Posts Tagged ‘green building’

We’re Number 1! No, Seriously…

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

SEM leads the nation in NGBC Program certifications.

When we help builders, our top goal is to help them build high-quality new homes that are more energy efficient and have a smaller carbon footprint. Period. For a lot of builders, one of the incentives to build that type home is the certification that arrives at the end of construction. That piece of paper verifies to potential buyers that the home is as green as it claims to be, and has all the energy efficiency, water efficiency, durability, air quality and environmental benefits that are built into it. (more…)

Getting Focused: How To Start Your Green Retrofit

Friday, December 17th, 2010

When it comes to green homes, most people have heard of certifications like LEED for Homes or NAHB Green.  These programs are geared almost exclusively toward new construction. But most of us aren’t in the process of building a brand new home; and unless you’re doing some MAJOR gutting and renovating, there aren’t any building programs out there to certify an existing home as “green.”  That doesn’t necessarily mean you are stuck with what you’ve got, though.  Green retrofits are getting to be more common with people who want to improve the health, comfort or efficiency of a home that’s already been built. If you fall into that camp, then we hope this blog post will help you see how to approach this type of undertaking so you’re set up for success before you even get started.

The first thing I tell people who are considering a green retrofit is: (more…)

Laser Focus on Education Needed

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

As I learned about the NC Building Code Council vote last week not to increase ANY energy efficiency codes in North Carolina for years to come, at first I felt dismayed and defeated. I now feel like we have failed to educate.

The argument against code changes is fairly simple — but flawed. (more…)

What’s in a Name? Sorting Out Your Green Building Options

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

As part of my new job as a writer and multimedia specialist at SEM, I’m getting a crash course in all sorts of sustainability issues. For this post, I thought I’d take you along as I learn a little more about some of the energy efficiency and green building choices that builders are making nowadays. Jamie Hager, an SEM green buildings specialist, was the perfect tutor, and she was kind enough to sit down with me and go through some of the most common options. (more…)