Are you into conservation? Like to see the history of conservatation awareness and activities in the US and particularly Texas?
Here they are, courtesy of the Texas Legacy Project. They are collecting videos and documents that capture the history and development of Texas and its relationship to conservation:
http://www.texaslegacy.org/m/index.html
If you're into conservation, then you'll be interested in our various green building technologies and methods. Check it out at www.preferredbuilders.org/home or www.solarcertifiedhomes.com
Some key Events in Conservation History in Texas:
| 1681 | International | Wildlife | Extinction of the Dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, lost to meat hunting and destruction of its eggs by introduced rats, pigs and monkeys |
| 1729 | Texas | Water, Irrigation | San Antonio River first diverted for irrigation at Spanish missions |
| 1739 | United States | Pollution | In one of the first American environmental protests, Benjamin Franklin and other Philadelphia tradesmen petition the Assembly against slaughterhouse waste in Dock Creek |
| 1768 | International | Wildlife | Extinction of the Steller's Sea Cow, a marine mammal once found along the Pacific Rim, from Japan to California, lost to hunting for meat and hides |
| 1800 | International | Population | World human population rises to 1 billion |
| 1814 | United States of America | Science, Information | Completion of Alexander Wilson's work, American Ornithology |
| 1820 | Texas | Population | Texas population estimated to be 20,000 |
| 1832 | United States of America | Parks | Arkansas Hot Springs established as a national reservation, serving as a precedent for the protection of Yellowstone and the later creation of a national park system |
| 1835 | United States of America | Information, Literature | Ralph Waldo Emerson writes the essay, Nature, beginning an American tradition of Transcendentalism |
| 1836 | Texas | Population | Texas population gauged at roughly 50,000 |
| 1839 | International | Technology | Sir William Robert Grove invents the fuel cell, giving the promise of a relatively clean energy source |
| 1839 | United States of America | Science, Information, Art, Wildlife | John James Audubon's Birds of America is published |
| 1840 | Texas | Water, Legislation | The Republic of Texas turns from the Spanish and Mexican system of water appropriation, based on the concept of first-in-time, first-in-right for beneficial water uses, and adopts the English rule of riparian right where all owners of land adjacent to a s |
| 1846 | International | Technology | John Deere has a Pittsburgh company roll the country's first cast steel plow, leading to the efficient breaking of prairie sod |
| 1846 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Ferdinand von Roemer notes it was punishable by fine to kill vultures in Texas, the first mention of wildlife protection in the state, possibly a county or common law provision |
| 1850 | United States of America | Wildlife | Introduction of the English Sparrow into Brooklynn, one of the first exotic species to be brought into the United States |
| 1852 | Texas | Water, Legislation | The State of Texas passes the Irrigation Act of 1852 which grants counties the authority to regulate dams and ditches, starting a Texas tradition of delegating water decisions to local governments |
| 1854 | International | Water, Public Health | Dr. John Snow identifies water from a contaminated London well as the cause of a local cholera outbreak |
| 1854 | United States of America | Information | Henry David Thoreau's Walden published |
| 1854 | United States of America | Information, Science | Completion of plates and text for the Vivipaous Quadrupeds of North America, by John James Audubon and John Bachman |
| 1854 | United States of America | Technology, Water | Daniel Halladay introduces the mechanical windmill, allowing the settling of the arid sections of the Midwest |
| 1855 | United States of America | Technology, Water Pollution | Chicago develops first comprehensive sewer plan in a major American city |
| 1856 | Texas | Water | Supreme Court of Texas recognizes a riparian system of water rights, allowing landowners adjacent to rivers to divert water |
| 1859 | United States of America | Energy, Technology | Edwin Drake strikes oil at Titusville, Pennsylvania ushering in the era of petroleum as a major energy source |
| 1860 | Texas | Population | Texas state population estimated to be 600,000 |
| 1860 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas enacts its first formal game law, a local ordinance protecting quail and partridge for 2 years on Galveston Island |
| 1861 | Texas | Parks | Texas acquires ten acres of public property at San Jacinto to commemorate the Texas revolution's decisive battle, designated in 1897 as a park |
| 1864 | United States of America | Information | Publication of Man and Nature: the Earth as Modified by Human Action, by George Perkins Marsh |
| 1864 | United States of America | Parks | President Lincoln signs a bill granting Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove to the State of California as an inalienable public trust, the first protection of lands for scenic value |
| 1866 | International | Information, Science | German biologist Ernst Haeckel coins the term, ecology |
| 1866 | United States of America | Legislation | Passage of the Mining Act in the U.S., subsidizing resource extraction |
| 1866 | United States of America | Non-Profit Groups | American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals founded |
| 1868 | International | Technology, Forests | John Casson introduces the continuous feed circular saw, greatly accelerating the ability to process logs into planks |
| 1870 | United States of America | Non-Profit Groups, Wildlife, Science | Organization of the American Fisheries Society |
