What makes Graystone "green?"
“What is the use of a house if you don’t have a decent planet to put it on?”
Henry David Thoreau
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 the Energy Star program to provide our homeowners with certification documenting the energy efficiency of their homes.
Our "standard" green products:
“LP” TechShield radiant barrier sheathing
Techshield is made by LP and is a thin but durable layer of aluminum applied to oriented strand board sheeting. It is designed to not only keep heat out of attic spaces, but also help keep conditioned spaces more efficient. The foil side is installed down towards the attic, the radiant barrier is a highly reflective and low emitting material that helps reduce the solar heat gain in the attic space. According to LP Techshield will prevent 97% radiant heat from penetrating the panel into the attic Techshield is installed like any other roof sheeting, It should be noted that this does not eliminate the need for attic insulation.
R-13.8 blown-in cellulose insulation at all exterior framed walls
Blown in cellulose insulation is made mostly from shredded newspaper and mixed with a variety of chemicals to reduce its flammability and keep it from settling. Blown in cellulose insulation is 2-3 times denser than fiberglass insulation. Studies comparing Blown in cellulose insulation Vs fiberglass insulation show that cellulose insulation was 38% tighter and required 26% less energy. A Princeton University study shows, a group of homes with blown in cellulose insulation in the walls had an average of 24.5% reduction of air infiltration compared to fiberglass insulation, with only the walls insulated. A similar study, the Leominster MA Housing Project for the Elderly found that, a building with blown in cellulose insulation compared to a building with R-13 fiberglass batt insulation in the walls and R-38 fiberglass batt insulation in the ceiling, had 40% lower leakage.
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Fire Resistant - blown in cellulose insulation is treated for fire retardancy. If a fire occurs, the blown in cellulose insulation, combined with its fire retardants, can slow the fire from spreading and can create a "2-hour firewall". Scientists at the National Research Council of Canada report that, blown in cellulose insulation increases fire
DuPont™ Tyvek® House Wrap
DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® delivers the optimum balance of properties for superior performance against the elements. Tyvek® helps prevent outside water from entering the walls and helps to seal the home to keep outside air where it belongs. DuPont™ Tyvek® helps reduce homeowner energy bill because homes stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter and dry all year round. The breathable structure of this house wrap allows moisture vapor to pass through to help promote drying in wall systems which can aid in preventing the growth of mold and mildew. The unique non-woven fiber structure of DuPont™ Tyvek® stops air movement through the walls helping to provide a more energy efficient home.
Andersen 200 Series Double-Hung Insulated Low-E Windows
Andersen® 200 Series windows and doors give you the craftsmanship, performance and energy efficiency you’ve come to expect from Andersen. Featuring beautiful wood interiors, quality craftsmanship, reliability and low maintenance. Double-hung windows have two sash in a single frame which slide up or down to provide ventilation. Because their sash remain flush with the wall while the window is open, they are a good choice for walls adjacent to patios, decks and walkways. The Andersen® 200 Series tilt-wash double-hung windows feature low maintenance Perma-Shield® exteriors along with clear pine interiors to bring the warmth of natural wood into your home. Or, if you prefer, choose a factory-painted white interior with an ultra-smooth low maintenance finish. Either way, they come in our most popular sizes and give you our most requested options, along with our renowned Owner-2-Owner® warranty.
Independent Certification
We use an independent contractor for blower door and duct testing to verify the efficiency of your home.The overall draftiness – or “unintended infiltration” – of a house is measured by the blower door test. Drafts affect a home’s heating/cooling costs as much as any single other factor. The blower door also is used to locate these leaks and to discover the “air changes per hour” – a figure that greatly affects both energy use and occupant health. A duct leakage test measures the amount of air that a duct system loses to the outside of the house. If all of a home’s ductwork is installed within conditioned space this test may not be warranted. For homes with ducts in attics or vented crawlspaces, studies indicate that average leakage to the outside is greater than 15%. Leakage of greater than 30% is not uncommon.