Modern. Sustainable. Atlanta. 404.303.7280

    • January

      29

      2014
    • 2399
    • 0

    ASHRAE GreenGuide: Four Editions, 10 Years, 158 GreenTips: e-book Made Available

    ATLANTA – When the first edition of the “ASHRAE GreenGuide” was first published 10 years ago, guidance on how practice green building design was not so readily available.

    “Since 2004, the industry has witnessed the continued evolution of green building programs from strictly voluntary to being both more in the industry mainstream as well as being mandatory in jurisdictions that adopted these for their building codes,” Tom Lawrence, a member of ASHRAE’s technical committee (TC 2.8) on building environmental impacts and sustainability, said.

    • January

      29

      2014
    • 2153
    • 0

    Reflections on a Deep Energy Retro Fit Part #1

    Being a high performance builder, you have to practice what you preach. This summer we completed a deep energy retrofit to our 1976 California Contemporary. A beautiful home with huge vaulted ceilings, little insulation, and massive amounts of south facing glass designed to overheat the home during our hot summers. Since I have been studying / preaching Passive House, I used the following standards in my home:

    One of the first reflections my wife and I have had is the silence. It is extremely quiet. I don’t hear any ambient noise. I still hear a few birds chirping in the morning and the neighborhood rooster. There is no HVAC noise. No creaking when the wind blows. No rain noise at 3am when a storm blows in. No thumping of rap music when the NY Times delivery guy drives through the neighborhood at 4am. It has taken a while to get use to this sort of quiet.Next reflection I want to share is the general comfort. It was 9 degrees F the other morning. I was……. Click on Article to read the rest.

    • October

      27

      2013
    • 2274
    • 0

    Little Green House: A Whole Family in 540 Square Feet — Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

    When Jessica and Yianni bought this tiny vacation house on Sauvie Island, just north of Portland, they decided, instead of expanding on its 540 square feet, to remodel the house to make the best use of the space available. In this modest footprint they created a retreat with ample room for their young family AND for guests, using …….

    • October

      27

      2013
    • 2903
    • 0

    7 Stunning Passive Houses That Will Cost Just Pennies to Heat This Winter

    For the 30,000 or so owners of passive houses these compromises are a thing of the past. They’ve got the comfort, the low emissions and barely a heating bill to speak of. I’ve looked at the technical reasons about why apassivhaus has a negligible heating bill in the past. But I’ve never mentioned how pretty……

    • October

      27

      2013
    • 1772
    • 0

    NBI: Updates in IECC codes to help building owners achieve energy efficiency

    Hearings to finalize the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) recently wrapped up with big wins for higher efficiency requirements in existing buildings, controls for lighting and daylighting hardware, and HVAC equipment specifications. New Buildings…….

    • October

      27

      2013
    • 2196
    • 0

    INFOGRAPHIC: Enervee Helps You Find the Greenest Home Appliances

    Home appliances drain a significant amount of energy and therefore money. Enervee has built an extensive database of product data to help consumers choose the most energy-efficient appliances and electronics for their homes

    • October

      6

      2013
    • 1996
    • 0

    Putting the Duct Back in Ductless Mini-Splits

    A ductless minisplit head isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, at least not aesthetically. One reader wonders if he can still get the benefits of a ductless system if he hides the head and makes his own ducts. (Photo: Fujitsu)A ductless mini-split head isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, at least not aesthetically. One reader wonders if he can still get the benefits of a ductless system if he hides the head and makes his own ducts.

    Ductless mini-splits have a lot going for them. These high-performance

    • June

      9

      2013
    • 1756
    • 0

    New Website Tracks Energy Laws

    Co-creators of the website, Advanced Energy Economy and the Center of the New Energy Economy, also provide free trend reports analyzing the data collected in the AEL Tracker. The most recent of these,………

    • June

      9

      2013
    • 2146
    • 0

    How to Remodel a Passive Solar Home – Mother Earth News

    Mother Earth News How to Remodel a Passive Solar Home Mother Earth News To learn more about passive solar design, this interview with Debra Rucker Coleman, conducted by Megan E. Phelps, discusses the many benefits of working with the sun, and what to consider when building a home using passive solar design……

    • June

      9

      2013
    • 1848
    • 0

    A great graphic explanation of the Living Building Challenge

    The Living Building Challenge is the toughest green standard out there, but it is seriously gaining traction as people get to understand it. I have tried to explain how it works (see a short version in Is the Bullitt Center the World’s Greenest Building?) but it is tough to wrap your ……

    • June

      9

      2013
    • 2925
    • 0

    Eco-friendly Composite Fence Options

    Even fencing in your backyard can be done in a more earth-friendly manner with products composed of recycled materials, such as plastic (typically HDPE) and reclaimed wood fibers.  This combination of materials creates a low-maintenance, durable composite fence that is resistant to cracking, rotting, and insect damage.  Plus, it offers the look of wood, but ….. Click Here to see the rest.

