By Kathy L. Deely

Whatever building material Ed Hall,founder&president of Elegance in Design Custom Homes is working with, this proud veteran’s core values constitute a building block common to all of them: namely, that the customer absolutely comes first in every respect.

This award-winning builder, recently chosen by his peers to chair the Custom Builders Council, prides himself and his staff on their relentless attention to detail and unsurpassed customer service. “I’ve been called a perfectionist, in the sense of my wanting things done not only right but the best they can be done, and I plead guilty as charged. Our mission at Elegance in Design is to complete the job on time,bring it in under budget and exceed our customers’ highest expectations. That’s a secret for success I’m glad to share with anyone.”

“We are not here for the money; for me,making the great American dream of home ownership come true is almost a sacred calling. I take home ownership very personally — maybe because I grew up in a trailer instead of a real home,” he explains.

Hall’s father was a truck driver for Coca Cola; his mother worked in a New Hampshire weatshop as a seamstress. “Though we were poor, my parents were too proud to take welfare of any kind. They instilled the values of self reliance in me and my younger brother.”

But despite those tough times, this obviously happyman was an equally happy boy. “My family was always really close – and not just because of the close quarters in that trailer – though it was definitely smaller than some of the master suites I’ve built!” he jokingly adds. “Mom made sure we had supper and came together as a family every single night. She knew about ‘quality time’ long before the concept was invented.”

At 17, Hall took his first industry related job – as a carpenter. “The work was hard but satisfying. I decided then and there to eventually pursue the dream of becoming a builder.” But first, at 19, he joined the Air Force, where he worked as a paramedic. “Taking care of people has been indoctrinated intome, and that’s how I treat my customers, guiding them through the entire design / build process, making it as seamless and pleasant as possible.”

Asked to name one of his single proudest moments, he instantly responds, “It was the day a few years ago when I took my mom for a ride when she was visiting us here one summer. We pulled up to a little 1,400 square foot house I’d custom built and I handed her the keys, telling her, ‘It’s all yours, Mom.’ ” He shakes his head. “I don’t know which of us was crying harder.”

Hall’s classic rags-to-riches experience has made him highly sensitive to sparing his customer’s economic anxiety. “When I go over costs with my clients, I tell them, I want you to live BENEATH your means,not just within yourmeans…” If they think they can afford a $250,000 house, I try to find a way to build them a home of equal quality for less than what they had originally planned for.”

Professional Home Designer, Greg Setzer, of Setzer Home Designs, has worked closely with Elegance in Design on several projects, and can’t praise them enough. “Ed & his team not only demand excellence,they achieve it. Their level of commitment and meticulous planning is unparalleled. Ed has an uncanny ability to foresee potential problems and head themoff at the pass. The result is a seamless construction endeavor, and an unsurpassed attention to details.”

“We welcome customers”, says Ed, who’ll be active partners in the design/build process, so we can ensure a smooth, continuous process from initial contact to the closing.” “We rejoice in taking our customer’s unique vision and bringing it beautifully to life . . .”

Hall, a proud member of GSABA, is also proud of Elegance in Design’s recent Certified Green Professional Designation, an honor accorded to a select group of builders committed to incorporating environmental considerations and technology into every step of the building and development process. “We find ways to do this without driving up home prices.

For instance, there’s a substance,’ No-Burn’,we can spray on every stick of lumber used in a home that makes it not only fireproof but also extremely resistant to mold and mildew proof. The best part is, this adds less than 1% to the final cost, resulting in lower insurance costs, greater peace of mind, and is 100% green. Green home owners also enjoy lower maintenance and utility bills, and better indoor air quality. “This dovetails with our mission: We’ve given our customer their dream; now, we want to maintain & protect that dream.”

Small wonder then that Elegance in Design Custom Homes is a multiple year Summit Award winner. One reason for that success states Ed is JimTucker, his Director of Residential Construction.

“Jim won the prestigious Construction Superintendent of the Year for builders with a volume of less than 20 homes per year for the second consecutive year in a row.” “Jim is as indispensable to our company as my main partner is: my wife, Carrie, who runs our back office operations as well as she runs our home and mothers our four kids. I’m a very lucky man...”

Maybe so, but it also seems as if this selfmade man has made much of that luck
himself.

