Green Features in our Developments

What is a green home?
Green homes are often visually indistinguishable from conventional homes. The difference is in the details. Designed and constructed to provide a variety of health and ecological benefits, green homes offer:

• Healthier indoor air quality – by using low toxic building materials and finishes, supplying good air flow, limiting potential for mold growth and maximizing use of hard surfaces
• Energy and water efficiency – by optimizing home and garden design and utilizing appliances that conserve energy and water
• A cleaner environment – by reducing waste, pollution and emission of greenhouse gases
• A smaller ecological footprint – by using sustainably harvested and recycled resources, as well as minimizing environmental impact from site development
• Reduced maintenance costs – through lowered utility bills and use of the highest quality durable materials
• Reduced construction impact – minimizes environmental impact from site development

Green Mode Designs incorporated these environmentally conscious features to design and develop green homes in Houston:

• Wood Floors – Bamboo wood flooring – fast growing high tensile strength tropical plant, grows to maturity in substantially less time than traditional hardwoods.
• Toilets – dual flush toilets throughout home (1.6/0.8 gallon), able to reduce water usage by 67%.
• Sinks – water efficient sink fixtures rated at 2.5 gallons per minute
• Showcase Windows – Low E (emissivity) Insulated Glass with double panes (Energy Star compliant)
• Daylighting – 98% of living spaces and closets are day-lit with windows and skylights
• Roof System – Techshield Radiant Barrier in roof to minimize heat gain and loss thru roof system
• Shingles – rated 30 years, light colored for low heat absorption; Metal Copper-cote roof (LEED & Energy-Star)
• HVAC – Multi-zoned 14 SEER air conditioning system, CFC Reduction in HVAC Equipment, supply and return air ducts located in interior spaces for better energy efficiency
• Insulation – High R factor insulation exceeds minimum code R-13 requirement; R-15 exterior walls, R-30 ceilings; R-26 common-walls
• Garage and Attic spaces – Insulated walls and ceilings
• Paint – Low-VOC paint (lower emissions, better Indoor Air Quality) – ICI Dulux
  
• Building materials – Local / Regional building materials used which require less transportation impact
• Appliances - Energy Star rated to lower annual energy usage impact
• Lighting – CFL light bulbs used in kitchens and closets and garages and exterior light fixtures, an energy efficient alternative that emits soft soothing white light
• Exterior – Traditional Mediterranean white masonry stucco – the 3 layers of concrete minimizes heat absorption and is easy to maintain
  
• Construction process – majority of the cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminum and metals were recycled during the entire development process. Benefits of recycling were conveyed to tradesmen and sub-contractors during the building process
• Recycling bins provided for city neighborhood recycling programs
• Site plan – sustainable small in-fill footprint, built around surrounding native trees
• Landscape – Use of native vegetation and gravel beds to minimize use of water and irrigation