Andrew & Stacy: The Green Team

Major Homebuilders "Green Ranking"

Stacy Hunt — 2008-05-08T15:40:52-05:00

The Calvert Group just released a study ranking the green building practices of the top 13 homebuilders in the U.S.

KB Home, D.R. Horton, and Pulte captured the top three spots.

Surf's up! Hawaii is first to mandate solar.

Andrew Hunt — 2008-05-07T12:58:38-05:00

Grab a pineapple and put on your grass skirts! Hawaii just passed a law that requires all new homes have solar water heaters installed! Aloha-oh-boy!

Featured Program - Green Globes

Stacy Hunt — 2008-04-27T22:28:03-05:00

Ordinarily I feature a regional green building program that strikes my fancy, but today it's Green Globes, a completely different animal. I'm not exactly sure what kind of animal, to be honest.

How AIA/COTE Measure the Top 10 Green Buildings

Andrew Hunt — 2008-04-24T12:12:17-05:00

Since 1997, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) has been creating a top ten list of green projects, and the honorees of 2008 take green to a whole new level.

Marketing High Performance Homes (or not)

Stacy Hunt — 2008-04-15T20:40:37-05:00

Building high performance homes isn't rocket science. The technology and processes exist, and in my book there's not much more research to be done to build homes that are significantly more efficient than code. But, just try selling them.

The National Green Building Standard

Stacy Hunt — 2008-03-27T22:19:53-05:00

It's always been my belief that there are two ways to really change our building practices in this country. Overwhelming consumer demand and building code. The latter is finally happening, somewhat strangely at the hand of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

ICC - in the fray or in the way?

Andrew Hunt — 2008-03-21T10:07:19-05:00

If you haven't noticed, green is really the HOT thing this decade. So no wonder that the International Code Council (ICC) has finally taken notice and decided to, of course, regulate it.

Green materials just in time for St. Patty's Day

Andrew Hunt — 2008-03-10T17:12:02-05:00

Spring is about to spring (or is it sproing?) and your lawn isn't the only thing coming up green. A new Web site set to launch on March 17, 2008, will offer builders, designers, and home do-it-yourselfers a chance to shop for recycled building products online.

Florida: a non-sunshine state of mind

Andrew Hunt — 2008-02-26T12:14:29-05:00

I'm a pretty easy-going guy most of the time. But, after spending a week in Florida I found my hackles were starting to get up over the lack of solar domestic water heaters. Hey Sunshine State, what's the deal?

Department of Energy and National Association of Homebuilders Launch New Initiatives at the International Builders Show

Stacy Hunt — 2008-02-16T06:58:10-05:00

Consumers are demanding more efficient, greener homes, and builders are finding ever-increasing challenges to market and deliver them. Technical and marketing barriers - some as simple as trade contractor's lack of familiarity with technology, some as complex as builder's inexperience in marketing improved performance - are preventing the market from adopting green building practices as quickly as some would like. The public and private sectors are responding by creating new, voluntary programs for builders to assist them in overcoming these challenges, and for consumers to assist them in understanding building performance.

Popping the cork - getting to know cork flooring

Andrew Hunt — 2008-02-06T21:34:23-05:00

When Stacy and I started to consider flooring options for the addition we're putting on our new home in Montana we had a short list of requirements. We wanted to find a product that was healthy, durable, sustainably produced, and economical. Not asking much, huh? Imagine my surprise when cork ended up floating to the top of mix?

European Union (EU) Sustainable Energy Week

Stacy Hunt — 2008-01-28T09:20:34-05:00

The second European Union (EU) Sustainable Energy Week is being held January 28 - Feburary 1, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium and in other cities across Europe.

Featured Green Building Program - Built Green Colorado

Stacy Hunt — 2008-01-20T08:14:06-05:00

Here's another one, this one based in Denver, Colorado and part of the Denver Homebuilders Association.

Bamboozled: New bamboo flooring finally ditches the 'hyde

Andrew Hunt — 2008-01-16T10:09:30-05:00

Green flooring options in new construction and remodeling have over-promised and under delivered, especially if you look at the entire life-cycle of the products on the market today. Bamboo that was once was touted as the sustainable savior to that hardwood floor finish has fallen short on several fronts and continues to be crap-shoot for most consumers.

Toilets are putting on the dog whilst curbing the hydrant

Andrew Hunt — 2008-01-10T07:30:35-05:00

Four new takes on the traditional flush are now making a splash in the new construction scene, especially following the recent passage of California's AB 715. This water-saving piece of legislation requires that all toilets sold in the Golden State comply with a new lower limit of 1.28 gpf (gallons per flush) by 2014. The estimated water savings could run into the hundreds of thousands of gallons per person over the lifetime of the fixture.