Today's Builder Article - March 2009

Get Involved…Stay Involved!

"Alone we can do little, together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

My answer to the question, "Why do I serve?" is not one of heartfelt sentiment or great inspiration, it is simply for the love of my country, my fellow man, and the industry that I am proudly associated with. I have a history of joining professional organizations, i.e., the Greater San Antonio Builder’s Association, (GSABA), to make a difference and to help ensure that those whom I love and care about, as well as future generations, will be able to live and practice free trade where there is all the opportunity in the world through hard work and dedication to do anything you want to do and be anything you want to be.

People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people I challenge you to begin to think of it as an exchange.

Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their lives. Today you may be the person with the ability to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Even now you might be on both sides of the service cycle: maybe today you’re planning on helping on an industry related committee, while last month your local church group brought you dinner while you were dealing with a family medical emergency.

Volunteering also includes "self-help." If you’re active in your professional organization you’re adding your effort to the work of others to make everyone's lives better. As long as you are truly serving through your volunteer work, isn't it wonderful that such an exchange occurs? In fact, it tends to strengthen your commitment to volunteering when you can see the benefits to both the recipient of your efforts and to yourself. And it is much more comfortable than "charity" because it upholds the self-esteem of those with whom you volunteer.

As the title of the article states: GET INVOLVED…STAY INVOLVED!

This article was contributed by Ed Hall of Elegance in Design Custom Homes. Ed has faithfully served the building industry whom he considers his “family” with passion, integrity, and determination. Ed currently serves on the Board of Directors for GSABA, and is the immediate past Chairmen for the Custom Builder’s Council. Ed also is a board member for the Texas Custom Builder’s Guild, and sits on a number of non-profit organizations. To learn more about Elegance in Design Custom Homes please visit www.eleganceindesign.us.

The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009

4. San Antonio, Texas

2008 total building permits: 10,261

San Antonio is another Texas market that is still adding jobs, about 15,000 last year. A city of more than 2 million people now, its population is also growing, at a 2.8 percent annual clip through the third quarter of last year. Existing home prices are barely declining in San Antonio, down only 1.8 percent in the last year, leaving the median price of an existing single-family home at an affordable $154,400, 25 percent below the national average of $200,500, according to the National Association of Realtors. The upper end of the housing market was hurt recently when AT&T announced it would be moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas.

To read the full report please go to:

http://www.builderonline.com/find-articles.aspx?byline=Boyce%20Thompson

Economic Stimulus Approved

For qualified home purchases in 2009, the legislation:

• Stipulates that the $8,000 tax credit does not have to be repaid, unlike the tax credit passed last summer;
• Keeps the tax credit refundable, or claimable regardless of tax liability;
• Extends the sunset date from July 1, 2009 until Dec. 1, 2009 so that consumers can utilize it during the critical summer and fall buying months;
• Allows tax credit home buyers to participate in the mortgage revenue bond program; and
• Permits state housing finance agencies to help buyers at closing by advancing the credit amount as a loan using tax-exempt bond proceeds.

While much of the industry's focus was on the home buyer tax credit, there are several other important components in the legislation that will help small businesses and bolster the housing market. H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will:

• Help home borrowers in high-cost markets by extending the 2008 FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits of $729,750 through the end of this year;
• Temporarily allow exchange of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocating authority for tax-exempt grants and appropriates $2 billion in HOME funding for affordable housing projects;
• Provide up to a 10-year deferral of tax due to business debt restructuring;
• Expand the net operating loss carry back period from two years to five years for small businesses (businesses with average gross receipts of no more than $15 million over the prior 3 years) for losses arising in tax year 2008;
• Extend the 25C existing home remodeler credit through the end of 2010, increase the credit rate from 10 percent to 30 percent, raise the lifetime cap from $500 to $1,500, and expand the set of qualifying property;
• Provide an Alternative Minimum Tax patch for tax year 2009;
• Increase bonus depreciation and Section 179 small business expensing for business investment in 2009;
• Increase New Markets Tax Credit allocating authority for 2008 and 2009; and
• Delay for one year the start of the 3 percent government contractor withholding requirement (from 2011 to 2012).

