Des Moines Area Green Home Builder

Good for your family and the environment

What is Green Building?

In addition to being good for the environment, green building benefits you by providing energy savings, better durability, water savings and improved indoor air quality.

Green building, or sustainable building, is the process of increasing the efficiency with which homes use water, energy, and materials in order to reduce the impacts on human health and environment while saving money and providing you with a more durable, comfortable home.

We are a Certified GREEN Professional and all of our homes are 5-Star Energy Certified and built to NAHB Green standards.

Neighborhood Builders is builds Energy Star Certified Homes

Benefits of Green Home Building

Energy Efficiency

Some steps we take to ensure efficiency include:

Low E Windows and Low U Window Factors - Reflects up to 90% of long-wave heat energy and reduces the rate of heat loss through the window
Blown Cellulose Insulation – Consisting of recycled newspaper; an adhesive agent is added and sprayed in all walls providing an airtight home with a high R-value
RUUD 96% Gas Furnaces – Careful selection and sizing is used on all heating and cooling equipment to increase efficiency and lengthen equipment life. All gas furnaces are 2 stage variable speed and include a 10-year warranty
RUUD Thermostats - Our WiFi ready touch screen thermostats provide high tech efficiency with convenience such as built-in humidity controls
Hydron Module Geo-Thermal Systems – Using the earth to transfer heat to and from the soil is a very energy-efficient and comfortable way of living
Appliances – High efficient Energy Star appliances are used to save up to 30% of typical energy costs
Lighting & Lighting Controls – High-efficiency fluorescent bulbs and dimmers are used to increase energy efficiency
Tankless Hot Water Heaters – This option allows water to only be heated when needed to save energy and provide comfort
Roof Overhangs & Covered Entry – Roof overhangs and covered entries are used to help reflect heat from the sun and shed water

Durability & Materials

By using longer-lasting materials, you can count on less work and expense to maintain your home.

Long-Lasting Shingles
OSB – Oriented strand board is used in place of plywood
Alternative Siding Products – Fiber cement siding and masonry products are more sustainable in our geographic area and more energy efficient
Composite Materials - Various parts of the home are replaced with composite materials such as decking or Fypon products in replace of wood
Engineered Wood Products (EWP) – such as roof trusses, i-joists laminated and glue lam material
Interior and Exterior Drain Tile – To prevent moisture build-up
Recycled Gypsum – 15% of construction waste is drywall and is recycled into new gypsum board

Water Savings

Water-saving steps we use for both indoors and outdoors include:

Tankless Hot Water Heaters – This option allows water to only be heated when needed to save energy and provide comfort
Appliances – High efficient Energy Star appliances are used to save up to 30% of typical energy costs
Efficient Plumbing - Reduced hot-water runs, insulated hot-water pipes and high-efficiency toilets

Healthier Indoor Air & Comfort

We use these practices to help achieve better indoor air quality and comfort:

Honeywell Fresh Air Ventilation Systems – This system allows fresh air to be introduced into the home and increase your system's efficiency and overall comfort
LifeBreath - Heat recovery ventilators provided maximum home ventilation
AprilAir 500 Humidifiers - Optional powered units provided maximum humidity control
Sealed Duct Work – All aluminum ducts are caulked and sealed from leaking
Radiant Floor Heating - Geothermal or stand-alone power offers comfort and efficiency

All homes we build are third-party verified to meet 5-Star Energy & NAHB green building standards

To ensure that all features and systems of our homes are built and function as intended Heartland Energy Solutions is used as a third-party inspector to inspect insulation, ductwork, heating, and cooling systems and perform a blower door test to meet all 5-Star Energy requirements and meet NAHB Green Building standards.

The following steps are taken to verify the energy performance of our homes:

Testing & commissioning of HVAC systems
Insulation inspection
Blower door testing for house tightness (building envelope and leakage)
Home energy ratings
Test all components of the home
Adjust all systems to maximize efficiency
Provide maintenance training and manuals for our homeowners
2012 IECC Code Complaint

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is green building?

Green building, also known as sustainable building, is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which homes and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials; and protecting and restoring human health and the environment, throughout the building life-cycle: siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.

What makes a house "green"?

A green house is a structure that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout its life-cycle. These objectives expand and complement the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
Reducing waste, pollution and environment degradation

For example, green homes may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction; create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants; and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).

What are the benefits of green building?