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Updates on the construction of a LEED certified home.

Another ENERGY STAR Home!

In 2007, after watching an interview with the late, great folk singer John Denver, I made a personal commitment to have all of our new homes ENERGY STAR certified.  This commitment was one way I felt I could have a personal impact on issues of importance to me. We recently completed a new home on […]

The High Cost of Low Cost Homes

About a year ago I got a phone call from someone who had been through one of our homes in downtown Davidson and loved it.  They were moving here with their family as part of a corporate location, and were looking for a walkable location in Davidson.  He asked if I was familiar with the […]

Davidson’s First LEED Home

In 2010 we completed Davidson’s first LEED certified home.  Built at 233 Catawba Avenue, this home was also the first in Mecklenburg County to be certified at a GOLD level or higher. The Ross Chapin design features about 1,600 square feet of living space, and not an inch is wasted.  The first floor master features […]

Cornhole Can Be Green!

When we have an open house at one of our LEED homes, the question I am most frequently asked is “what makes this house green?”  I frequently answer that question by first addressing all of the things apart from the home that make a home green. Green building is not just the structure and mechanics […]

Tighten It Up!

As we’re wrapping up construction of 631 James Alexander Way, a number of tests for both ENERGY STAR and LEED certification are conducted. These tests help to verify that the house performs as designed, with the result being not only a more efficient home, but also a comfortable and healthy home as well. This video […]

Do Judge A Book By It’s Cover

Last week I was giving a talk and tour of our first LEED-certified home to a group of Davidson College students. I was making the point that a green home can (and should) look like a ‘normal’ home, and I mentioned that I’d once seen a home built out of old tires by Dennis Weaver. […]

It’s Good for You, But You Can’t Eat It!

We just finished applying spray foam insulation to the green home we are building at 631 James Alexander Way in Davidson. Spray foam insulation is the bomb! I remember saying that when I was interviewed by DavidsonNews.net about the first LEED-certified home we built (233 Catawba Avenue in Davidson). I got this sheepish expression on […]

I’ve Been Framed!

Framing is always one of the most enjoyable parts of building a house (right next to seeing the joy on a homeowner’s face when they see their finished home, and almost as enjoyable as getting paid). This is when the rubber meets the road so to speak, when the lines of the blueprint are translated […]