29th Annual Home and Garden Show

Show Technology, the premier home and garden show producer, is pleased to announce that Ed Hall of Elegance in Design Custom Homes will be hosting three (3) seminars at this years show.

The show dates are Febraury 27 - 28th, and March 1st, with Mr. Hall's seminar dates & times to be Friday the 27th at 7 pm, and Saturday the 28th, at 2 pm.

The topics will include Rain Water Catchment Systems, Spray Foam Insulation, and "No-Burn" Fire Proofing Option for your House.

A limited number of complimetary tickets are available. Please call 830-995-4316 to reserve your tickets. Maximum 2 per family.

Why Elegance in Design uses "No Burn" - live demo

GSABA BoD Appointment

Ed Hall, President of Elegance in Design Custom Homes, was voted to a three year term on the Greater San Antonio Builders Association Board of Directors. Hall will begin his term January of 2009 and will be focusing on affordable housing issues, proposed local codes and ordinances, and government affairs regarding housing and its impact in the south Texas market.

Hall also received a Presidential Citation from outgoing President Michael Moore for his “…commitment and dedication to the housing industry and for your leadership of the Custom Builders Council…”.

Geothermal FAQ's

General:

How efficient is a GSHP?
The GSHP is one of the most efficient residential heating and cooling systems available today, with heating efficiencies 50 to 70% higher than other heating systems and cooling efficiencies 20 to 40% higher than available air conditioners. That directly translates into savings for you on your utility bills.

Can one system provide both space heating and cooling for my home? And what about heating hot water?
Yes. A GSHP can be a combination heating/cooling and hot water heating system. You can change from one mode to another with a simple flick on your indoor thermostat. Using a desuperheater, some GSHPs can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water.

How does a GSHP system heat water for my home?
Using what is called a desuperheater, GSHPs turn waste heat to the task of heating hot water. During the summer, when the system is in cooling mode, your hot water is produced free as a byproduct of the thermal process. In winter, with the heating mode, the desuperheater heats a portion of your hot water. Desuperheaters are standard on some units, optional on others. Stand-alone systems that will heat water all year around can be purchased.

How much space does a GSHP unit require?
Most of a GSHP installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating and cooling unit.

How long will my GSHP system last?
GSHPs are durable and highly reliable. The GSHP contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty.

How noisy is the GSHP unit?
GSHPs are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside of the home. GSHPs have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities, on or near the patio.

How safe are GSHPs?
GSHP systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. GSHPs have no open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.

What about comfort?
A GSHP system moves warm air (90-105(F) throughout your home or business via standard ductwork. An even comfort level is created because the warm air is moved in slightly higher volumes and saturates the building with warmth more evenly. This helps even out hot or colds spots and eliminates the cold air blasts common with fossil fuel furnaces.

How effective is this underground system?
The buried pipe, or ground loop, is the most recent technical advancement in heat pump technology. Recently, new heat pump designs and improved buried pipe materials have been combined to make GSHP systems the most efficient heating and cooling systems available.

Are GSHP systems guaranteed?
Nearly all GSHP system manufacturers offer a warranty for major components that is equivalent to the warranties for conventional heating and cooling systems. Manufacturers of plastic pipe used for ground loops warrant their products for 50 years.

Can these systems be used for commercial, industrial, or apartment requirements?
Yes! Many GSHP systems are being installed using a multitude of systems hooked up to an array of buried vertical or horizontal loops. This simplifies zone control and internal load balancing.

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Savings / Costs:

How will I save money with a GSHP?
GSHPs save money, both in operating costs and maintenance costs. Investments can be recouped in as little as three years. There is a positive cash flow, since the energy savings usually exceeds payment on the system.

How much does a GSHP cost?
The initial investment for a GSHP system is greater than that of a conventional system. However, when you consider the operating costs of a geothermal heating, cooling, and water heating system, energy savings quickly offset the initial difference in purchase price.

What other costs are there besides the GSHP system?
You can expect an installation charge for any electrical work, ductwork, water hook-up, and other provisions or adaptations to your home that are required. Your installer can estimate these costs in advance.

How would increased use of GSHP systems affect electricity cost and availability?
The reduced peak load requirements would allow utilities to serve more customers and to lower fixed costs per customer, thus offsetting some increased variable costs. This would result in less cost per kilowatt, since fixed investment for new capacity is high.

