Graystone's Green Building
Practices
What makes Graystone "Green?"
What does the Energy Star rating
mean?
What are the benefits of
purchasing Energy Star Qualified New Homes?
What is the Earthcraft House
program?
What makes Graystone "Green?"
Graystone Homes began building
long-lasting, environmentally sustainable homes long before “green
building” became popular. We have always cared about the land and the
environment where we build because this is not only our place of
business, it’s where we live. Our homes are proof that you don’t have
to sacrifice beauty, comfort or function to be green.
Green building uses environmentally friendly products to build with
(such as engineered floor joists, OSB sheathing) and energy efficient
building practices. The materials we use are of the highest quality
and not only meet the current energy rating requirements, but surpass
them.
We have partnered with Energy Star to provide our homeowners with
certification documenting the energy efficiency of their homes. We
have also committed to producing a certified
Earthcraft House in 2007.
Hear Anthony Clatterbuck's interview about green building on
Contractor.com:
Click here.
What does the Energy Star
rating mean?
Homes
that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency
set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified
homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built
to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).
ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of
energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high
performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating
and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and
appliances. These features contribute to improved home quality and
homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air
pollution. ENERGY STAR also encourages the use of energy-efficient
lighting and appliances, as well as features designed to improve
indoor air quality.
What are the benefits of
purchasing Energy Star Qualified New Homes?
PEACE
OF MIND
Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details
of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for the
government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are
truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace
of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency
guidelines.
LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use
substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water
heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7
to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of
dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can
also be substantial.
BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better
protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise.
An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between
and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.
SMART INVESTMENT
To date, over 2,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct
more than 500,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. By the end of the
decade, more than 2 million homes are expected to earn the ENERGY
STAR. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR
label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued
feature when the time comes to sell.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than
your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are
generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.
Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels
at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global
warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air
pollution we generate.
