REGISTER NOW FOR THE

GREEN BUILDING & REMODELING SEMINAR

The Hilton Head Area Council for Green Building, affiliated with the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association,  will present an "Introduction to Green Building & Remodeling Seminar” on October 22 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Head Island Library to residents interested in learning more about sustainable, energy efficient building and remodeling practices and incentives.

With the recent creation of stimulus incentives and increased consumer awareness, the green building industry is evolving at an incredible pace.  The Hilton Head Area Council for Green Building was established in an effort to help advance awareness and educate homeowners in our area about green-building and remodeling practices and the many associated opportunities.

In this free two-hour public event, members of the Council will highlight the latest innovative green-building products and techniques that can be implemented in new and existing homes throughout the greater Hilton Head Island area.  Selected topics of discussion will include:

• ·         Federal and state tax incentives for green building and remodeling
• ·         How a home operates as a system and ways to decrease operating costs
• ·         Sustainable products for floors, walls, countertops, and more
• ·         The value of a well insulated home
• ·         Water recycling and conservation practices
• ·         Solar generated electricity and hot water
• ·         The benefits of starting with a green minded architect

The construction and operation of buildings in the United States amounts to 40 percent of our total energy consumption -- more than both transportation and industrial use.  Green building products and technologies are more accessible than ever before and there have never been more opportunities in government incentives to act on our green building needs.  Come learn how to take full advantage of these incentives and find out which green building approach make most sense for you. 

Introduction to Green Building & Remodeling Seminar
Thursday, October 22, 2009
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hilton Head Island Library
(11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island)
 No cost to attend.

Email Ashley Feaster (afeaster@hhahba.com) at the Home Builders Association or call (843) 681-9240 to “Register Now.”

Contributing author: Clayton Colleran

We discussed in an earlier post the 3 most common Green Building Programs in our area: EarthCraft, Leed for Homes, and the NAHB National Green Building Program.  Below is a very informative introduction video put together by the USGBC that discusses one of those programs: LEED for Homes.  The video is about 5 minutes long.

In our immediate area there have been 2 LEED for Homes certified project, a guest house in Bluffton built by Fraser Construction and the HGTV Green Home completed in Tradition.  Currently VanGeison Construction is building the first LEED for Homes registered project on Hilton Head Island.

If you're interested in further information, check out the LEED for Homes page of the USGBC website and their Green Home Guide for a detailed description of the program.  If you are ready to move forward and are looking for a builder or trade specialist, be sure you visit our "Green Professionals" page.

LEED for Homes: Certification Process from U.S. Green Building Council on Vimeo.

Contributing author: Clayton Colleran

2008 HGTV Green Home

I think everyone in the area has heard about the HGTV Green Home that was completed last year in Traditions. Our area got some great media coverage via the media machine that is HGTV. I give a lot of credit to Tradition for this savvy marketing move and hope that it inspires other in our area to promote green building to the rooftops, raising awareness and exciting people about the inevitable change. If you want to check out some interior/exterior photos and get a feel for some of the green features inside the HGTV green home, visit their 2008 HGTV Green Home Page.

Bryant Park Cottages

Howard Feldman is the chairman of the Hilton Head Area Council for Green Building. He is also the builder/developer of the Bryant Park Cottages. This is a small community of 12 cottages located on Spanish Wells Road where every home is EarthCraft Certified. As the island’s first all EarthCraft community, Bryant Park is helping to set the bar higher for all the area’s developers… and I have since heard talk about an all green community inside Palmetto Bluff.

J. Banks Design

Joe Fraser (Fraser Construction) is the first contractor to achieve LEED certification on Hilton Head with the completion of the J. Banks Design Project. To prepare for this project, Fraser deicided to build a guest cottage on his property as a training tool for learning the stringent processes of the LEED rating system.

Contributing author: Clayton Colleran

Over time green construction has slowly gained a footing in our community. Recently we have seen an increasing awareness and interest in the practice. We have also seen several certified green projects that have been completed in our area within the past year. Both LEED and EarthCraft are now recognizable names in our community, and people have been asking builders more and more about green features that can be integrated into their homes.  The National Association of Homebuilders also has a National Green Building Program that offers another path to green certification.

Now, with the increasing focus that the Hilton Head Area HBA has placed on green construction and the newly offered courses for Certified Green Professionals, we are seeing the increased support that is needed to keep green professionals on track. 

Contributing author: Clayton Colleran