Modern. Sustainable. Atlanta. 404.303.7280

    • February

      18

      2012
    • 1885
    • 0

    Study shines a light on builders’ risk when pursing LEED

    A new study says that some LEED credits might carry an additional risk of worker injury of up to 41%. The study, published by the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Colorado Boulder, used empirical data to support their finding that a number of LEED credit carry substantial risks. The results might be a little frightening.

    The UCB professor behind the study says that his interest was piqued when he saw statistics that suggest worker injury occurs up to 50% more on LEED projects. Instead of making a case study out of this interesting statistic, the professor elected to craft an empirical examination, using data collected from a wide sample of LEED projects. The study looks at each credit in the LEED system, comparing it to traditional construction. For example – sustainable( living) roofing v. traditional (fabric sealed) roofing.

    • February

      18

      2012
    • 2986
    • 0

    Green wall system saves energy, increases air-cleaning efficiency

    The Active Phytoremediation Wall System is a modular system of pods, housing hydroponic plants. Its main purpose is to encourage airflow and contribute to the quality of life through its air cleaning capacities. The project is a result of a collaborative research between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
    It is a bio-mechanical hybrid system that produces ‘fresh air’ from within buildings, thereby reducing the energy consumption. Because the plants’ roots are exposed, instead of being buried in soil, the plants’ air-cleaning capacity increases by 200 to 300 percent. The pods themselves are made from vacuum-formed plastic, and the form allows the maximum amount of air to reach the root rhizomes while using the minimum amount of material. It also creates a beautiful base for the plants.

    • February

      18

      2012
    • 1561
    • 0

    Manhattan Architect Lives & Works in 78 Sq. Ft Apartment (Video)

    In this surprisingly small space, one young architect adapts by designing and building his own custom transformer furniture.

    We’ve seen many ingenious ideas being put into small and efficient spaces in order to make them work. But this 78-square-foot living space may be one of the smallest we’ve seen (aside from tiny “tiny houses”). Located in the midtown Manhattan neighbourhood of Hell’s Kitchen, it’s the home and office of architect Luke Clark Tyler, and one has to see this Fair Companies video it to believe it.

    • February

      5

      2012
    • 1522
    • 0

    Hydroforce pump for rainwater harvesting – World Pumps

    Hydroforce pump for rainwater harvesting World Pumps The pump features an alloy bulkhead, pressure release gap and patent-pending twin chamber design which prevents ingress of water to motor, electrical components and to bearing oil. The Hydroforce pump is pressure sensitive, and turns itself off until ..

    • February

      5

      2012
    • 1889
    • 0

    Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC): Will the U.S. Ever Lighten Up?

    To read what manufacturers and distributors say about it, you’d think autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was some kind of new, space-age environmental miracle.

    Although it certainly has some nifty properties, AAC isn’t new and isn’t miraculous–but it’s certainly popular in Europe, and has been for decades; according to one source, it accounted for 60% of all new construction in Germany in 2006. It has enjoyed pretty flat market share (of near zero) here in the U.S., though, since it was first introduced in the 1990s.

    Is there space for AAC in the U.S. market?

    • February

      5

      2012
    • 1843
    • 0

    Army to Congress: LEED Doesn’t Cost More

    The Army is still going for Gold and Platinum despite recent legislation calling a halt to LEED spending. Fort Carson is piloting net-zero energy, water, and waste–and expects to meet that target by 2020. The federal government has been one of the biggest supporters of LEED certification in the last few years, with the General Services Administration (GSA) requiring basic LEED certification for all federal buildings starting in 2003 and then upping that requirement to LEED Gold in 2010 .

    • February

      5

      2012
    • 922
    • 0

    Take a peek at Sustainable Industries’ 10 best green building products for 2011

    2011 marked Sustainable Industries’ sixth annual competition where more than 100 entries were received and evaluated. The requirements to make the top ten list are environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovativeness, design aesthetic, plus value and compatibility with LEED.
    The top ten were:

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 2280
    • 0

    Eco Custom Homes featured twice in Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine

    Pick up the current copy of Home Improvement Magazine. We have 2 projects featured in this years Green Guide. Click here to read the rest…….