Does my state offer any incentives for installing a GSHP system?
Some Texas utilities offer rebates or incentives to their customers who purchase GSHPs.

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Installation:

Are GSHP systems difficult to install?
Most units are easy to install, especially when they are replacing another forced-air system. This is known as a retrofit. GSHPs can be installed in areas unsuitable for fossil fuel furnaces because there is no combustion and thus no need to vent exhaust fumes. Ductwork must be installed in homes without an existing air distribution system. Your dealer or installer can assess the cost of installing ductwork.

Can I install a ground source heat exchanger myself?
It's not recommended. Thermal fusion of the pipe, drilling and trenching are procedures best handled by licensed professionals. Nonprofessional installations may result in less than optimum performance, which could cancel out anticipated savings

How far apart are trenches and vertical boreholes spaced?
Trenches are spaced four to five feet apart while boreholes are spaced ten to fifteen feet apart.

How long does it take to install a horizontal system?
This depends on soil conditions, length and depth of pipe, and equipment required. A typical installation can be completed in one or two days.

How long does it take to install a vertical system?
With the vertical installation, time varies with conditions on the site such as type and depth of the overburden, type and hardness of the bedrock, and the presence of aquifers. Typical drilling times are one or two days; total installation can usually be accomplished in two days.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the horizontal and vertical installations, respectively?
Horizontal installations are simpler, requiring lower-cost equipment. However, they require longer lengths of pipe due to seasonal variations in soil temperature and moisture content. Since a horizontal heat exchanger is laid out in trenches, a larger area is usually required than for a vertical system. Where land is limited, vertical installations or a compact Slinky™ horizontal installation can be ideal. If regional soil conditions include extensive hard rock, a vertical installation may be the only available choice. Vertical installations tend to be more expensive due to the increased cost of drilling versus trenching, but since the heat exchanger is buried deeper than with a horizontal system, vertical systems are usually more efficient and can get by with less total pipe. Your GSHP contractor will be able to help you decide which configuration best meets your specific needs.

How can I be sure the pipe is installed properly?
Use a reputable contractor. Don't be afraid to ask for and use references. Reputable dealers and loop installers will be happy to give names and phone numbers for you to call and confirm their capabilities. Find out where the installer received training, whether he or she is IGSHPA-accredited, and how many systems he or she has installed. Also, check with your utility company representative for names of installers. A list of IGSHPA-trained and accredited installers is available on our website.

Is it advisable to install a GSHP system large enough to handle my total heating needs?
GSHP systems are generally sized to meet all your cooling needs. Depending on heating needs, a GSHP system usually supplies 80-100 percent of your design heating load. Sizing the system to handle your entire heating needs may result in slightly lower heating costs, but the savings may not offset the added total of the larger system. Special consideration should be given to systems in the north where multiple capacity units should be considered to handle the large variation between heating and cooling loads. Your dealer/installer should provide a heating and cooling load calculation to guide your equipment selection.

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Environment / Climate:

How do GSHPs protect the environment?
GSHP systems conserve natural resources by providing climate control very efficiently-thus also lowering emissions. GSHPs also minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never have to be recharged.

What are the environmental benefits of GSHP systems?
Currently installed systems are making a huge difference in our environment! The systems are eliminating more than three million tons of carbon dioxide and is equivalent of taking 650,000 automobiles off the road. GSHP systems conserve energy and, because they move heat that already exists rather than burning something to create heat, they reduce the amount of toxic emissions in the atmosphere. They use renewable energy from the sun, and because the system doesn't rely on outside air, it keeps the air inside of buildings cleaner and free from pollens, outdoor pollutants, mold spores, and other allergens.

Do soil freezing conditions create any problems?
Not if a system is properly designed and installed. The three to four foot depths allow the sun to melt the frozen soil during the summer. Adequate length per ton capacity prevents objectionable soil movement.

Does this mean that in extremely cold climates additional heat sources are necessary?
All systems require an emergency back up. Heat pumps can provide all the heat necessary even in the coldest weather. An economic analysis by your contractor should dictate what portion of the heat should be provided by the heat pump and what portion by auxiliary means.

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Concerning Your Home:

Will my existing ductwork function with this system?
Yes, in most cases. Your dealer or installer will be able to determine ductwork requirements and if any minor modifications are needed.

