Green Built Homes

Building a sustainable and energy - efficient home is easier than you might think...

and more important than you might imagine.

For years the view of the sandal-wearing hippie fringe that built homes with straw bales, rammed earth and recycled building products, green building has become an integral part of today's construction, as we create homes that use less energy and are healthier for human habitation.

What exactly is green building? What does a green house entail? What does it cost to build green? And what are the minimum features a house must have before it can be considered green?

Over the years voluntary green building programs have cropped up, where builders can certify their homes. These programs offer guidelines on how builders can improve their homes' energy efficiency, and over sustainability. Homes that save water and energy, conserve natural resources, uses salvaged materials or products made with high recycled content, and reduces its overall impact on the environment. Everyone has their individual opinions about what are the necessary and essential ingredients to make a house green. You have to define what green means to you.

At Colorado Signature Homes, Inc. we'll help guide you in making your green building decisions. A couple strategies that cost minimal or no money, involve good design, planning and craftsmanship. These decisions would include:

• Home Orientation & Window Placement
The city of Austin, Texas did a study 15 years ago that shows if builders simply altered the homes orientation and window placement to reflect the way the house was facing, they could cut the energy consumption my half.

• Air Infiltration
Air infiltration is probably the second major source of energy consumption after home orientation. We take a lot of care building you a tight home along with using house wraps.

• Using low-VOC
Volatile Organic Compound carpet, padding and paint to improve indoor air quality.

However far you wish to go, or what your definition may be of building green is, we are prepared to work with you in achieving your objectives.