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Love your planet (again!)
Everyone’s talking about green building, but it takes more than words to create eco-friendly living spaces. ARC is committed to putting green remodeling philosophies into practice:
- Whether you’re dreaming of a LEED-certified house or just want to increase your home’s energy efficiency (and everything in-between!), we have the knowledge and commitment to create beautiful, comfortable, energy-efficient remodeling projects and eco-friendly, sustainable building projects.
- ARC is proud to be a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the industry’s gold standard for green building. We are your Huntsville green remodeler!
- We believe going green begins at home, which is why we have recycling/reuse programs in place on the jobsite and in our office.
Green Definitions
ARC Design-Build’s guide to environmentally friendly building terms
These days, it's easy to get lost in "green" jargon and buzzwords. For your information, we offer this brief glossary of the “green speak” often used in the remodeling industry:
Energy Star
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy program that helps consumers identify energy-efficient products and practices. In 2007 alone, Americans who bought appliances and other products with the Energy Star seal saved $16 billion on their utility bills.
Green Label
The Carpet and Rug Institute designation that carpets, cushions, and adhesives meet high standards for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Green Label Plus products are the lowest emitting on the market.
LEED-certified
The U.S. Green Building Council‟s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system provides third-party verification that a material, building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance in: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Passive Solar Heating & Cooling
Using the sun's energy to heat and cool your home by taking advantage of natural energy efficiencies. An example of passive solar heating and cooling is an overhang designed to block summer sun while letting in winter sun. Using several passive heating and cooling techniques can cut heating/cooling bills by as much as 50%.
SEER
Seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) rates air conditioners or heat pumps. Every central split system made or sold in the U.S. today must have a rating of at least 13 SEER.
Sustainability
The idea of sustainability is to make responsible choices for the long-term wellbeing of the Earth. Sustainable buildings and building products are those that are produced with a minimal amount of energy and packaging, function well over a long period of time, and can be repaired or recycled after use.
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