Will an underground loop affect my lawn or landscape?
No. Research has shown that loops have no adverse effects on grass, trees, or shrubs. Most horizontal installations require trenches about six inches wide. Temporary bare areas can be restored with grass seed or sod. Vertical loops require little space and do not damage lawns significantly.

My yard contains many shade trees. Will this affect ground temperature and my ability to use it as an energy source?
Not at all. The system is installed deep enough that it utilizes constant ground temperature.

Can a GSHP system be added to my fossil fuel furnace?
Yes. Called dual systems, they can easily be added to existing furnaces for those wishing to have a dual-fuel heating system. Dual-fuel systems use the GSHP system as the main heating source, and a fossil fuel furnace as a supplement in extremely cold weather should additional heat be needed.

Will I have to add insulation to my home if I install one of these systems?
Ground source heat pump systems will reduce your heating and cooling costs regardless of how well your home is insulated. However, insulating and weatherizing are key factors in gaining the maximum amount of savings from any type of heating and cooling system.

GSHPs are environmentally friendly

Conserve natural resources by providing climate control efficiently and thus lowering emissions

Minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never have to be recharged

Uses underground loops to transfer heat, with no external venting and no air pollution

GSHPs offer great savings.

One of the most efficient residential heating and cooling systems available today

Heating efficiencies 50 to 70% higher than other heating systems and cooling efficiencies 20 to 40% higher than available air conditioners

Save money in operating and maintenance costs

Investments recouped in only a few years

Positive cash flow; energy savings usually exceed the cost of the system

Some Texas utilities offer rebates or incentives to their customers who purchase GSHPs.

Many heat pump manufacturers, local utilities, and lending institutions have special financing for homeowners who are installing GSHPs

Ground Source Heat Pumps offer great benefits.

Can be a combination heating/cooling and hot water heating system

Some can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water

Made of mechanical components that are either buried in the ground or located inside the home

About the same size as a traditional heating/cooling unit

Pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty

Can cut energy consumption by 20 to 50% and reduce maintenance costs

Keep the air warmer in the winter (90 -105¡ F) and at a more consistent temperature throughout the home, eliminating the hot and cold spots common with other systems

Very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside the home

No noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities

No exposed equipment outdoors; children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units

No open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks

Residential
A GSHP system can be installed in a residential structure of any size, anywhere, whether it is single-family or multi-family. GSHPs can be installed on almost any size lot: under lawns, landscaped areas, driveways, or the house itself. An existing house can be retrofitted with a GSHP using the ductwork that is already there. Your dealer/installer will be able to determine ductwork requirements and if any minor modifications are needed. Home builders and homeowners can both take advantage of the special financing that is offered in many locations on a GSHP either through the utility or manufacturer.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both endorsed ground source heat pump systems as among the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating, cooling, and water heating systems available. In a 1993 report, the EPA concluded that geothermal technologies represent a major opportunity for reducing national energy use and pollution, while delivering comfort, reliability and savings to homeowners.

What is geothermal?

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are electrically powered systems that tap the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth. These systems use the earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and commercial buildings.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Ground source heat pumps can be categorized as having closed or open loops, and those loops can be installed in three ways: horizontally, vertically, or in a pond/lake. The type chosen depends on the available land areas and the soil and rock type at the installation site. These factors will help determine the most economical choice for installation of the ground loop.

For closed loop systems, water or antifreeze solution is circulated through plastic pipes buried beneath the earth's surface. During the winter, the fluid collects heat from the earth and carries it through the system and into the building. During the summer, the system reverses itself to cool the building by pulling heat from the building, carrying it through the system and placing it in the ground. This process creates free hot water in the summer and delivers substantial hot water savings in the winter.

Open loop systems operate on the same principle as closed loop systems and can be installed where an adequate supply of suitable water is available and open discharge is feasible. Benefits similar to the closed loop system are obtained.

Why insulate with foam insulation?

Why insulate with foam insulation?

It's a good question. And in these days of soaring energy costs and uncertain supplies, there is an obvious answer. We believe you should harness the insulating power of foam insulation for use in your home. You already know how well foam insulates. Think about the effectiveness of some common foam products that we use on a regular basis:

The Foam Coffee Cup

...Just 1/8" of Foam with an R-value of less than one.

