This just in! The Department of Energy has recently announced the award winners for their 2019 Housing Innovation Awards. We are so thrilled to announce that our recent Ridgeline project, the first Zero Energy Ready Home in our area, was selected as one of this year’s winners! According to…
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. While 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…
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…
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…
Leigha Dickens, Deltec’s green building and sustainability manager is featured in this blog post about her adventures at Building Science Summer Camp I just got back from the 19th Annual Westford Symposium on Building Science, often referred to as Building Science Summer Camp. Just like with any good camp,…
It’s good to remember every now and again that problems can often be resolved by stepping back and taking a fresh look at the big picture. A case in point: Deltec’s insulated headers. Deltec uses GreenGuard® wrap for insulating, and we have done so for many years. GreenGuard® helps…