    • May

      5

      2013
    • 2033
    • 0

    Passive Vs LEED Vs Net-Zero Energy

    I think it’s time to provide some background on how this efficient-building standard compares with others.

    Passivhaus may look like a funny spelling, but actually it’s just a normal spelling, in German, a language in which “haus” means building, not house. Passivhausen can be schools, offices, anything. …………..

    • April

      22

      2013
    • 1741
    • 0

    5 Renovations to Make Your House Greener (Without Green Paint)

    hese days it seems that everyone trying to be greener. As people become more and more aware of their impact on the environment, the demand for more environmentally friendly products has risen. This is certainly the case in regards to home construction and renovation. Here are five renovations that can help make your home a bit more efficient and green, none of which involve painting your house green!

    Insulation

    A good place to start when……………

    • April

      21

      2013
    • 2351
    • 0

    Passivhaus Precedents: Zero Energy House from 1970s recognized with award

    Isaac Newton wrote about his work, acknowledging those before him: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” The idea of the Passivhaus, or Passive House building system, is often seen as an original mix of super-insulation, tight envelope and controlled ventilation, when in fact lot of people were looking at many of the key principles back in the seventies.

    • March

      21

      2013
    • 1877
    • 0

    City Of Atlanta, New Stormwater Ordinance Passes

    If you are thinking of building a new home or making an addition to your home, including most pools. You need to read further. The following is an excerpt from the Department of Watershed Management:

    Land development permanently alters the way in which stormwater flows across a site due to grading, compaction, and the installation of impervious cover. In order to mitigate these impacts, the City of Atlanta requires, in accordance with Chapter 74, Article X. Post Development Stormwater Management, that stormwater management measures be utilized when constructing a new home or an addition that is greater than 1,000 square feet of impervious surface.

    • March

      21

      2013
    • 2532
    • 0

    Cork Insulation on Our Farmhouse

    Cork? You’ve got to be kidding!

    I first learned about expanded cork insulation years ago when exploring the attic of a 1920s-era home in Brattleboro. I found a rigid boardstock insulation comprised of cork with plaster on one side. It was made by Armstrong, which was then a company making cork products but is today one of the world’s leading manufacturers of flooring and ceiling products.

    It turns out that the product was invented by accident…….. read more here.

    • March

      21

      2013
    • 1849
    • 0

    The Active House, yet another green building standard, comes to North America

    So welcome to the Active House, sponsored by VELUX, the big skylight manufacturer. It’s a new building standard that promotes energy saving, healthy indoor conditions with lots of fresh air and you guessed it, lots of natural light and ventilation from lots of windows and skylights…..

    • March

      21

      2013
    • 1942
    • 0

    5 Ways To Kick Off Your Green Spring Cleaning With Feng Shui Principles

    HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for winter to come to an end. Adios thermal underwear, hello shorts! Happily, the spring equinox occurs on March 20th this year, which is today! The equinox marks the two times each year at which day and night are equally balanced. In Feng Shui philosophy, the vernal equinox indicates the moment at which the excess of dark, cold, passive yin energy shifts into balance with the bright, hot, active yang energy. We move away from the extended hours of darkness and move into the longer daylight hours. Most importantly, it symbolizes a time for a new cycle of growth and ………………….. Read The Rest Here.

    • February

      10

      2013
    • 1949
    • 0

    GSA to Abandon LEED Endorsement

    Author name:

    • February

      10

      2013
    • 2033
    • 0

    Sam Rodell | Architect AIA Publishes Groundbreaking Paper

    Sam Rodell | Architect AIA Publishes Groundbreaking Paper PR Web (press release) In his paper, “The Beauty of Passive Design: Post Industrial Simplicity in Architectural Systems,” Rodell challenges the public to seriously consider emerging building practices, such as Passive House Design and SIREWALL, to reduce oil dependency and … and more

Search
Latest Posts
facebook instagram House Pinterest Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

© Copyright EcoCustom Homes | 5784 Lake Forrest Dr | Suite 216 | Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328 | 404.303.7280
Costs of Custom Homes

The first thing most people want to know is: What does it costs to build a 3000 sqft custom home in the Atlanta, GA. market?  The first thing you have to calculate is the square footage you want.  Once you have that, the numbers below give you a good starting point.

Adjusted Square Foot Calculation:

New Construction:

Renovations:

×