Go to your favorite fast food restaurant or corner-store and buy a cup of coffee. Hold the foam cup in one hand and pour yourself a cup of steaming hot coffee with the other hand. Go ahead...you won't burn your hand. The foam cup will only be warm to the touch. In fact, if the foam was a bit thicker, it is doubtful if you could feel whether the coffee was hot or cold. Only the steam would give it away. In this example, we think you'll agree that just 1/8" of foam is a pretty effective insulator.

The Foam Picnic Chest

...Just 1/2" of Foam With An R-value of only about two.

This is the classic example of the insulating power of foam and a great illustration of the importance of air sealing the area you want to heat or cool. Consider your experience with a foam picnic chest. You can learn a great deal about insulating your house from its' performance. You buy one at the local drug store or Wal-Mart for a couple of dollars, and you entrust it to keep your beverages cold for the weekend. Put in the drinks and a bag of ice on Saturday morning, and put the lid down tight, and it's pretty likely that you'll still have ice left on Sunday night. (Whether or not there are drinks left is another question!) You have just proved the insulating power of about a half inch of foam with a relatively low R-value (resistance to heat flow) of only about an R-2. (Frankly, if your house was as efficient as this foam picnic chest, you'd be ecstatic!)

Now... let's say for example that you put in the sodas and the ice in the foam picnic chest above, but didn't put the lid down tight. The ice would only last a few hours at best, and your drinks would probably be lukewarm (or hot) by mid-day on Saturday. What happened? The R-value didn't change...it's still an R-2! So why did the ice melt? Because you allowed air to leak into the picnic chest.

What should we learn from this example? The efficiency of the picnic chest does depend on the insulating power of the foam (its R-value), but its insulating ability is somewhat irrelevant if you don't also control air infiltration.

So... What does all this have to do with your new house? We think the same is true for your new home, and we believe that your experience with a foam picnic chest is a very convincing argument that you should insulate your new home with foam.

Why? Because foam not only insulates extremely well, but it will also stop air infiltration far better than fiberglass products.

Future green construction may follow European models

As the building industry searches for the next big thing, the likelihood increases that builders, developers, architects and engineers will continue pushing the boundaries of what constitutes sustainable design - and they may look to Europeans for leadership.

That is the view of Jerry Yudelson, a sustainability expert and engineer with Yudelson Associates. Yudelson, who worked on several high-profile sustainable building projects in Oregon and Washington for Interface Engineering, said increased demand for sustainable buildings will "drive design and construction toward European approaches and toward integrated design. "

In recent years, sustainable projects approved by the U.S. Green Building Council have fetched higher rents, demonstrated greater occupancy and had higher values than competitors. That economic reality should drive the rapid adoption of such buildings throughout the American and Canadian commercial sectors, said Yudelson, whose firm is based in Tucson, Ariz.

Having studied both American and European approaches to building, Yudelson said that there are "an increasing number of projects that are demonstrating high levels of energy savings on conventional budgets, and this will increase demand for engineers and contractors to achieve the same results. "

Brian Pearce, the general manager of Unico Properties' Portland portfolio, said the introduction of new sustainable designs offers developers and builders a competitive advantage. "It would be foolish (now) to build a building that is not LEED certified," he said.

Milos Jovanovic, co-owner of Root Design Build of Portland, said many of the sustainable construction techniques and mechanical systems are easily exportable from countries such as Germany. "Because of the energy prices (in Europe), they are building tighter envelopes," said Jovanovic. "Better insulation has always been on the forefront of European thinking. "

As high energy prices and increased awareness of global warming create a sense of urgency needed for sustainable design, Jovanovic said commercial and residential construction could take their cues from European models.

Already, Germans and Scandinavians are adopting methods of insulating commercial and residential buildings that exceed LEED platinum energy savings. The newest techniques, he said, emphasize energy recovery over energy production. One system, invented in Germany, called Passive House, focuses on super-insulating interior spaces, using high-performance windows, passive solar and circulating air with an energy recovery ventilator. The system calls for creating an airtight interior that acts like a thermos bottle, Jovanovic said. The additional costs for the system are from 5 to 10 percent of the total construction cost.

