Green Building

Green Building means improving the way that homes and homebuilding sites use energy, water, and materials to reduce impacts on human health and the environment.
– Energy Star

Boone NC Custom Home Builders Green Certified Builders

What is Green Building Exactly?

What constitutes a green home and how far we will go to build sustainably continues to evolve. From the beginning of our building we have been trying to do the right thing and take care of the environment. Our custom homes have always been and will always be a blend of our best efforts, our knowledge and the client’s commitment. Our knowledge of green building continues to grow through reading, course work and real-life experience. We believe the Energy Star standard is the least we should be aiming for in our work, yet many of our projects far exceed this benchmark. Energy Star homes are significantly more energy efficient than standard homes. Headwaters is committed to building green homes.

This commitment to building green homes has led Chase Ambler to become certified by the Building Performance Institute as a Building Analyst, the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED AP and is recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders as a Certified Green Professional (CGP). Chase is holds a Master degree from Appalachian State University in Building Science.

How We Apply Green Building

Tight Construction and Ducts

Advanced techniques for sealing holes and cracks in the home’s envelope and in heating and cooling ducts help reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pest, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while lowering utility and maintenance costs. To ensure tight construction each new home is tested with a blower door to find and stop the air leaks.

Effective Insulation

Properly installed insulation ensures even temperatures throughout the house, while using less energy. The result is lower utility cost and a quieter more comfortable home.

Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

An energy-efficient, properly designed and installed system, uses less energy to operate, which reduces your utility bills as well as your carbon footprint. An efficient system will be quieter, control indoor humidity, filter and provide fresh air making for a more comfortable home.

High Performance Windows

Energy efficient windows employ advanced technologies to keep the heat in during the winter and out during the summer.

Efficient Products

We try to equip the homes we build with Energy Star rated products wherever we can. These include heating, cooling, ventilation systems, lighting, and kitchen appliances.

Why We Care?

For a home to be green it must use resources wisely, both during construction and for the life of the structure. To make a home green the work and attention to detail start long before construction begins and requires meticulous attention to details during construction. While there are very few simple steps to making a home green we relish the opportunity to explore that journey with you. Being environmentalist all our lives, Holly and Chase have always been involved in outdoor recreation and environmental education.

After graduating from Appalachian State University Holly and Chase worked as field instructors for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS is a pioneer and leader in minimum impact techniques. They volunteer with and have served on the boards of local non-profits working for the preservation and conservation of land both public and private. Caring about the natural world is in their blood. Chase’s Great-grandfather, Chase Peter Ambler played an important role in the early conservation efforts of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. His work contributed to the establishment of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and the Weeks Law establishing our system of National Forest.

As green has become the buzz word over the past couple of years, most every builder is trying to figure out how to position themselves to be a part of this trend. While none of us know everything, or even enough, Headwaters is committed to doing our best with each opportunity. We are delighted to find ourselves surrounded by so many people who are concerned about the planet and how their choices impact it.

Learn More About Green Building

Check out some of these educational websites designed to help make sense of green building.

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