Go Big and Green

Education and Challenges

With most custom home projects, challenges are ever present, and this home was no exception. One challenge Baker met was minimizing all the materials required for building such a large project. “Another challenge lies in the fact that a larger home typically has more exterior surface area exposed to the outdoor climate, which inevitably increases the home’s vulnerability through possible weak spots in the building envelope. This can be overcome with sound design and extra-attentive care including effective on-site quality control,” Baker adds.

Educating clients that energy-efficient solutions are available can be another challenge. “Unfortunately, in our region green isn’t at the forefront or as well-understood,” Baker says. “We get two clients: one who likes the style of our homes; and then you get the people who come to us because they know we are a green builder. The best thing we can sell is energy and cost savings. The other thing we can sell is healthy homes; we live in an area with high allergen and pollen levels.”

For trades looking to take their clients to the next level by offering energy efficiency no matter the size home they’re requesting, Baker emphasizes that builders should take extra time planning energy-efficient strategies. “Before jumping into any green project, builders may need to first take a step back and generate an initial plan for success because lot choice and site design, including passive solar strategies, are significant factors in laying the greenest possible foundation for the project ahead.”

Studio26 homes

Company Stats
Industry memberships: DOE Building America Builder-Partner, EPA Partner, USGBC, BPRA, NAHB, PBA, LVBA, LVGBF
Residential new construction: 90 percent
Residential remodeling: 10 percent

Exterior
Roofing: CertainTeed
Siding: James Hardie
Brick/stone/stucco: Eldorado Stone
Doors: Pella Windows and Doors
Locksets & hardware: Baldwin Hardware
Garage doors: Clopay
Insulation: Johns Manville
Skylights: Tru-Lite Skylights
HVAC: Trane Inc.

Interior
Doors: Simpson Door
Tile: Marca Corona, Crossville
Brick/stone/stucco: Eldorado Stone
Fireplaces: Napoleon
Central vacuum: Beam

Outdoor Living
Decking: Trex
Lighting: Hinkley
Fireplaces: Majestic
Grill: Lynx Grills

Kitchen
Sinks: Kindred, Blanco
Faucets: Kohler Co.
Range: Thermador
Exhaust hood: Thermador
Ovens: Miele
Refrigerators: Thermador
Wine coolers: Liebherr
Dishwashers: Miele, KitchenAid
Washer/dryer: Whirlpool
Microwave oven: Thermador

Bath
Tubs: Aquatic
Toilets: Toto
Showers: Aker
Shower faucets: Kohler Co., Grohe
Sinks: Kohler Co.
Sink faucets: Kohler Co., Grohe

Home Technology
Lighting control system: Lutron, Leviton
Security system: Honeywell