See us at the Tour of Homes!

Paradime Construction is proud to be a part of the 2012 Tour of Homes starting this weekend and running every Saturday and Sunday through September 30.

Come see our featured home on the Tour at Saluda River Club.

The Tour is FREE and the hours are Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday 1pm-6pm.

Find out more at ColumbiaBuilders.com

              I am often asked ‘How do I make my home more energy efficient?’ My first reaction (being a custom home builder) is for them to sell their old inefficient home and let me build them a new one that might have half the energy bill they are paying now. I know that this option is not for everyone and so here are some principals that I use in new construction to make a home as energy efficient as possible.

         It starts with air sealing. You always hear the government tell you to caulk and weather-strip – unfortunately, they are right. This is the easiest and least expensive method to make a leaky home a tighter home. If you were to add up all the cracks in an existing home it would surprise you to find out that it is like leaving a 4’ x 4’ (or larger) window open all day. On days where the temperature is over 100 you would never think about doing that but that is exactly what'ss happening with a leaky home.

         When I build a new home, I seal every possible opening including the base-plates. These are the boards that connect the wall to the floor. This is a great spot for air and bugs to come in. If you were to pull up your carpet, you might see a black ring around the edge. This is dust that is pulled in from outdoors. By sealing the base-plates, you eliminate the air infiltration. Electrical and plumbing penetrations are also a source of a large amount of leaks. Get in behind your sinks and caulk/foam these holes and you will notice a difference in the temperature under your kitchen sink. HVAC vents are also a good place that is often overlooked. Remove the vents and caulk around the perimeter between the boot and the floor/ceiling and this will help remove air infiltration in these spots.

         The key is to not let your conditioned air out to heat/cool the outdoors. Your system works hard enough to control the temperature inside your home – don’t let that air mix with the outside. This will make your home more comfortable and save you money on energy expenses.

How are Energy Star 3.0 homes different?

Energy Star was created to help homebuyers recognize homes that have been built with a stricter level of energy efficiency requirements than homes built to standard building code.

Over the years standard building code has improved, making all homes more efficient.  Energy Star has also increased its level of program requirements that extend above and beyond standard code. Energy Star’s continued adherence to superior construction practices makes Energy Star homes efficient, proven and reliable.

In January of this year Energy Star rolled out a new set of regulations, called Energy Star 3.0, for homes seeking to become certified. This new set of standards applies to all Energy Star homes that began construction after January 1, 2012.

The 3.0 program includes new requirements such as:

-       Increased efficiency for HVAC units and water heaters

-       Increased efficiency requirements for windows

-       Mandatory programmable thermostats in all homes

-       Tests for leaks and drafts in the overall construction of the home

When buying a new home, the Energy Star symbol is a good way to differentiate between new homes on the market.  Energy Star provides assurance that your new home is built efficiently – helping the environment and your wallet!

First CHiP Certified Home in the Midlands!

PRESS RELEASE
Green Building Council of Greater Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC - April 24, 2012 - The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia announces the first certification of a house in the new Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home program.  The builder is Paradime Construction, Inc., a Home Builders Association (HBA) and Green Building Council member company.  The house, located in Columbia, SC, reached the Bronze Level in the program.

“We are pleased to offer this certification program in Columbia,” said Green Building Council Chairman, Peter D. Williams.  “It is a low-cost solution to build or remodel to a national standard, and assures the buyer that they have invested in a high performance home.”

The CHiP Home program is administered by the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia, which is a council of the HBA of Greater Columbia.  Homes in the program are third-party verified to ensure that they meet the criteria as outlined in the ANSI-approved 2008 National Green Building Standard™ (Icc 700-2008).  The Standard takes many aspects of the structure into account including energy, water and resource efficiency, lot design and preparation, and indoor air quality.  Minimum levels of compliance must be met in each area for a home to be worthy of a certification. 

For more information on the CHiP Home program, please visit the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia’s website at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com or call (803) 256-6238. 
For more information on Paradime Construction, Inc. and this home, visit their website at www.colahome.com or call (803) 600-4237.

Green Products Vs. Green Systems

The green movement has inspired many companies to promote environmentally friendly products. Individually, the majority of these products are superior to their more-traditional alternatives. For just a few dollars more, you can get ‘green’ products that have more benefits than items used in the past. For the most part, installing these green products will make your home more energy efficient and help do your part in improving our environment.

A house is a complex system that has an endless array of parts making up the whole. Today’s house is far more complex than early cabins constructed by the frontiersman solely for protection from the elements. Research in building science has shown the many dangers of improper home construction. The complexity of the current building codes arose from the past litigation for these incorrect construction practices.

Before you decide to purchase any of the new green products out there, understand how your current house is set up and how it might be affected by these new products. There are many dangers out there to installing a product that might upset the balance of your current system.

An energy rater should be the first person consulted. They have the ability to inspect and test your current home, letting you know what modifications will provide the most return on your investment. Their recommendations will include modifications that may need to be done to avoid any dangers and work with your current system.

Many of the new green products available today have the ability to increase the efficiency and comfort of your home. Just make sure you do the proper research to insure that these products will work with your current system and not against it.

What is Green Building?

What is Green Building?

Green building takes advantage of the most recent research and innovations in the construction industry that are not only environmentally friendly but also improve the quality and energy efficiency of today's homes. While there are many green products, features and practices that can go into both, design and construction, the ultimate goal is to insure that all of these aspects come together and perform well as a system in your home. These elements can be broken down into these catagories:

1) Lot Design, Preparation, and Development - By selecting a particular lot, selecting a knowledgeable team, and having a clear vision of how the construction will take place with Green standards in mind, you can have a home that will be more energy efficient and leave less of a footprint on its surroundings.

2) Resource Efficiency - Through environmentally-conscious design and innovation, the Green home uses low maintenance buildng products, including recycled, reused, renewable and indigenous material. These methods go a long way in conserving our valuable resources.

3) Energy Efficiency - Green homes use ecologically-minded design and construction to help maintain a comfortable interior temperature with less energy usage. When combined with available environmentally-friendly appliances and fixtures, Green home buyers are able to fully capitalize on this efficiency, saving both energy and money.

4) Water Efficiency - Proper design and installation of piping systems and fixtures helps insure a reduction in overall water demand in a Green home. There are even systems which allow for the collection of rainwater and grey-water for use both indoors and outdoors.

5) Indoor Environmental Quality - By reducing the amount of toxic chemicals, moisture, and allergens, the quality of life in a Green home is greatly improved.

6) Operation, Maintenance, and Owner Education - Any home is a complex system that needs to be properly maintained to operate efficiently. Educating the homeowner on both care and operation is an important factor in making sure the home functions at the optimum levels of performance.

These six catagories illustrate what goes into today's Green home. The right builder can use these eco-minded features and practices to build a home that is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Such an approach can insure that these homes are a benifit to both nature and the budget-minded buyer.

Come See us At the Home Show!

Paradime Construction is pleased to be participating in the 2012 Carolina Classic Home and Garden Show at the State Fairgrounds, March 9-11th.

Be sure to come visit us at Booth 201 in the Cantey Building!

For more information on show hours and details visit www.ColumbiaBuilders.com.