General Features Archives - Green Built Alliance

Leigha Dickens: Sustainable Building is Resilient Building: Designing Spaces that Last

Sustainable Building is Resilient Building: Designing Spaces that Last By Leigha Dickens In a world with a changing climate, how we design our homes matters. Reduced environmental impact has long been a huge focus of green building. Yet our homes are also critical in protecting us from the environment...

READ ARTICLE

Darren Henegar: Design-Build for Budget: Making the Case for Design-Build Homes

Design-Build for Budget: Making the Case for Design-Build Homes By Darren Henegar Construction projects are notorious for going over budget. Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing one, there are numerous challenges. These challenges are sometimes overlooked, leaving homeowners in a bind. We often hear...

READ ARTICLE

Amy Smith: Asheville’s Urban Forest: Solutions for a Sustainable City

Asheville’s Urban Forest: Solutions for a Sustainable City By Amy Smith Asheville is treasured by residents and visitors alike for the natural beauty surrounding the city. Our region is covered with forests, teeming with wildlife, and saturated with mountain views. Like all growing cities, Asheville faces the issue of...

READ ARTICLE

Stuart Zitin: Anti-Racism and the Building Industry: Our Role in Building Racial Equity

Anti-Racism and the Building Industry: Our Role in Building Racial Equity By Stuart Zitin We watched for almost nine horrifying minutes as a Minneapolis police officer suffocated George Floyd with a knee on his neck in May of 2020. Across the U.S. and the world, in cities and towns...

READ ARTICLE

Cari Barcas: Renewed Commitment: Future Looking Bright for Blue Horizons Project

Renewed Commitment: Future Looking Bright for Blue Horizons Project By Cari Barcas With more than two years of success in meeting the goals outlined for its community-focused campaign, Blue Horizons Project is excited for the next phase in its evolution and an expanded involvement in the region’s efforts to...

READ ARTICLE

RJ Taylor: Protecting Our Places: Economic and Environmental Benefits of Conservation Subdivisions

Protecting Our Places: Economic and Environmental Benefits of Conservation Subdivisions By RJ Taylor Western North Carolina is feeling a growth spurt. Many people around the country have become aware of our secret, that Asheville and the surrounding communities are a wonderful place to live and play. The downside result...

READ ARTICLE

Amy Musser and Matthew Vande: Bang For Your Buck: 7 Ways To Use Your Stimulus Check For Energy-Efficiency Improvements

Bang For Your Buck: 7 Ways To Use Your Stimulus Check For Energy-Efficiency Improvements By Amy Musser and Matthew Vande [caption id="attachment_5143" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Weatherstripping is installed on the front door of a local home. ENERGY SAVERS NETWORK PHOTO.[/caption] So you received your economic impact payment from the federal...

READ ARTICLE

Maggie Leslie: Leaner and Greener: Green Built Homes Rolls Out Updated Checklist, New Certifications

Leaner and Greener: Green Built Homes Rolls Out Updated Checklist, New Certifications By Maggie Leslie As codes have changed and technologies have advanced in the 16 years since the program’s inception in 2004, Green Built Homes has continually evolved to encourage positive changes in the building industry and highlight...

READ ARTICLE

Rick Bayless: Healthy Houses on a Budget: Identifying Ways to Improve Home Health for Less Than $1,000

Healthy Houses on a Budget: Identifying Ways to Improve Home Health for Less Than $1,000 By Rick Bayless All houses can be sick or healthy. A sick house ultimately brings an overwhelming load of both expenses and costs upon those who own and/or occupy it. These literal and figurative...

READ ARTICLE

Amy Musser and Matthew Vande: Hot Water Recirculating Loops: A Tricky Green Feature To Get Right

Hot Water Recirculating Loops: A Tricky Green Feature To Get Right By Amy Musser and Matthew Vande Hot water recirculating loops are having a moment. They’re popular with plumbers because they reduce callbacks from homeowners who don’t want to run their taps and wait for hot water. Recirculating loops...

READ ARTICLE