Although “Green” building is a relatively new term in the construction industry, many of the techniques have been around for decades. This is a constantly changing and evolving building science that we are committed to promoting. What “Green” building simply means is that we are utilizing the most environmentally-friendly building techniques, materials and systems to create a more energy efficient and sustainable home for you.

The process starts with how the home is positioned on your land. This is called -siting the home- and is vital to capturing passive solar heating and cooling elements. The building materials we use often come from recycled materials. We can choose to utilize more recycled materials in your project. Your heating and cooling systems can be powered primarily through a geothermal system that uses the heat from the Earth and transfers it into your house. This system will pay for itself in a few years time and saves you from using more fossil fuel to heat your house. Not a bad idea with the cost of oil these days. There are also Federal tax credits available and some power companies in the State of NH offer incentives up to $7500 for these systems.

Green building also means that the home is very energy efficient. Ridgeview Construction recommends low-E, argon filled windows for all of our projects. We also recommend higher than average R-value insulation. R-23 in walls instead of R-19 and R-38 in ceilings instead of R-30. Proper venting contributes to a healthier and more energy efficient home as well. We recommend continuous running Whisperlite fans, or a heat recovery ventilator(HRV), for efficient home ventilation.

We can incorporate some, or all of these building practices into your project. Some of the easiest ways to be “green” are with Energy-Star appliances, efficient toilets and fixtures and even light bulbs. Ridgeview Construction is proud to be an Energy-Star builder, for more information go to: www.energystar.gov For any other questions you may have, please email us at: buildgreen@ridgeview-construction.com