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A beige house that's green throughout
Marlborough Point house is green through and through
Date published: 2/29/2008
BY RICHARD AMRHINE What is a realistic way for builders to regain buyers' interest in a tough housing market? Maybe they could build houses as cheaply as possible, because cheap is all that people can afford. But a better answer, more builders are discovering, is to present buyers with innovative homes using the latest technology that will save them money in the long run while preserving the environment at the same time. On a building site along Marlborough Point Road in eastern Stafford County, builder Jeff Hall of J. Hall Homes is doing just that. He's building a steel-frame house for clients seeking a home that is safe, efficient and technologically advanced. Such a house could be virtually fireproof, termite- and vermin-proof, stormproof, mold-resistant and highly energy-efficient. Hall has all that covered--with stucco exterior walls and a standing-seam metal roof--in a house that he says costs little more per square foot than a typical stick-built house. The difference is that this one immediately starts paying its owners back. ACHIEVING EFFICIENCY At the heart of this new house will be a geothermal heating and cooling system with an air exchanger that lets the house "breathe" as it conditions and regulates the humidity of the incoming air. The system provides hot water at no extra charge, though a tankless water heater will be there just in case. "People just have to stop and think about what they want and how they can achieve it," he said. "You just have to consider your options before you jump in." Hall said a builder has to be willing to try new methods, and to work with his subcontractors on navigating the learning curve involved. "None of us can be content with doing things the same old way," he said of his fellow builders. "It's in my best interest to bring these guys that I like, that I've worked with for years, right along with me. And they want to learn." The house was designed by Warrenton architect Angus McDonald and uses Amcor's Unified Steel and Cement System. Hall is following the EarthCraft process, which covers all aspects of site planning, construction and utility systems. To achieve EarthCraft certification, homes must pass tests for energy efficiency, air infiltration and duct leakage established by EnergyStar and the Home Energy Rating System (HERS).
Date published: 2/29/2008
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