Comments on: How to Find a Green Builder — Part 1 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/ Reporting on Sustainably Built Environments from Bricks to Cities Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:57:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: maxmsf http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-46 maxmsf Sun, 06 May 2007 01:00:07 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-46 Glad to hear about lowimpactliving.com, I hadn't come across them yet. A few other directories I'm aware of are www.greenbuilder.com, www.oikos.com, and www.moderngreenliving.com. I think the due diligence point is key though since I don't believe these services are doing any serious screening. greenbuildingexchange.com will actually do a free consultation and will connect people with service providers they've screened and think make the most sense. Max Glad to hear about lowimpactliving.com, I hadn’t come across them yet. A few other directories I’m aware of are http://www.greenbuilder.com, http://www.oikos.com, and http://www.moderngreenliving.com. I think the due diligence point is key though since I don’t believe these services are doing any serious screening. greenbuildingexchange.com will actually do a free consultation and will connect people with service providers they’ve screened and think make the most sense. Max

]]> By: maxmsf http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97518 maxmsf Sun, 06 May 2007 01:00:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-97518 Glad to hear about lowimpactliving.com, I hadn't come across them yet. A few other directories I'm aware of are www.greenbuilder.com, www.oikos.com, and www.moderngreenliving.com. I think the due diligence point is key though since I don't believe these services are doing any serious screening. greenbuildingexchange.com will actually do a free consultation and will connect people with service providers they've screened and think make the most sense. Max Glad to hear about lowimpactliving.com, I hadn’t come across them yet. A few other directories I’m aware of are http://www.greenbuilder.com, http://www.oikos.com, and http://www.moderngreenliving.com. I think the due diligence point is key though since I don’t believe these services are doing any serious screening. greenbuildingexchange.com will actually do a free consultation and will connect people with service providers they’ve screened and think make the most sense. Max

]]> By: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:05:46 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-45 Jason-- Congrats on <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/A49DDCB40B6678F8862572C8000C161E?OpenDocument&highlight=2%2C%22Sage%22+AND+%22Homebuilders%22">the article in the <em>Post-Dispatch</em></a> the other day -- you guys are doing great work! I'm in the Lou', and would love to get together and talk about your work. <p>_______________________________________</p><p> Jeff McIntire-Strasburg <br />Senior Editor <br />Green Options <br />jeff@greenoptions.com</p> Jason– Congrats on the article in the Post-Dispatch the other day — you guys are doing great work! I'm in the Lou', and would love to get together and talk about your work.

_______________________________________

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
Senior Editor
Green Options
jeff@greenoptions.com

]]> By: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97517 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:05:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-97517 Jason-- Congrats on <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/A49DDCB40B6678F8862572C8000C161E?OpenDocument&highlight=2%2C%22Sage%22+AND+%22Homebuilders%22" rel="nofollow">the article in the <em>Post-Dispatch</em></a> the other day -- you guys are doing great work! I'm in the Lou', and would love to get together and talk about your work. _______________________________________ Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Senior Editor Green Options jeff@greenoptions.com Jason– Congrats on the article in the Post-Dispatch the other day — you guys are doing great work! I'm in the Lou', and would love to get together and talk about your work. _______________________________________ Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Senior Editor Green Options jeff@greenoptions.com

]]> By: Jessica Jensen http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Jessica Jensen Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:04:15 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-44 Hi Phillip and others, Low Impact Living (www.lowimpactliving.com) is a resource for people looking for local green service providers. We have over 2000 service providers listed across the US. You can find LEED architects, interior designers, green builders, sustainable flooring installers, etc. etc....just put in your zip code and find good services near you. Hope that helps and please let us know any feedback on our site! Cheers--Jessica Hi Phillip and others,

Low Impact Living (www.lowimpactliving.com) is a resource for people looking for local green service providers. We have over 2000 service providers listed across the US. You can find LEED architects, interior designers, green builders, sustainable flooring installers, etc. etc….just put in your zip code and find good services near you.

Hope that helps and please let us know any feedback on our site!

Cheers–Jessica

]]> By: Jessica Jensen http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97516 Jessica Jensen Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:04:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-97516 Hi Phillip and others, Low Impact Living (www.lowimpactliving.com) is a resource for people looking for local green service providers. We have over 2000 service providers listed across the US. You can find LEED architects, interior designers, green builders, sustainable flooring installers, etc. etc....just put in your zip code and find good services near you. Hope that helps and please let us know any feedback on our site! Cheers--Jessica Hi Phillip and others,

Low Impact Living (www.lowimpactliving.com) is a resource for people looking for local green service providers. We have over 2000 service providers listed across the US. You can find LEED architects, interior designers, green builders, sustainable flooring installers, etc. etc….just put in your zip code and find good services near you.

