Green Building
Green building is defined as "the careful design, construction, operation and reuse or removal of the built environment in an environmentally sound, energy efficient and sustainable manner."1 Click here for a "How Homes Become Green" Diagram. It is nothing less than a quiet revolution and a very holistic concept in the way that new homes are designed and constructed.
These are Bandera Master Builders' green building cornerstones:
 | Optimal value engineering, which maximizes the efficient use of dimensional lumber during the construction of the home. Look closely at our floorplans and notice that a master suite is 13'8" wide by 17'8" long and the ceiling height is 10'1". Why these nonstandard sizes? Because our home designs are engineered to fully utilize dimensional lumber, which reduces cuts (material waste) and labor (in framing and cleanup). This results in a more efficient home in terms of lower aggregate construction costs and a smaller carbon footprint (the amount of energy utilized to construct and maintain a home). |
| Energy efficiency in the heating/cooling systems (variable speed 14+SEER HVAC units with insulated ducting and programmable thermostats), direct heating tankless hot water systems and ENERGY STARŪ windows, appliances, light fixtures and ceiling fans. Additionally, we increase the performance of the building envelope with a variety of products, such as LoE2 insulated windows, attic ventilation systems, radiant barrier house wrap, insulated rigid foam sheathing & radiant barrier roof sheathing. |
| A commitment to the use of local craftsmen and indigenous materials based on environmental & community stewardship. Handcrafted wood doors and site-built cabinetry refined to our critical eye. Reducing and reusing job site materials and utilizing indigenous building materials (ironwork from local blacksmiths, hand-trowelled wall texturing, stained glass fabricated by area artists, bricks and limestone from regional kilns and quarries, locally harvested, milled and hand-hewn cedar for beam and post work and architectural detailing). |
| A priority on resource efficiency. Engineered flooring systems that use half the trees of dimensional lumber, finger-jointed wall studs that allow the use of easily renewable trees and oriented strand board (OSB) that utilizes reprocessed forest products. Other materials include vinyl frame windows, 30-year architectural composition roofing and fiber-cement siding. |
| Site selection and home design techniques that reduce passive solar heat gain, preserve the natural environment, reduce erosion and protect the natural vegetation (most notably, existing trees). |
| Water conservation indoors & outdoors. Examples include low flush toilets, restricted flow showerheads, faucets, aerobic septic systems and programmable, automated sprinkler systems. |
1 Builder magazine, June 2006.
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