Duke Brothers

Monday, June 30, 2008

Green Building

Our green building open houses were successful! Not long ago, we were certified as an Energy Star Partner. Our market home, 3008 Quail Run Drive, tested over 30% more energy efficient than the average home.

What is Energy Star? You may have heard the name when shopping for appliances for your kitchen. Dishwashers, fridges, and clothes washers are just some of the products on which you’ve probably seen the ES logo.

There are so many ways in which someone can go green in their house. The easiest way, and possibly the cheapest, is the change light bulbs to the new fluorescent. Some of the ways Duke Brothers chose to make the house green is: using a tankless water heater, dual flush toilets, hybrid heating system, higher R-value insulation in exterior walls & ceiling, sealed crawlspace, low-emissions windows, and the use of joists & truss systems for less lumber usage.

Other ways to go green are using solar, wind turbines, concrete masonry framing, rain & grey water reclamation systems, or geothermal heating.

Some people might argue that energy savings and green are not the same thing but I say that anything that prompts someone to use less energy (whether it’s gas or electric) is helping not only their pocketbook, but the environment.