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 Energy Retrofits: Here is a list of typical improvements: adding extra insulation to the attic, sealing attic
penetrations from the attic through the ceiling, upgrading weather stripping at
entry doors, re-caulking windows and removing trim to foam around windows if
necessary, adding a radiant barrier to the top of your attic ceiling, sealing
your attic scuttle access, insulating your water heater and hot water lines,
tinting your windows or replacing them with Low E windows, applying mastic and
resealing leaky ductwork, AC checks and maintenance or AC replacements to a
higher SEER (efficient) model,
installing AC programmable thermostats, installing solar powered attic fans, switching toilets and plumbing fixtures
to low flow, installing solar powered water heaters, and many other
improvements as needed.
Please call to set up and appointment and schedule your Energy Audit.
904-686-4019
We Build Energy Efficient and Green Homes!
Green Construction, Quality Craftsmanship, Forever Materials..... Are you ready to build?
Our goal is to not only provide the most solid structures around, but also build with green principles, forever materials (cementitious siding, metal roofs, vinyl windows, pvc exterior trim, etc), recycled/ sustainable materials (bamboo flooring, solid surface counter tops made with recycled material, etc.), use energy star rated appliances and solar powered features while at the same time producing a beautiful home that is finished on time and on budget.
Efficient Building Techniques and Materials:
- Tight
Building Envelope: sealing
holes and cracks around the home using house
wrap and expanding foam- helps improve indoor air quality, prevent
moisture gain and reduce heat loss and gain.
- Keeping the AC Ducts out of the attic and designed into the house
- Use of advanced framing techniques such as raised heel trusses and California corners which allow for more insulation
- Halogen and L.E.D. Bulbs: use
less electricity and requires less bulb changes
- On
Demand Water Heater or Solar Water Heater
- Low E
Vinyl Windows: reflects heat
back to the source keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in
the winter; vinyl is rot
resistant and also reduces condensation build up thus reducing the
possibility for mold growth
- 16
SEER and higher AC unit with Variable speed air handler- operates more efficiently thus
reducing energy demands;
operates more quietly;
reduces indoor humidity and improves overall comfort of your home
- James
Hardie Fiber Cement Siding:
resists decay and insect destruction
- Fresh
Air Intake for HVAC System:
fresh air is brought into the ac system via a separate fresh air
duct and mixed with the 16 SEER system thus reducing odors, dust and
indoor contaminants: helps keep a "tight" home ventilated.
- Energy
Star Appliances- use less
energy than normal appliances;
low flow plumbing features
- Programmable
Air thermostat, R-21 Wall insulation and R-38 Attic insulation all help
keep the home temperature well controlled with lower utility costs.
- Use of
solar panels, build with numerous recycled materials, reuse rain water to
irrigate landscaping, recycle grey water (filters and reuses water from
the washing machine and showers, storing it for irrigation), home
surrounded by trees to provide shade in the summer and sunlight during the
winter.
- Bamboo
flooring : considered a
renewable resource due its high growth rate
- Pervious
surfaces for driveways and Patios:
allows percolation of water into the ground reducing the water
runoff into the storm drainage system and waterways
- Native
Plants- require less watering
- Insulated
Concrete Forms in lieu of 2X6 construction: poured concrete walls using polystyrene building
blocks, provide superior insulation value at the exterior wall while
reducing the demand for forested wood products.
- Low
Maintenance Materials: pvc
trim and deck boards
- Geo-Thermal
Heat Pumps: A water to air
system drawing constant 70 degree well water from the ground into the
condensers for heating and cooling the home
- LOW
VOC materials such as paints, caulking, sealants, carpet, etc reducing the
emissions of harmful pollutants and off gassing.
- Energy
Optimization Unit: a device
which captures the excess wasted energy used to power up the home's
machinery an dlectrical devices and stores it to be used in the continuous
operation of these same devices.
This power protection system protects against power surges and
increases the efficiency and life a home's equipment, while reducing
maintenance and energy consumption.
- Home
Automation Control Systems:
program everything from lights to AC
- Passive
Solar Design
Passive solar design uses the
natural movement of heat and air to maximize solar heat gain in the winter and
to minimize it in the summer. Although design principles vary by climate and
location, the basic strategies remain the same:
- Window selection. The easiest way to heat a
home with solar energy is to simply let sunshine in through the windows.
As sunlight passes through, it heats the home's surfaces, helping to keep
the home warm. Since windows increase the likelihood of energy loss, it's
important to consider window insulation properties, shading techniques,
and other strategies that keep heat where it's wanted most. North side of home constructed with low posted,
few openings; south side of
home with taller windows sheltered by eave overhangs: orient home and windows properly
on lot for shade and light considerations.
- Site orientation. The best way to orient a home
is with its long axis running east to west. With this orientation, the
longest side of the home faces south. The south is the sunniest direction
and hence the warmest, so orienting a building this way maximizes solar
heat gain.
- Landscaping. Landscaping is a great option
for optimizing solar heat gain and shading. Landscaping can help shade the
sides of a home to reduce solar heat gain during warmer months. Mature
deciduous trees, which lose their leaves during the winter, will let
warming sunlight through when it's colder out. Place trees on the south
and east or west side.
- Overhangs and awnings. Roof overhangs and window
awnings perform a function similar to landscaping. When overhangs and
awnings are properly sized, they shade windows in the summer and let in
sunlight in the winter (when the sun is lower in the sky).
- Natural cooling. When used correctly, outdoor
air is a cost-effective way to reduce a home's cooling load.
Cross-ventilation increases the amount of air flowing through rooms, and
opening windows during a cool night allows heat to escape.
Although passive solar design
techniques tend to be more expensive upfront, they can save homeowners money in
the long term through lower energy bills. Homes that effectively integrate and
use passive solar design are typically more comfortable for homeowners.
We promote a whole-building approach to sustainability by
recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:
sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials
selection and indoor environmental quality.
Reliable Home Energy Retrofit Home Energy Audit
- Whole House Approach- understand how air moves, energy audits and thermal imaging, air sealing and insulation, reflective roof coatings and radiant barriers, Low E Windows, Heating and Cooling Upgrades, Energy Star Appliacnes
- Smart Energy Solutions- Improve home's comfort and efficiency. Increase home comfort while helping the environment
- Integrated Whole House Approach- looks at energy use in a home as a system
- Common Problems: high energy bills, mold, moisture on windows, old equipment and old windows, cold concrete, drafty houses, poor insulation, etc.
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