Saturday, February 28, 2009

Asheville NC Builder - Whole House Green Approach

Designing and constructing an energy-efficient house requires careful planning and attention to details. A whole-house systems approach can help you and your architect develop a successful strategy for incorporating energy efficiency into your home's design.

A whole-house systems approach considers the interaction between you, your building site, your climate, and these other elements or components of your home:

Appliances and home electronics
Insulation and air sealing
Lighting and daylighting
Space heating and cooling
Water heating
Windows, doors, and skylights.

Builders and designers who use this approach recognize that the features of one component in the house can greatly affect other components, which ultimately affects the overall energy efficiency of the house.

These are some benefits of using a whole-house systems approach:
Reduced utility and maintenance costs
Increased comfort
Reduced noise
A healthier and safer indoor environment
Improved building durability.

Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/, you'll be glad you did.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Asheville NC Builder says "Home Buyers Want Green"

When home buyers size up potential new digs, they increasingly include such features as high-efficiency heating systems, upgraded insulation, and energy-sipping appliances.

Some are making conscious choices to be environmentally friendly, while others just want elements that will result in long-term savings such as energy star windows, appliances, and low flow water conservation devices. But the end result is the same, more people buying new & used homes employing "Green" technologies.

According to a 2008 McGraw-Hill Construction study, more than 330,000 homes with eco-friendly features were built in the U. S. in the prior three years. That includes 6.2 percent of new homes, up from just 1.8 percent of green residences in 2005.

That survey also noted that "Green" homes were not a phenomenon limited to high-end home buyers. More than 50 percent of purchasers choosing green features earned less than $75,000 a year, and 30 percent earned under $50,000, according to the McGraw-Hill report.

The National Association of Realtors estimates the average new home buyer will spend an extra $12,400 on "Green" technologies to get the slate of special features they want in their domicile. Visit Advantage Development Co. today at http://www.advdevco.com/ your source for green building technologies.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Asheville NC Builder Talks About "Energy Star" Rating

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20 to 30% more efficient than standard homes.

And with homebuyers increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. That's because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Visit Advantage Development Co. today at http://www.advdevco.com/ and see why we should be your "Energy Star" builder of choice.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Asheville NC Builder Talks About "Benefits Of A Green Home"

Benefits of Green Homes
They are:

1) More affordable month after month, lower utility bills & less maintenance costs
2) They are healthier for your family, low VOC levels
3)They are more comfortable, better insulation & hvac layout eliminates drafts
4)The materials are more durable, recycled materials hold up better over time
5)They require less maintenance whether green landscaping or home siding
6)They have higher resale value (if you ever want to sell it!)
7)They provide peace of mind, "Green Is Beautiful"

And, by the way, they are much kinder on the environment. Visit Advantage Development Co. today at http://www.advdevco.com/ we want to be your "Green Builder" in the WNC area.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Asheville NC Builder Weighs In On "The Cottage" Industry

Small, modestly priced new homes are gaining popularity points, and we can see why. Tighter lending standards have left buyers able to afford less. The threat of higher energy prices and concerns about global warming have tempered their willingness to pay for conditioned space they will never use. Teardown ordinances in desirable neighborhoods are capping heights and floor-area ratios as a pest control measure against McMansions. And the average American household is shrinking as more homeowners enter their retirement years, get divorced, delay having kids, or choose not to marry. Census data released last month indicates that singles living alone account for 27 percent of all U.S. households.

But placing the new small home in the right context is important, in that the surrounding neighborhood often must make up for whatever wiggle room the house gives up on the inside. Builder looks at four settings where small detached, single-family homes are in tune with their environments and thriving. Visit Advantage Development Co. at http://www.advdevco.com/ and see why we should be your builder of choice.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Asheville NC Builder Describes What New Clients Want

Custom home buyers may not be driven by the same financial constraints that are prompting everyday Americans to downsize, but they are nevertheless asking for smaller houses. Some want to minimize their carbon footprints; others are looking to simplify their chaotic lives, prepare for retirement, promote family togetherness, or be prudent in uncertain times. Coziness begets comfort, and there is a certain satisfaction in occupying a house that feels good and functions well without being over the top.

And as architect Donald Powers notes, excessive display of wealth has become unfashionable. Everything now is swinging around to compact & functional. The economy is demanding it, and the environment is demanding it due to global warming & other greenhouse effects. If the 1990's were defined by the McMansion, We would like to think the first part of this century could be defined by a return to small, functional, and super high quality. Visit Advantage Development Co. at www.advdevco.com today, and learn why we are the best custom builder in Asheville.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Asheville NC Builder Talks About Building Green

What Makes a Building Green?
A green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment.

What Are the Economic Benefits of Green Buildings?
A green building may cost more up front, but saves through lower operating costs over the life of the building. The green building approach applies a project life cycle cost analysis for determining the appropriate up-front expenditure. This analytical method calculates costs over the useful life of the asset.

These and other cost savings can only be fully realized when they are incorporated at the project's conceptual design phase with the assistance of an integrated team of professionals. The integrated systems approach ensures that the building is designed as one system rather than a collection of stand-alone systems.

Some benefits, such as improving occupant health, comfort, productivity, reducing pollution and landfill waste are not easily quantified. Consequently, they are not adequately considered in cost analysis. For this reason, consider setting aside a small portion of the building budget to cover differential costs associated with less tangible green building benefits or to cover the cost of researching and analyzing green building options.

Even with a tight budget, many green building measures can be incorporated with minimal or zero increased up-front costs and they can yield enormous savings.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Asheville, NC Custom Builder Offers Packages

Advantage Development Co. in Asheville, NC is revolutionizing how home buyers build their new dream homes by offering a wide range of "Build To Suit" Packages. John Green (Chief Project Engineer) states that many home buyers are tired of builders only offering cost plus type contracts to build their homes. These type contracts cost home builders 20-25% over their material costs. The actual work involved by the builder should be dictated more by home size & level of involvement by the general contractor, not by what the new home owner is spending on materials. We offer many packages, startting at only $10,000, custom tailored to the new home buyers needs & requirements. Visit us at www.advdevco.com today.

Asheville NC Builder Shares On Interest Rates

Current mortgage interest rates are extremely favorable for buyers. In fact, rates for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages are hovering near 30-year lows. There is no better time to pick your custom home builder in Asheville, NC, and get that new project started. There are great deals on raw land in the WNC, Asheville area, and they will not last forever.

No one can accurately predict whether rates will go up or down. Even the best economists that follow the market can't tell if rates have bottomed out. If they could, they would all be multi-millionaires living in the french riviera. Trying to predict the market is a dangerous game.

In short, the smartest and safest time to buy or build is now. We know that interest rates are low today. We know that home prices are down in the rest of the country. We know that there are plenty of homes on the market to choose from nationwide. Builders like Advantage Development Co. are willing to offer attractive incentives to get your business while the economy is rebounding. Asheville is an area where property prices remain high as compared to the rest of the United States. Call or visit us today at www.advdevco.com