DIY Network

Better Buying From "Best Built Home" episode DBBH-101F

In this segment of the first episode of "The Best Home" workshop, host Lynda Lyday talks about better buying of homes that are built with a new approach to building -- more trees, larger parks and play areas and homes with character. She also takes a look at a voluntary green building program in Atlanta called EarthCraft House?.

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When considering a new home, it's vital to find a builder that understands your goals and desires for the house. The Sterk family in Atlanta, Georgia, wanted to find a builder who was flexible to their needs for building a quality home in a well-planned neighborhood.

Hedgewood Properties fit the bill. "When we talked with Hedgewood, they made it very apparent that we could customize the things we wanted to customize," Terry Sterk said. "We made significant changes within the house with the internal layout -- not really the external, and there were no up charges significantly for that. They were very accommodating in terms of what they could do."

The couple was relieved that the builder had a unique approach to production-home building. The plan and focus for Hedgewood is on alternative land usage -- parks and spaces to walk, for example.

Most production-home companies provide an architect's model of the neighborhood where their homes are built.

The Sterk family home in Atlanta.

	Figure A
	Figure B

What is EarthCraft House?(TM)

An EarthCraft house is a sensible approach to environmental construction -- a blueprint for healthy living. The houses are approached holistically, which means the builder wants to know and do the following:

• Size of the house.

• Sizing the equipment properly.

• Defining the building envelope with proper sealing (figure A).

• Using the right windows in the appropriate locations.

• Moisture control.

All of these components work together to create a high-performance home, which uses fewer resources from the construction phase (figure B) to the daily operation of the house.

Note: Building practices that address energy efficiency are important when selecting a builder.

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

EarthCraft is a voluntary building program that certifies a home to be energy and resource efficient, low maintenance and ensures healthy air quality. To certify (figure C) a house such as an EarthCraft home, a new home has to earn points in several categories:

• Energy, which constitutes half of the points in the program, is the primary category.

• Indoor air quality.

• Water resource.

• Waste management.

• Site planning and development.

• Homeowner education.

To meet EarthCraft's energy standard the home has to be built air-tight, and appliances such as furnaces and hot-water heaters (figure D) must be sized to operate at peak efficiency.

Scoring points for good indoor air quality means proper ventilation in the home, which is directly related to how moisture is dealt with in the house. Source areas such as bathrooms "must" be ventilated properly or there will be mold and mildew issues. Also, the air that is brought into the home should be properly ventilated.

To score points in the resource management category the home should be built not only with conservation in mind, but also with minimal waste (figure E). Resource management deals with the materials that are used in the home, and it's important not to use more materials than are needed.

In this segment, we'll visit with a builder in Virginia who has taken the construction process into the factory.

RESOURCES :

Oakwood Homes
Phone: 303-486-8500
Website: www.MoreHouseLessMoney.com

Hedgewood Properties
E-mail: sales@hedgewoodhomes.com
Website: www.hedgewoodhomes.com

EarthCraft House™

EarthCraft House is a voluntary green building program of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help Atlanta's home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship.

Website: www.earthcrafthouse.com

Pulte Homes
Toll-free: 800-777-8583
Website: www.pulte.com

GUESTS :

Paul Kreischer
Energy Efficiency and Comfort Consultant
Lightly Treading
Phone: 303-733-3078
Website: www.lightlytreading.com

Rob Johnson
Energy Efficiency Consultant
EarthCraft House
Website: www.earthcrafthouse.com

Michael Dickens
CEO, BuildIQ
Website: www.buildiq.com