What is “ Green Building ”?

The concept of “ Green Building ” is fairly new to the general public and as such there is no national consensus for what constitutes a green building; therefore it can mean different things to different people.

What does Green Building mean to PD&M, Inc.?

To us, Green Building means incorporating environmental considerations into every phase of the building process including where possible:

            1. The design process

            2. The actual construction process

            3. The operation of the home.

Can you tell me more about these environmental considerations?

These considerations include:

- Lot development and preparation that minimize the impact of the home on the land is given a high priority. We of course have to take the view and other attributes of the lot into consideration when designing a home that maximizes the potential of each lot.

- Resource efficiency is also crucial during the design phase, incorporating specific environmentally friendly materials into the design.

- Energy Efficiency focuses on minimizing the use of fossil fuel, which will have a cumulative effect over the life of the home. Many of these components are part of a well built home and require little, if any, maintenance. Also, at the time of resale, this feature will be a critical selling point for the home.

- Water Efficiency can cut down on the per capita consumption of this valuable resource and is particularly important in drought times as we have seen recently.

- Proper Operation and Maintenance of the home is important to the long term efficiency and enjoyment of the home and as such PD&M provides our clients with a detailed “Maintenance Manual” specifically developed for each home.

Why should I care about having a Green Home?

There are many compelling reasons for choosing a home built with green considerations. As we all know, energy prices continue to increase at an astounding rate and by building a green home we can do our part to minimize the environmental impact both on a local and global scale.

Can you tell me about PD&M’s experience in Green Building ?

PD&M has been building energy efficient homes that blend in with their environment for many years. In fact, Mr. Fort’s first home at Smith Mountain Lake , built over 2 decades ago, was a passive solar design that he adapted to the unique characteristics of the lot. It is virtually impossible to tell it apart from a conventionally built home but the energy consumption was 30 to 40% less than a similarly sized home. The philosophy of building our clients’ homes as if we were building it for ourselves continues to this day.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a rating system to determine if and how green a home is. The Bronze level designates the minimum standards for a green home followed by Silver and then Gold. The homes that PD&M builds consistently rate either as a high Silver or Gold level, indicating a well designed, well built home that will give the owners many years of satisfaction. See below for a simple overview of some items that go into a green home:

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=62120

In addition, we have joined the most elite group of Green Building specialists as a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). http://www.usgbc.org/

This national organization has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and implement a set of guidelines that are the most stringent in the country. This process is known as LEEDS certification and requires following a strict design and construction process. To find out more about this new process for certifying residential homes click here:

http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3936

To our knowledge we are the only residential building company at Smith Mountain Lake that is a member of the USGBG.

How do I find out more?

Feel free to contact us to discuss your particular needs and interests. We will be happy to work with you to design and build a home that you can be proud of for years to come.