Hope that helps and please let us know any feedback on our site!

Cheers–Jessica

]]> By: Ron http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Ron Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:44:22 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-43 Excellent points. I've been taking the position for quite some time that quality of workmanship is a key to sustainable building. As a result, there are a lot more contractors and tradesmen out there building green, or at least flirting with it, than realize. They'll catch on pretty soon and, rightfully, add it to their sales pitch. I have to contradict one of your examples, though: the HVAC installer. It's unfortunate, but all installed HVAC systems leak, and the national average is just shy of 30%. This includes new homes as well as existing. As a result, energy is wasted and Indoor Air Quality suffers. The reasons are many, but clearly installers either don't know how, or don't care. To add insult to injury, system specifiers know this, so the HVAC units are actually upsized to compensate, wasting even more of your money. As Kurt said, "So it goes." Back to the issue of finding a green builder. Look around your area, or Google, for a regional green building organization. There are quite a few these days, private and governmental, that provide ongoing education as well as certification as a green building professional. They should also have a listing of members that could provide a few leads. I'm a member of Build It Green in California. You might try Built Green in Colorado, Green Home in DC, Austin Energy or Build San Antonio Green in Texas, Green Building Program in Scottsdale, AZ, and so on. But keep in mind, green builder or not, you still have to perform your own due diligence before making a choice, i.e. confirm licensing, insurance, experience, etc. I'm of the opinion you should also rely heavily on your own personal comfort level. Use the "lunch" factor. By that I mean, do you really want to trust someone with your home that you wouldn't want to have lunch with? Excellent points. I’ve been taking the position for quite some time that quality of workmanship is a key to sustainable building. As a result, there are a lot more contractors and tradesmen out there building green, or at least flirting with it, than realize. They’ll catch on pretty soon and, rightfully, add it to their sales pitch.

I have to contradict one of your examples, though: the HVAC installer. It’s unfortunate, but all installed HVAC systems leak, and the national average is just shy of 30%. This includes new homes as well as existing. As a result, energy is wasted and Indoor Air Quality suffers. The reasons are many, but clearly installers either don’t know how, or don’t care. To add insult to injury, system specifiers know this, so the HVAC units are actually upsized to compensate, wasting even more of your money. As Kurt said, “So it goes.”

Back to the issue of finding a green builder. Look around your area, or Google, for a regional green building organization. There are quite a few these days, private and governmental, that provide ongoing education as well as certification as a green building professional. They should also have a listing of members that could provide a few leads. I’m a member of Build It Green in California. You might try Built Green in Colorado, Green Home in DC, Austin Energy or Build San Antonio Green in Texas, Green Building Program in Scottsdale, AZ, and so on. But keep in mind, green builder or not, you still have to perform your own due diligence before making a choice, i.e. confirm licensing, insurance, experience, etc.

I’m of the opinion you should also rely heavily on your own personal comfort level. Use the “lunch” factor. By that I mean, do you really want to trust someone with your home that you wouldn’t want to have lunch with?

]]> By: Ron http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97515 Ron Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:44:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-97515 Excellent points. I've been taking the position for quite some time that quality of workmanship is a key to sustainable building. As a result, there are a lot more contractors and tradesmen out there building green, or at least flirting with it, than realize. They'll catch on pretty soon and, rightfully, add it to their sales pitch. I have to contradict one of your examples, though: the HVAC installer. It's unfortunate, but all installed HVAC systems leak, and the national average is just shy of 30%. This includes new homes as well as existing. As a result, energy is wasted and Indoor Air Quality suffers. The reasons are many, but clearly installers either don't know how, or don't care. To add insult to injury, system specifiers know this, so the HVAC units are actually upsized to compensate, wasting even more of your money. As Kurt said, "So it goes." Back to the issue of finding a green builder. Look around your area, or Google, for a regional green building organization. There are quite a few these days, private and governmental, that provide ongoing education as well as certification as a green building professional. They should also have a listing of members that could provide a few leads. I'm a member of Build It Green in California. You might try Built Green in Colorado, Green Home in DC, Austin Energy or Build San Antonio Green in Texas, Green Building Program in Scottsdale, AZ, and so on. But keep in mind, green builder or not, you still have to perform your own due diligence before making a choice, i.e. confirm licensing, insurance, experience, etc. I'm of the opinion you should also rely heavily on your own personal comfort level. Use the "lunch" factor. By that I mean, do you really want to trust someone with your home that you wouldn't want to have lunch with? Excellent points. I’ve been taking the position for quite some time that quality of workmanship is a key to sustainable building. As a result, there are a lot more contractors and tradesmen out there building green, or at least flirting with it, than realize. They’ll catch on pretty soon and, rightfully, add it to their sales pitch.

