As Deltec’s green building manager, I get lots of questions from our clients about green building, from all kinds of angles. I love answering them! But sometimes, I come across industry news or thoughtful articles that answer these questions far better than I could have. Below I share 5…
We’ve written here before about the benefits of a green building certification to homeowners for energy bills in particular, such as the assurance that your builder is following many of the best practices known to building science, or that common issues that cause high energy bills are caught by…
The Department of Energy would like builders to up their game. Though it is worth celebrating the average 20% greater energy efficiency advertised by the Energy Star for Homes program, these days it’s possible to build homes that are even more energy efficient than that. It’s even possible while…
BY LEIGHA DICKENS, GREEN BUILDING & SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER AT DELTEC HOMES It was a conversation that occurred in a car ride, on our way back to Deltec from attending a Benefit Corporation meeting, when Steven Linton, our company President—and one of my most respected mentors in sustainability—said it. We…
By now you’ve watched me argue against the common reasons people fail to seek green certification on their home, and you’ve read my follow-up detailing common problems that can happen in homes that don’t bother to certify. Intrigued, hopefully you’ve then gotten a better understanding of the process of…
By now, you’ve seen my arguments in defense of green building certification programs, and you’ve even seen some of the problems that can arise in homes that don’t certify. Now that you’re convinced of the importance of green certification, it’s time to take a little time to help you…
If you’ve been on our website or read about Deltec, chances are you’ve seen a thing or two about green building, or about its components: energy efficiency, air quality, material sustainability or building durability. But have you heard about an umbrella term that encompasses many of these topics, the…
By Leigha Dickens, Green Building and Sustainability Manager for Deltec Homes Last month, I listed common reasons I hear from those who build homes but don’t get them certified through a third party green building certification program—arguing that with certification you end up getting a better house out of…
(Flawed) Reasons People Don’t Use Green Building Certification Programs By Leigha Dickens, Green Building and Sustainability Manager for Deltec Homes If I had a dollar for every time a client chose not to certify their new Deltec through a third party green building program (e.g. Energy Star for Homes,…
We take great pride in how energy efficient our homes are. But let’s be honest, we can only go so far. That’s why after years of research, we’re excited to announce our newest home feature that will truly change the industry as we know it:
The House A custom 1500 square foot round home in Mars Hill, NC. Open to the public to allow our costumers to come and see what net-zero living feels like in the round! HERS Score: 7 Certifications: Energy Star for Homes, NC, GreenBuilt Platinum and Net-Zero Certified Projected Yearly…
The House A custom Ridgeline model from our Renew Collection in Asheville, NC HERS Score: 6 Certifications: Energy Star for Homes, NC GreenBuilt Platinum and Net-Zero Certified, winner of Asheville Parade Of Homes Greenest Home Award Projected Yearly Energy Savings: $1450 (compared to typical new construction) The Story Amy…
In recent years, prefabricated building has gained more and more recognition as a “better way to build”. In addition to being faster and more energy efficient, prefab homes can be customized to fit your needs and personal taste. Whiles the rest of the world is just now catching up,…
When you see a home under construction, does it look like the picture on the left? That’s pretty common with traditional stick-built construction. In fact, with traditional on-site building, about 25-30% of construction materials are sent to the landfill. Mind you, that’s material you pay for! When you build…
The House Ridgeline B model in North Carolina, 1604 square feet. Their Story Rick and Maureen turned to Deltec, a company in their own backyard, to help them build the green home of their dreams. Having fallen in love with the Ridgeline design—created for Deltec Homes by a local…
Their Story Jim and Gail of Abingdon, VA grew up as environmentalists and readers of Mother Earth News—which is where they found Deltec Homes. They wanted to build a home that incorporated the oldest, yet most effective green technologies: passive solar design. They used the Deltec Homes’ Crescent Chalet…
This contemporary and simple model is designed for form and function when it comes to sustainability and layout. For this Renew Collection feature, I asked Andrea Martin, Deltec CAD Designer and brain behind the Highland what inspired her to create this model. “We knew contemporary homes are light and…
This Arts and Crafts style model offers a combination of classic architectural appeal and modern high-performance design. An open floorplan and the 400-square-foot wraparound porch ensures comfortable living space both indoors and out. Chad Moore, Deltec project manager and the lead designer of the Chestnut tells us more about…
Post by Leigha Dickens, Deltec Green Building and Sustainability Manager & Certified HERS Rater What’s Your HERS Score? If you haven’t heard of the RESNET HERS index and you’re interested in energy efficient building, prepare for a brief lesson (and take notes!). The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index…
This past year at Deltec we focused on growing our company while continuing our environmental stewardship. In our 2014 sustainability report you’ll find updates on our activities and performance in relation to our environmental and community outreach commitments. Highlights of the report include case studies of three of the…
