Some Ideas to Consider …

  • Fairfield County Green Home Building Strategy #3 – Building Envelope & Air Quality

    Country Club Homes, Inc. is an environmentally aware Connecticut custom home builder continuing the family tradition of building high-quality, sustainable homes in Fairfield County, Connecticut for more than 50 years. In our ongoing series of posts on the subject of Fairfield County green home building strategies, we’ve covered the following two topics on the Blog:

    Fairfield County Green Home Building Strategy #1 – Passive Solar
    Fairfield County Green Home Building Strategy #2 – Energy Saving Materials & Systems

    The Green Home Building Strategy we will be discussing on the blog today covers the building envelope and indoor air quality. When we use the term building envelope, what do we mean? The building envelope is made up of the roof, floor and exterior walls that form a barrier between the indoor conditioned space and the outdoor unconditioned environment.

    According to writer Herb Kirchhoff at ehow.com, “A properly designed building envelope can substantially reduce heating costs in the cold seasons and cut cooling costs in hot seasons.” The insulating properties of the wall and window systems determine effectiveness. Low emissivity (Low-E) Argon gas filled windows are very effective insulators commonly used today. A building must also be airtight to be well-insulated. For more information about the building envelope, visit ‘Pushing the Envelope’.

    As new homes have become increasingly more airtight, the need for proper air supply and exhaust, and moisture control has become more significant. The reduction in air flow throughout the home allows for higher humidity, which if not regulated, may lead to mold growth.  The best way to prevent this is to prevent water from entering the conditioned space in the home with an air-tight, and moisture proof envelope system; and top-quality craftsmanship throughout the construction process.

    Interested in learning more about green home building strategies such as passive solar, or energy saving materials and systems? Click one of the links to an earlier post:  

    Fairfield County Green Home Building Strategy #1 – Passive Solar
    Fairfield County Green Home Building Strategy #2 – Energy Saving Materials & Systems

    If you are planning a custom new home or home remodeling work and are seeking green architectural design and construction services in the Fairfield County, Connecticut area, please contact us at 203-762-0550 or through the Country Club Homes, Inc. website. We welcome residential clients who are committed to incorporating these technologies into home design and construction.

    Image Source: Country Club Homes Portfolio

  • Don’t Pass By Your Passageways

    Open floor plans are still incredibly popular in all styles of home design, but not every part of your home can be completely open.  Especially in traditional style homes, hallways and passageways are a necessary feature.  These utilitarian spaces are rarely the focus of much design thought, but you can create a truly incredible home…

  • Embrace Historic Character in Your New Home With Brick Walls

    Brick has long served as a traditional building material and remains an excellent choice for your home. It adds character, texture, and visual interest to any space whether the brick is distressed, painted, or left in its original state. While it’s typically used on home exteriors, brick interior walls can give a traditional home some…

  • Concrete Counters Can Work Well in a Traditional Home

    Concrete counters, a hot new home design trend, are a great choice for a traditional home. Concrete provides homeowners and designers a wide range of options when choosing materials for a new home. Concrete counters work well in traditional home designs that feature a warm, earthy color palette. The countertops are often tinted to have a…

  • Current Home Buyer Preferences That Work Well With Traditional Style Homes

    Home design and construction professionals pay particular attention to current trends. They need to know and understand current home buyer preferences, the most sought after amenities, and what upgrades homeowners are looking for in new home construction. Traditional Kitchen by Wilton Design-Build Firms Country Club Homes via Houzz Our design and construction professionals at Country Club…