to your past. While that may seem like outdated advice in an age of technological advances and a housing market that is particularly off kilter, a team at the University of Tennessee and Clayton Homes is using a historical building concept… Continue Reading
Green homes have many advantages-for builders and consumers as well as the environment. For builders, they offer the ability to differentiate your homes from others on the market, reduced callbacks, and the potential for increased profit. For consumers, they offer better indoor air quality, lower operating costs, reduced maintenance, and higher resale values. For the… Continue Reading
According to the Appraisal Institute, environmental features can add considerable value to a building. But in real estate, a higher perceived value often fails to translate into a higher appraised value, complicating financial transactions and limiting incentives for owners to invest in green. The Appraisal Institute (AI), the most prominent U.S. membership organization of appraisers,… Continue Reading
The “Buyer’s Guide” is an invaluable reference tool for finding which manufacturers make what in the world of building products as well as how to easily contact them. But if you’re searching for information specifically about green products, materials, technologies, and construction techniques, Builder Online and some of its Hanley Wood sister websites are rich… Continue Reading
It’s hard to predict what products, technology, and systems will be important in the next 10 years, but green experts say the looming energy crisis can give us a pretty good idea. The best way to predict the future is to create it. ~ Peter F. Drucker Sometimes all you have to do to see… Continue Reading