A Custom GreenBuilt Company
Builders Terms
Advanced Framing: Advanced house framing refers to framing techniques designed to reduce the amount of lumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wood-framed house. These techniques boost energy efficiency by replacing lumber with insulation material while maintaining the structural integrity of the home.
Airseal: Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment, often one year or less.
Energy Efficient: The goal is to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production process or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. There are many motivations to improve energy efficiency. Reducing energy use reduces energy costs and may result in a financial cost saving to consumers if the energy savings offset any additional costs of implementing an energy-efficient technology. Reducing energy use is also seen as a solution to the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Star Appliances: Energy Star is a government-backed labeling program that helps people and organizations save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by identifying factories, office equipment, home appliances and electronics that have superior energy efficiency.
Green Built: Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.
Healthy Built: The built environment is increasingly viewed as an important determinant of human health. Consequently creating environments that promote health and wellbeing is one of the NSW Department of Health's key preventive health priorities.
High Efficiency Heating and Cooling Systems: High efficiency systems come with a variety of options. They come with programmable thermostats to help control temperatures throughout the day. They offer the newest in technology, which can introduce everything from solar to geothermal technology into your home. Your priorities can lead the way to install the best equipment for your situation.
Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures: Low-flow equipment includes special types of fixtures applied to plumbing appliances that moderate the flow of water thus reducing water usage but not interrupting utility.
Low Toxic/Low VOC Products: Questionable chemicals that may cause health issues to the inhabitants or damage to the environment lurk in many common home building materials. But safer alternatives do exist.
Minimal Site Disturbance: The goal in the grading phase to preserve existing noninvasive trees, native plants, and pervious surfaces.
Precast Walls: Precast concrete is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into place.
Pre-Construction Process: This pre construction planning stage involves the definition of the project, the identification of potential issues, planning and scheduling, the scope, cost estimation, and analysis of needs for the job. Good pre-construction will help a client decide if they can follow through with the construction project. They may find during this pre-construction phase that the work is either too expensive, or not feasible for the space they have. If the contractor and client agree work to be done is viable, the contractor will then provide the client with a cost and schedule for the construction project.
Solar Panels/Solar Water Heater: Solar water heaters can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use -- sunshine -- is free. Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.
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Vastu: Vastu shastra is a traditional Hindu system of architecture which literally translates to "science of architecture." There are texts found on the Indian subcontinent that describe principles of design, layout, measurements, ground preparation, space arrangement, and spatial geometry - all believed to increase the positive energy and therefore quality of life in a home.
Universal Design: Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability or other factors (I.e. gentle accesses, wide doorways, etc.).