| 1871 | United States of America | Information | John Burroughs' Wake Robin is published |
| 1872 | International | Information | Global research voyage of the HMS Challenger |
| 1872 | United States of America | Parks | Setting aside of Yellowstone as the first official US national park |
| 1873 | International | Technology | Joseph Glidden invents barbed wire, enabling continuous high-stocking-rate grazing |
| 1874 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas enacts its first trespass statute, protecting enclosed lands from trespass by "shooting, hunting, fishing or fowling" |
| 1874 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas enacts regulations restricting coastal seining and netting |
| 1876 | Texas | Water | Irrigation for farming in the Lower Rio Grande Valley begins on a small scale |
| 1876 | United States of America | Non-Profit Groups | Organization of the Appalachian Mountain Club |
| 1879 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | First state-wide Texas game law is passed, protecting songbirds and established a season for dove and quail hunting |
| 1879 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas creates the Office of Fish Commissioner, charging it with the duties of preserving fish and building fish ladders |
| 1879 | United States of America | Science, Legislation, Agencies | US Geological Survey formed |
| 1880 | Texas | Population | Texas population estimated to be 1,500,000 |
| 1881 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas creates a 5-month closed season for prairie chickens and a 3 1/2 month closed season for turkey |
| 1881 | United States of America | Air Pollution, Legislation | Chicago becomes the first American City to enact an ordinance controlling smoke discharges |
| 1882 | United States of America | Agriculture | Massachusetts passes first pure food laws |
| 1882 | United States of America | Technology, Energy | Construction of world's first hydroelectric power plant, sited in Appleton, Wisconsin |
| 1883 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas Legislature exempts over half the state (130 counties) from all fish and game laws |
| 1883 | United States of America | Wildlife, Non-Profit Groups, Science | Formation of the American Ornithology Union |
| 1885 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas Legislature abolishes Office of Fish Commissioner in climate of falling farm commodity prices, and conservation apathy |
| 1888 | United States of America | Wildlife, Non-Profit Groups | Society for the Introduction of European Songbirds of Portland, Oregon introduces 35 pair of Starlings |
| 1889 | Texas | Water, Legislation | Texas passes the Irrigation Act, replacing riparian rights with the prior appropriation system ("first in time, first in right") when diverting water from rivers |
| 1889 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Frio County citizens petition Texas Legislature to place it under protection of state game laws, due in part to insect and rodent crop damage |
| 1890 | Texas | Forests, Non-Profit Groups | Texas Arbor Day and Forestry Association has initial meeting, seeking renewal of forests and diffusion of knowledge regarding woodlands |
| 1891 | Texas | Water | Rice production begins on a commercial scale in Jefferson County with delivery of irrigation water from pumps on Taylor's Bayou |
| 1891 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Responding to millinery threat, Texas enacts protection for seagulls, egrets, herons and pelicans |
| 1891 | United States of America | Forests, Legislation | Congress passes the Forest Reserve Act, authorizing the President to create forest preserves, leading to the formation of the National Forest system |
| 1892 | International | Technology | Rudolf Diesel invents the internal combustion engine |
| 1892 | United States of America | Non-Profit Groups | Sierra Club founded |
| 1893 | Texas | Parks | Texas authorizes funds for purchase of land at the Alamo site, Goliad, Refugio, and San Jacinto to commemorate critical battles in the Texas Revolution |
| 1893 | Texas | Water, Dams | Austin Dam, the first major dam on the Colorado River, is completed (destroyed in 1900 by floodwaters) |
| 1895 | Texas | Agencies | Texas Fish and Oyster Commission created to regulate fishing in the state |
| 1895 | United States of America | Information | Field & Stream magazine first published |
| 1896 | United States of America | Agencies | Initial funding of the Division of Biological Survey, the precursor of the US Fish and Wildlife Service |
| 1897 | Texas | Non-Profit Groups | Organization of the Texas Game Protective Association |
| 1897 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | Texas Legislature declares that some avian species are public property |
| 1897 | Texas | Wildlife, Legislation | 77 Texas counties claim exemption from state game laws, declining from 130 in 1883 |
| 1897 | United States of America | Agencies | Creation of the United States Forest Service |
| 1898 | Texas | Water, Navigation, Dredging, Canal | Railroad magnate Arthur Stilwell organizes dredging of a ship canal from Sabine Lake to Gulf Pass, providing ocean access for Port Arthur |
| 1899 | Texas | Non-Profit Groups | First Audubon group created in Texas, in Galveston |
| 1900 | Texas | Natural Hazards | A hurricane strikes Galveston, inundating the Island and killing 6000 to 12,000 |
| 1900 | United States of America | Wildlife | Wild bison population falls to less than 40 from an estimated 30-50 million a century earlier |
Here's the story on Yahoo about auditing the Fed and making Wall Street pay for the bail-out:
What's interesting here is that once again, Barney Frank, while appearing to support something akin to Congressional oversight, actually is against a full-blown audit of the Fed.