Pearce said that developers would be interested in adopting such a system if they can get it to pencil out.

"The more [insulating] mass you have, the better it performs," Jovanovic said. In addition to the extra insulation, unsealed gaps must be covered. The Passive House standard requires that a building consume no more than 15 kilowatt hours per square meter in heating energy per year.

Jovanovic, who grew up in Serbia and whose father, VJ, was in the construction industry for several decades before coming to the United States in 1992, said the airtight concept had been tossed around in Europe since the 1970s but that the energy recovery ventilator is what makes the new system work. The ventilator exchanges heat from exhaust air and passes it to fresh air from the outside. The system transfers heat to fresh air without mixing the airstreams.

Jovanovic recently completed building Portland's first LEED platinum house, with local engineer Zac Blodget acting as the developer and designer. If a heat recovery ventilator replaced the furnace in that home, Jovanovic said no auxiliary heat would be required during winter - but rather only the heat given off from its occupants and electrical appliances such as a refrigerator.

Yudelson said an enthalpy wheel is another type of energy recovery ventilator. The wheel can be effective for heating and cooling, he said. Both systems solve the issue of ventilating indoor air pollution while keeping spaces warm in winter and cool in summer.

Yudelson said European countries tend to lead the U.S. in sustainable building practices because Europeans "don't like to waste resources. You go to a country like Sweden and find they're on the pathway to get off imported oil by 2020 and Germans want to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050," he said. "When you have those ambitious goals, you have to go to work seriously on these issues. "

Copyright 2009 Dolan Media Newswires

What goes into a "green" home?

What goes into a green home?

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home's overall impact on the environment into account. However, many of the processes and technologies that go into a green home happen behind the scenes and behind the walls. What can a homebuyer look for?

Look for an NAHB Research Center Certified certificate, the homeowner's guarantee that the home was built according to one of the levels of green outlined in the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. The NAHB Research Center is the sole certifier recognized by NAHB’s National Green Building Program.
Other key components of a green home include:

Energy-Efficient Features

Many of the energy-efficient qualities of a green home are easy to spot. Appliances, windows, and water heating systems will likely have ENERGY STAR® ratings. The home should also include efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems, further decrease the overall energy consumption within the home.

Water-Efficient Features

Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, and ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines all conserve water. Programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, and hot water recirculation systems also save water.

Resource-Efficient Features

These decisions—from home size, to orientation on the lot, to floor plan layout—are made in the design of your home and development of the lot. The house orientation and design should take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting needs, and should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The home should contain renewable materials, including rapidly-renewable wood species such as bamboo, and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles, and concrete formulations.

Indoor Air Quality Features

The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) must be appropriately sized for an efficient and properly ventilated home. Fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air. Low-VOC paints and finishes and wall papers should be used as well.

Outside the Home

In a green home, care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. Landscaping should contain plants that are appropriate for the climate, and grouped according to water needs. Driveways and other impervious surfaces should be reduced as much as possible, and may be composed of gravel, permeable block pavers, grids, or other permeable systems.

Certified Green Professional

Elegance in Design Custom Homes receives Certified Green Professional Designation

Elegance in Design Custom Homes, a leader in custom home design-build firms, recently became one a very select group of professional builders nationwide who have earned the Certified Green Professional designation, identifying itself as one of the building industry’s top companies who design-build homes that incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact.

The designation is part of the NAHB National Green Building Program and is administered by the NAHB University of Housing and sponsored locally by the Greater San Antonio Builders Association.

The CGP curriculum incorporates a variety of information tailored to green building and business practices. The curriculum also includes training by leading building industry practitioners and academics on strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction, how green homes provide buyers lower maintenance and better indoor air quality and competitively differentiating green projects by demonstrating their durability and favorable environmental impact as well as energy and resource efficiency.

The CGP program graduate is required to maintain their designation by earning continuing education credits in green building and other industry related training.

For further information contact:

Ed Hall
Elegance in Design Custom Homes
2913 Turkey Knob
Boerne TX 78006
Off: 830-995-4316
Fax: 830-995-4318
Mob: 210-389-2474

*Go to www.eleganceindesign.us in the near future to find more information about green building through the newly formed Green Building Division of Elegance in Design Custom Homes*