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

  • Things to Consider Before Beginning Your Kitchen Remodel

    The idea of remodeling a kitchen may seem quite daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! To help you get started, here are four questions that you should answer before you even contact a remodeler: How do I like to live? – Your kitchen needs to tailor to your lifestyle.  Determine if you cook and entertain, or if it…

  • Consider PEX Piping for Your Next Remodeling Project

    There are a lot of choices to be made when considering materials for a remodeling project  and one of the most important areas in this regard is plumbing. While copper and PVC have been the standard for years, a new product, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), is gaining momentum as the new product of choice. Here are…

  • Follow These Tips to Create a Harmonious Shared Office Space

    A shared home office may seem difficult to manage if you’ve become accustomed to your own space. You may wonder if you’ll be as productive in a shared office or if you’ll have enough individual space. However, a shared office is a great way to maximize the space in your home and create a dedicated…

  • Seven Crucial Steps to Creating Your Dream Home

    Source: Country Club Homes Creating and building the home of your dreams may initially seem like a daunting task. However, it can be done with a minimum amount of stress if you take the time to do some planning. Here are seven crucial steps to this process. First, set your goals and second, establish the budget…