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 2546
    • 0

    What is the Greenest Insulation? The Case for Mineral Wool

    f you are interested in green building, or call yourself a green building expert, then you should know about Mineral Wool insulation. If you have not seen Mineral Wool handled and installed, then you need to read this. If you think that Mineral Wool batts are similar enough to Fiberglass batts that you already know what you need to know about it, then you are a fool. And you still need to read this.

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 2216
    • 0

    Video: The Passive House Revolution By Charles Hoxie

    Video: The Passive House Revolution By Charles Hoxie.Twenty years ago, German physicists erected a home that demonstrated how little energy a building would need if built with, among other things, thick insulation and airtight walls. The so-called “ Passive House ” (or “Passivhaus” in German) was soon …

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 1879
    • 0

    Start of the Passive House Design Contest – publics.bg

    Тhе registration for the first edition of the electronic design competition for a passive house in the village of Lozen, near Sofia, Bulgaria has started. The event is set up by Passive House Bulgaria and the agenda has been published on the …

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 1722
    • 0

    10 Green Building Predictions for 2012 from Earth Advantage Institute – MarketWatch (press release)

    10 Green Building Predictions for 2012 from Earth Advantage Institute MarketWatch (press release) Portland State University’s mechanical engineering department recently partnered with a local builder to measure the effects of phase change material used as insulation in a duplex passive house , while Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories is …

    • January

      22

      2012
    • 1491
    • 0

    How green is their valley? Ebbw Vale residents sought to test eco homes

    The United Welsh Housing Association is running a competition to find people to live in and assess two homes built on the site of a former steel works at Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent, south Wales. The homes, built to showcase the “Passivhaus” concept, are in a group of state-of-the-art homes built for the 2010 National Eisteddfod.

    • January

      8

      2012
    • 1390
    • 0

    Passive House Group Bans Certain Spray Foam Insulation

    The Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) will no longer give its blessing to projects incorporating spray polyurethane foam insulation (SPF) that uses blowing agents with high contribution to global warming, according to executive director Katrin Klingenberg.

    • January

      8

      2012
    • 1553
    • 0

    Living with Less: 229 square foot lofts have everything you need to live

    The city known for expensive real estate has unveiled the smallest self-contained rental suites in the country — just 226 to 291 square feet — renting for about $850 per month, including cable and Internet. Location comes with a price tag, of course. These 30 “micro-lofts” are the result of a heritage project to renovate the century-old Burns Block building in Gastown, a trendy area for shops and restaurants. The contrasting backdrop to Gastown is the poverty, substance addiction and homelessness of the Downtown Eastside where Burns Block recently operated as a rundown hotel.

    • January

      8

      2012
    • 1091
    • 0

    Engineer Modernizes The Traditional Cruck Frame With Modern Framing and Straw Bale

    There are so many advantages to straw bale construction. Engineer Brian Waite lists some of them from his home in Cumbria: He has designed a straw bale home that adds the additional advantage of some very clever engineering. Most strawbale buildings have straw walls and use other materials for the roof; Waite essentially eliminates the roof (or the walls, depending on your perspective) and creates a cruck frame, a modified A frame that is curved to maximize interior volume.

    • January

      8

      2012
    • 1749
    • 0

    Onyx Unveils All-In-One 330 Watt Plug and Play Solar Panels

    Onyx just announced that they have installed their first 330-Watt “Plug-N-Play” solar panels at their demonstration site in Orlando, Florida. The two all-in-one solar panels have an incorporated micro inverter and a standard US AC power outlet plug that allows the owner to simply plug an extension cord into the panel and then use that chord like an outlet in their home. One of the demonstration panels also has a lithium battery incorporated into the unit that can store power for when the sun isn’t shining.

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:

×