We are very happy with our new kitchen...We truly love spending time in our kitchen. We are in the planning stages of another major remodeling project. We would like to contact you for a bid once we get our ideas together. We are looking to build onto our home before the end of the year.

NARI

NARI

High Performance & Green Building

What is a high performance home and how does it differ from a green home? The term green evolved to identify all the aspects that surround an environmental issue or cause. The term high performance home is also green, but it is much more than that. A high performance home is one that is constructed with materials using methods and techniques that produces a home which performs better in all aspects to render a home that is more comfortable, more energy efficient, safer, sustainable over time, less costly to operate and maintain while providing a living environment that is simply healthier than a conventional home.

High performance homes don't just happen. A truly high performance home is the end result of a lot of careful thought, consideration, and planning that helps homeowners design their home to shape their future. The goal is to integrate and balance the elements that make a high performance home:

A high performance home is resource-efficient:

A high performance home is durable:

Build it Green

Jim Pitcher has qualified for certification through Build It Green program. Professionals listed as Certified Green Building Professionals (CGBPs) have completed an in-depth training course in green building practices. The certification program is administered by Build It Green and is open to all California building professionals (architects, contractors, engineers, interior designers, real estate professionals, solar contractors, specialty trades, etc.)

Individuals are required to participate in a 16 hour course that provides a comprehensive overview of the core principles of green building: energy efficiency, resource conservation, and improved indoor air quality. Those who complete the class and pass the final exam are then recognized as Certified Green Building Professionals, and continuing education credits are required to keep certification current.

Energy Efficiency

Improved comfort and lower energy bills (Source: Build It Green)

New houses in California must be built to the most stringent energy code in the country, but given the state's projected population growth, even this may not be enough to keep demand for energy in check. Generation and use of energy are major contributors to air pollution and global climate change. With homes accounting for roughly 31% of the electricity consumed in the state, it is clear that homebuilders have a significant role to play in helping our society address energy-related concerns now and in the coming decades.

Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of every green home. Improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources are effective ways to reduce the potential of energy supply interruptions, improve air quality, reduce the impacts of global warming, and slow the rate at which we need to build new power plants.

Energy efficiency also makes good sense for homeowners: an energy-efficient house saves money by reducing utility bills year after year, and provides other valuable benefits. Better insulation, for example, reduces uncomfortable drafts, and double-pane windows make for a quieter home.

Examples:

Indoor Air Quality

Safe, pleasant and healthy homes (Source: Build It Green)

On average, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, yet the air in new homes can be ten times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Children are particularly vulnerable when it comes to air pollution. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine states that 40% of children will develop respiratory disease, in part due to the chemicals in their homes.

A common source of indoor air pollution is the offgassing of chemicals found in many building materials. Kitchen cabinets, countertops, shelving and furniture may be made from particleboard or medium density fiberboard. These pressed-wood products are typically made with adhesives that release urea formaldehyde a known human carcinogen, into the home for years after installation. Also, many paints, floor finishes, adhesives and sealants emit unhealthy volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That "new house smell" is a telltale sign that there are harmful chemicals in the indoor environment.
Fortunately, the building products industry is responding to these indoor pollution problems by developing safer products, including low-VOC paints, cleaners and adhesives. These products are now commonly available from most major suppliers at costs comparable to conventional products. California also now has specifications available for some materials to assure that they are low emitting and safe.

Poor indoor air quality is also often caused by biological contaminants, such as mold that grows as a result of moisture infiltration due to inadequate ventilation, poor design and maintenance, and other factors. Dust, another major source of air pollution inside homes, can be reduced by installing permanent front door walk-off mats and by using hard surface flooring materials such as natural linoleum, bamboo, wood or wood alternatives, or concrete.

Examples:

Water Conservation

Protection and conservation of water supplies (Source: Build It Green)

Water is another critical resource. California residences use 5.6 million acre-feet of applied water annually. Our prosperity and ability to meet the needs of our growing population hinge on having adequate supplies of clean, fresh water. Homes built and landscaped to use water wisely make a tremendous contribution to protecting our shared resources. An added benefit is lower expenses for the homeowner. Today's builders can take advantage of a new generation of cost-effective, high efficiency appliances and landscape water management systems.

Examples: