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Comment by Frank Redavide on July 17, 2009 at 9:05am

Jeff,
I see that you build homes and commercial projects. Have you certified any projects with LEED and/or NAHB? I agree with some of your points, but you really go through the entire process as it is far more comprehensive than you just described. It is a whole house process that incorporates everything and how everything works together.

Comment by Jeff Echols, CGP on July 17, 2009 at 8:33am

In response to Tina's question below: "Any 'green' home builders out there? What makes you green. Is it just LEED? or can you be slightly green without LEED certification? "

First of all, with all due respect to my colleagues, there is no such thing as a "Green Builder" or "Green Architect," there are only "Green" projects.

Second, I think that more important that the rating system (LEED, NAHB / ANSI, Energy Star, etc.) is the big picture; the actual sustainability of a project. Is a "green" project necessarily sustainable?

Many people, myself included sometimes, use the two terms interchangeably. But, especially the way we talk about it today, there is a difference. I read an article a while back that explained it pretty well. The author took the approach of looking at products; what products are "green" and are they also "sustainable?" The example that I liked was the iPod. I love my iPod. Is it a green product? In theory, it reduces the number of CD's manufactured, packaged, boxed up, shipped, sold in big box stores, etc. I'd say yes, it is a green product. Is it a sustainable product? It is manufactured in a region that is famous for horrific environmental standards, under who knows what kind of labor practices, of materials that are so noxious that many cannot even be recycled. I'd say that the iPod is definitely not a sustainable product.

The second point that I think many people don't have a good handle on is related to the "green" and "sustainable" discussion. Although many "green products" are very new and many more are coming into the market place every day, "sustainable" architecture and building is not new at all.

In fact, sustainable building practices are the oldest, most natural forms of construction. It may seem counterintuitive but in a very real way, the "green movement" is more of a correction, to use a financial market term, or coming back to our senses than some great breakthrough.

But this line of thinking has some major implications. We have to understand that as we design and build our new green homes, offices, schools, churches, etc. that just by using bamboo flooring and tankless water heaters we are not necessarily producing projects which are sustainable.

Most good practitioners of "green" or "sustainable" design and building understand that there is a holistic approach that must be taken. You cannot address energy efficiency and create a completely "tight" building envelope without also addressing indoor air quality. If you do, you'll end up with a very "sick" building not to mention its occupants.

In a similar vein, there are a number of builders in our market and others that are building homes that they are heavily marketing as being "green." These are, for the most part, well-built projects with many of the latest, most advanced "green" technologies and products available.

Some are also monstrous, million-dollar estates that will be occupied by three or four people. If these homes are truly "green" are they also sustainable? I would argue "no." Ideas such as those presented by Sarah Susanka in her "Not So Big House" series of writings are just as much a part of the equation as spray foam insulation.

The bottom line for me is that sustainability, by its very definition is a necessity. Forgive me for quoting from our website, but “At WERK, sustainable, or green design + construction integration is a normal part of our process. We believe that 90% of the decisions affecting a project’s level of sustainability are made during the first 10% of the process … the design process. In our view, green design and construction is not just about the incorporation of new technologies and materials, but about the appropriate implementation of sound planning and design practices with the latest technologies, resources, and construction practices.”

www.werk-build.com and our Architect-partners www.haus-arch.com if you’re interested

Comment by Chris Baggott on June 25, 2009 at 2:07pm

sorry, here is the actual link to vote:

http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/standings/best-of-theindychannel-com-a-list/4737/health-and-fitness/bike-shop

Comment by Chris Baggott on June 25, 2009 at 2:06pm

http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/standings/best-of-theindychannel-com-a-li...
Bicycle Garage does a lot for the biking community including financial support of the Hoosier Mt. Bike Association...the people who manually go out and build all the great new trails that are making Indiana such a Mt. Biking mecca. Combine that with great service and prices and they really are an asset to the community.

And great bloggers! http://blog.bgindy.com/blog/bicycle-garage-indy

Comment by Bill Silva on June 19, 2009 at 9:55pm

FYI,
The "grid" is also referred to the "National" electric power grid. With the grid, utilities can decide to "tie" in with other utilities within the state and across state borders by buying power, almost like an auction, among companies and then having the capability of switching onto the line. This is very important in case of power plants or power lines under maintenance, brown outs, and blackouts. This is also of the main concerns of National Security about the recent findings that a foreign country has hacked into the software that can control the power grid. This is being investigated as I am writing this. Texas was the only state that was not on the grid. There was no way for them to switch in for emergency power from other states.

Comment by Laura Ann Arnold on June 16, 2009 at 12:57pm

Lynn,

That was a good explanation of on grid vs. off grid. Frequently, on grid is referred to as grid tied. An off grid system could have battery storage which can be fairly expensive or some other type of back up electricity through an on-site generator. As I understand it there are a number of Amish folks with off grid systems. Apparently, some believe it is OK to use electricity if you generate it yourself.

Comment by Frank Redavide on June 16, 2009 at 9:44am

Castalia Homes certifies with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Homes (LEED) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program

Local homebuilder brings green home construction to area residents looking to lower utility bills and improve quality of life in Mooresville, Indiana

Castalia Homes is the premier builder in a development called The Villages of Eastmoore in Mooresville, Indiana. Their model home is located at 104 Liberty Blvd., off Bridge St., just east of St. Rd. 67, and is now open to the public. The builder is committed to building only LEED and NAHB certified homes in the development which will result in a 50-80% reduction in utility bills, compared to a standard-built home. In addition, these homes boast exceptional air quality, recycled content, products from local sources, and a reduction in harmful chemicals, water consumption, and overall maintenance of the home. The U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) is a strong supporter of Castalia Homes and welcomes Castalia Homes of Carmel, Indiana as a participant in LEED for homes, a national third-party certification system promoting energy efficient green homes which offer a healthier environment. Castalia Homes is a forerunner in providing this invaluable focus on green homebuilding in central Indiana.

LEED certification offers homebuyers the assurance that their home complies with the rigorous technical requirements relating to energy and water efficiency, indoor air quality, non-toxic materials, and environmental performance. LEED certification includes a home energy rating (HER) and onsite inspections. Lower insurance rates, advantageous financing, and government incentives and rebates may be available to LEED-certified homes.

The design of the homes in the Villages of Eastmoore reflects an early American style with a warm and rustic ambience. The model was created to be dramatic, yet comfortable and soothing to the senses. The builder used an innovative and practical approach in determining the use of space to meet the needs of today’s family. The goal is to build a home that combines elegance with quality craftsmanship. With close attention paid to every detail and the use of the latest technology and products, the home presents itself as captivating, yet warm and inviting.

Each home built by Castalia Homes in the Villages of Eastmoore will be built using recycled materials, free from formaldehyde and VOC’s, and will be safe for families with children, and those who suffer from illnesses and allergies. The unique combination of elegance and quality, while focusing on a green approach, is what sets Castalia homes apart from other premier builders in the Indianapolis area. Because of the use of sustainable materials, these homes are environmentally friendly and are dramatically less dependent on energy, resulting in reduced utility bills.

“Castalia Homes is gearing up to bring green LEED for Homes to the Indianapolis area,” said Frank Redavide, owner. “Our expertise in building LEED-certified homes will help us to address the rising energy and water costs homeowners are facing, and will help keep homeownership affordable. Building green really just means creating higher performance homes, and just makes good sense.”

“NAHB Green provides the home buyer with assurance that the home has been inspected and verified to be authentically green,” said NAHB Green Building Subcommittee Chair, Ray Tonjes, a custom home builder and remodeler in Austin, Texas. “I congratulate Castalia Homes for its leadership in sustainable design and construction.”

About Castalia Homes

Castalia Homes, LLC is a company building upon a tradition of value, quality, craftsmanship, and homeowner satisfaction. At Castalia Homes, we are dedicated to providing each of our clients with value packed custom built homes and an outstanding home buying experience. We accomplish this goal by building in exceptional communities, using innovative designs, superior construction, and knowledgeable associates with a combined 35 years of experience to assist our clients with home buying.

Keeping you informed on the progress of your new home and letting you know when it’s time to make a decision are just a few of the ways Castalia homes makes your home-building experience smooth and worry-free. As a custom builder, Castalia Homes can build you a home that’s very unique to your needs in a community of your choice or on your very own personal property.

Comment by Lynn Jenkins on June 16, 2009 at 9:42am

Hi John, My understanding is that "Off grid" is used to indicate there is no connection to the standard electricity grid. Doesn't mean you don't have electricity, just that it's not the standard connection from a utility company. If you are dependent totally on other means (wind/solar) and not coal/utility feeds, then you are "off grid." Since that's difficult to achieve at this point in Indiana (although there are some fascinating stories of such; and ILG will be highlighting one in Jul/Aug issue), I assume it's also "OK" to say you are partically off-grid, if you receive some of your power from renewable sources such as Wind/Solar...Not Coal, even though our Governor likes to call it a renewable energy source (HA...in a million years or so!)

Comment by John M. Feeney on June 16, 2009 at 9:20am

Was hoping someone could explain the difference between:

On Grid - Off Grid

This seems to be a focus point when consumers look for Residental Renewable Energy Solution providers.

Comment by Dan Miller on June 15, 2009 at 10:02pm

VCS has started an outreach program and in the month of June
we are focusing our efforts on raising money to help provide fans
for those in need who don’t have air conditioning during the hot summer months.

To that end we are holding a fundraiser that I think will be VERY easy to swallow!!!

Just take the ticket I have attached to this and have either lunch or dinner
at either UNO Grill in Indianapolis on June 26th.
Uno will donate 20% of your meal to this worthy cause.

We will combine the money generated by this fundraiser with the money we set aside from each Service call VCS performs this month and we hope to reach our goal of $1000.

Please help us reach our goal and enjoy a great meal in the process.

Thanks

Dan

PS make as many copies of this ticket as you want and give them away to friends and family. They can help us too.

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