I have to contradict one of your examples, though: the HVAC installer. It’s unfortunate, but all installed HVAC systems leak, and the national average is just shy of 30%. This includes new homes as well as existing. As a result, energy is wasted and Indoor Air Quality suffers. The reasons are many, but clearly installers either don’t know how, or don’t care. To add insult to injury, system specifiers know this, so the HVAC units are actually upsized to compensate, wasting even more of your money. As Kurt said, “So it goes.”

Back to the issue of finding a green builder. Look around your area, or Google, for a regional green building organization. There are quite a few these days, private and governmental, that provide ongoing education as well as certification as a green building professional. They should also have a listing of members that could provide a few leads. I’m a member of Build It Green in California. You might try Built Green in Colorado, Green Home in DC, Austin Energy or Build San Antonio Green in Texas, Green Building Program in Scottsdale, AZ, and so on. But keep in mind, green builder or not, you still have to perform your own due diligence before making a choice, i.e. confirm licensing, insurance, experience, etc.

I’m of the opinion you should also rely heavily on your own personal comfort level. Use the “lunch” factor. By that I mean, do you really want to trust someone with your home that you wouldn’t want to have lunch with?

]]> By: Jason Stone http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Jason Stone Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:25:26 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-42 Philip, If you receive any inquiries from buyers in the St. Louis, MO market, please send them our way. We're experienced green builders who custom build to either HBA GBI or LEED guidelines. All of our projects are 3rd party verified as green (by engineers from Laclede Gas for the HBA guidelines and by a LEED provider for LEED guidelines). One note on your posting: Most of the guys who have been doing HVAC for 20 years may be terrific at what they do, but the majprity don't know about green building (at least in our market). The best solution is to find a company that uses Manual J residential load calculations to correctly size the HVAC to the home, and to insist in your contract that all ducts be sealed with mastic (for energy efficiency) and that all vents be sealed during construction (for indoor air quality). Thanks, Jason Stone Sage Homebuilders, LLC http://www.sagestl.com/ Philip,

If you receive any inquiries from buyers in the St. Louis, MO market, please send them our way. We’re experienced green builders who custom build to either HBA GBI or LEED guidelines. All of our projects are 3rd party verified as green (by engineers from Laclede Gas for the HBA guidelines and by a LEED provider for LEED guidelines).

One note on your posting: Most of the guys who have been doing HVAC for 20 years may be terrific at what they do, but the majprity don’t know about green building (at least in our market). The best solution is to find a company that uses Manual J residential load calculations to correctly size the HVAC to the home, and to insist in your contract that all ducts be sealed with mastic (for energy efficiency) and that all vents be sealed during construction (for indoor air quality).

Thanks,

Jason Stone
Sage Homebuilders, LLC
http://www.sagestl.com/

]]> By: Jason Stone http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97514 Jason Stone Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:25:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/04/25/how-to-find-a-green-builder-part-1/#comment-97514 Philip, If you receive any inquiries from buyers in the St. Louis, MO market, please send them our way. We're experienced green builders who custom build to either HBA GBI or LEED guidelines. All of our projects are 3rd party verified as green (by engineers from Laclede Gas for the HBA guidelines and by a LEED provider for LEED guidelines). One note on your posting: Most of the guys who have been doing HVAC for 20 years may be terrific at what they do, but the majprity don't know about green building (at least in our market). The best solution is to find a company that uses Manual J residential load calculations to correctly size the HVAC to the home, and to insist in your contract that all ducts be sealed with mastic (for energy efficiency) and that all vents be sealed during construction (for indoor air quality). Thanks, Jason Stone Sage Homebuilders, LLC http://www.sagestl.com/ Philip,

If you receive any inquiries from buyers in the St. Louis, MO market, please send them our way. We’re experienced green builders who custom build to either HBA GBI or LEED guidelines. All of our projects are 3rd party verified as green (by engineers from Laclede Gas for the HBA guidelines and by a LEED provider for LEED guidelines).

One note on your posting: Most of the guys who have been doing HVAC for 20 years may be terrific at what they do, but the majprity don’t know about green building (at least in our market). The best solution is to find a company that uses Manual J residential load calculations to correctly size the HVAC to the home, and to insist in your contract that all ducts be sealed with mastic (for energy efficiency) and that all vents be sealed during construction (for indoor air quality).

Thanks,

Jason Stone
Sage Homebuilders, LLC
http://www.sagestl.com/

]]>