Posts Tagged ‘earthcraft’

5 Reasons you should know EarthCraft House Virginia

Thursday, November 15th, 2012

Get to know more about the Regional Green Building Program that is setting the standard in the DC Metro Area: EarthCraft House Virginia

After seeing a very strong need for a dedicated green building program for the East Coast’s mixed humid climate zone, back  in 2004, Annette Osso, Karl Brenn, and Chuk Bowles put their heads together to create and implement a plan for what would become the fastest growing green building program for the entire mid-Atlantic. Utilizing their strong construction science backgrounds and resources from the Southface Institute, the team was able to manifest EarthCraft House Virginia into multiple divisions over the years and has grown into the regional green building program that it is today.

 

 

 

5 reasons you should know and use EarthCraft House Virginia

Award Winning Program

Nationally award winning program has been recognized for excellence in offering homebuyers with energy efficient options as well as successful implementation of energy efficiency for low income housing developments. The list of awards is pretty impressive.

Knowledge is Power

The staff not only helps you achieve your green building standards by having a strong knowledge base, but they will also train you as they go through the process. Look into getting trained by the EarthCraft staff. The Advisers train on site while walking you through the project from start to finish, but the Richmond staff also conduct training seminars to get you ready to jump headlong into your project!

Multi-family

The technical advisers are able to work in the multi-family developments to help build a more sustainable product that will bring our communities a brighter tomorrow.

Single Family homes

Not only are a low-income family needs met, but custom and semi-custom family homes are also built to a green standard through the EarthCraft House Virginia program.

The Environment

By working towards an EarthCraft House Virginia standard for your project, you are acting as a steward for the community, environment and ultimately the future. That is pretty powerful. Homes that are built sustainably are reducing their impact on the environment and can even bring more jobs to the local community. Think about that!

Obviously this is just a list of five reasons why to take a look at EarthCraft House Virginia as a program for your next project, but the list goes on and on. Check them out and see what this non-profit has done in the region and why it makes sense to work with a program that is focused on the specific climate that we live in, here in the mid-Atlantic.

 

 

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Award Winning Architect Stresses Certification Process

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

EnviroHomeDesign’s Marta Layseca knows her green building and shares her story case study about the third party certification process.

At the Arlington County Green It Lecture Series mediated by the Green Home Choice Program manager, Helen Reinke-Wilt, Marta Layseca was able to discuss two of her recent retrofit stories in the Arlington area and stress to the audience how the third party verification service is an absolutely imperative part of the green building process. What is the 3rd party verification part of the construction process anyways? Well, it is the part of the process where the project manager or builder has selected an outside authority to come into the project and certify that the project has been held to specific standards.

In the case of Mrs. Layseca’s projects in Virginia, the Green Home Choice Program is the County green building program and the EarthCraft Virginia Green Building program is the regional green building program which provides third party verification that the home is being built to specific standards.

The EarthCraft program institutes a standard checklist that the builder follows from the outset of the build. From the construction charrette to the final finish out, the builder will follow the checklist with the guidance of an accredited technical adviser who will inspect and consult on the building practices and techniques throughout the building process to ensure that the home is “built tight and ultimately ventilated right” as they say at EarthCraft.

Third party verification services not only provide quality control and performance testing, but they also can allow for the construction team to have a mediation with the third party who can come on site to discuss how “things should be done” if a technique or application is not being done properly.

Take for instance, if the duct work is not being sealed with mastic, and the HVAC contractor is arguing that they only want to use tape; the third party verification service provider such as an EarthCraft adviser can intervene and discuss why the technique being used is not the best, and correct the situation to help the builder achieve a higher performance, more energy efficient design. This will ultimately arrive at a healthier, more cost saving product for the builder and a more satisfied client. Now who can argue with that?!

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Springtime Green Events Around Northern Virginia

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

It is that time of year again! Expo time: when we start to learn about the latest and greatest of everything going on around us!

We thought it would be a great idea to put together a list of some of the upcoming events just in case you weren’t aware, as we’d love to see your smiling face at some of these fantastic events through the Springtime! Mark your calendars- hopefully we’ll see you there!

March

3/17 Your last day for a chance to enter to win a Home Energy Audit with Conway Green Construction through HomesByGen.com!

3/17 GreenDrinks Arlington- St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour at Toscana Green in Courthouse

3/19 ACE Green Expo where you can learn about all sorts of green endeavors by the county, and meet new eco-friendly vendors and like-minded folks!

3/29 EarthCraft Virginia Energy Star Version 3 Builder Training class held at the Shirlington Library in Arlington, VA brought to you by the Conway Construction Team.

April

4/4 EarthCraft Virginia Single Family Builder training seminar held in Arlington County’s Parks and Recreation Department Building also brought to you by the Conway Construction Team.

4/9 Arlington Home Show put on by CRPO which is sure to be a fantastic event in Arlington!

4/21 Vienna Green Living Expo which is a free event in the evening!

Do you have more events that you think we’d enjoy? Spread the word by sharing on our Facebook page!

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