ECO Homes

Environmentally conscious and energy efficient homes take advantage of a system of holistic design using technologies, methods and products which not only protect your health and the world around you, but actually enhance the spiritual, emotional, and mental quality of your daily experience. You accomplish this by literally living in harmony with universal energies.

Learn more about Green Mode Designs LEED Gold certified home at Maxie St.

LEED is internationally recognized green building certification system for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. A LEED-certified home is designed and constructed in accordance with the rigorous guidelines of the LEED for Homes green building certification program. LEED for Homes is a consensus-developed, third party-verified, voluntary rating system which promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

A environmentally sustainable home may feature:girl-holding-flask.jpg

  • A sustainable site plan maximizing space utilization in urban settings
  • Water efficient fixtures and dual flush toilets
  • Day-lighting – bringing in the natural light into a majority of inner spaces
  • Windows positioned to utilize the North/ Eastern sunlight (natural light without the heat gain)
  • Optimized multi-zoned air conditioning system
  • Landscape – Use of native vegetation to minimize irrigation needs
  • Low E (emissivity) Insulated Glass with double panes
  • Paints that do not off-gas harmful vapors, such at Low or Zero VOC (volatile organic compound) types
  • Floors that are are pre-finished or do not require additional chemical sealers during the installation.

LEED homes (also known as ‘green homes’ are often visually indistinguishable from conventional homes. The difference is in the energy used during its lifetime and build.  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

Some of the environmentally conscious features we incorporate in our developments include:

  • 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 1.5 gallons per minute (Watersense certified)
  • Showcase Windows – Low E (emissivity) Insulated Glass with double panes (Energy Star compliant), these windows have a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).  In a warm environment like Houston, the lower the SHGC , the better
  • Daylighting – 98% of living spaces and closets are day-lit with windows and skylights
  • Roof System – Radiant Barrier in roof to minimize heat gain and loss thru roof system
  • Shingles – rated 30 years, light colored for low heat absorption
  • HVAC – Multi-zoned 16 SEER air conditioning system, CFC Reduction in HVAC Equipment, supply and return air ducts located in interior spaces for better energy efficiency with integrated fresh air supply
  • Garage exhaust venting - with Carbon Monoxide monitors
  • Insulation – Formaldehyde Free (Johns Manville) with higher R-factor insulation exceeds minimum code requirement
  • Garage and Attic spaces – Insulated walls instead of hollow wood framed walls
  • Paint – Low/Zero VOC paint (lower emissions, better Indoor Air Quality) – Sherwin Williams Harmony
  • Building materials – Local / Regional building materials used which require less transportation impact
  • Appliances - Energy Star rated to lower annual energy usage impact
  • Lighting – CFL and LED light bulbs used in kitchens and closets and garages and exterior light fixtures, an energy efficient alternative that emits soft soothing white light
  • 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

References:

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.