A lot of this mess can be largely laid at his feet. Not because he intended for this to happen, but by him and his coleagues crafing financial legislation for cramming social engineering down the throats of Americans via financial institutions. He has repeatedly been against cleaning up Freddie, Fannie and the Fed (our financial house) since the mid 90's. Check out his voting record and bills and the results of those votes.
Why? One may ask. Hint: Follow the money!
This Congress is so far in the hip-pocket of special interests, its disgusting. And while the previous Congress was bad, we just put a lot more the this type of BS in office!
Ron Paul proposed the audit and has over 300 members of Congress on board. But the Finance Committe Chair (BF) is against it.
Go figure.
Seems all the talk is about the first time home buyer's credit being extended and expanded.
If we're really going to see a turn around in RE, we need to get constructi
on going.
It was tough to get green projects financed before because of the extra costs up front to build. However, from the first month an owner lived in the home, their total out of pocket to own the home was LESS than a conventionally built home. However, that didn't impact how a property was appraised or the loan ratios evaluated.
So now with the stupidity from Washington codified into the new rules and regs, I'm curious:
What does it take to get a new construction loan approved in todays market?
New homes, without the green technologies, are running about 10-20% more to build than a comperable existing home. Add in the green features that make it cheaper to live in and more sustainable, and the up-front costs are even higher.
What programs are available, what credit scores, ratios, details, etc. does it take to build a home today?
If you are thinking you would like to build a home sometime next spring, you better get the ball rolling right now.
The success of your project and the satisfaction you'll have with your home is directly related to the preparation work you put in before any construction takes place.
Here's a brief overview of the steps you'll need to take before you can start building:
Location: Where do you want to build? Do you already have the land or will you need to buy? Knowing where you are going to build and the terrain and landscape will have a big impact on how you build and the costs. If you already own the land and it is big enough to have several locations to choose from, then check out the sites with an eye to all seasons and the position of the sun relative to the home. Are there any shade trees to take advantage of? What about the slope of the property, water drainage, access, views, neighbors, privacy?
Finding a lot or land to build on takes time to do the research and get it right. Choose the wrong neighbors or neighborhodd and you've just made the biggest financial mistake of your life (for most of us).
Plans/Design: This is where most people start the process, but the land can have a major impact on design. Especially if you are wanting an energy efficient and green home. Take advantage of nature provides. Besides the usual number of bedrooms, etc., how do you design to take advantage of natural light, passive heating for the winter, shading in the summer and window and porch placement for minimum solar heat gain in the summer and maximum solar heat gain in the winter?
What energy performance do you want from you home? There's much more to that question than how much insulation to use. There are so many different and more cost effective ways to build than conventional stick framing. What impact does material selection have not only on energy performance, but on safety and insurance premiums? Do you use ICF, SIPs, steel, bermed, domed, timber, logs, underground?
Getting your plans done generally takes several months of going back and forth. The fastest I've ever seen done has been about 30 days. You can use some of the DIY software, but I highly recommend that once you play with the design yourself, you have the plans redone professionally. In some places, you will have to have stamped plans anyway in order to get your permits.
Get your professional team together: Once you have an idea of what you want to build and how you'd like to build it, its time to call in the professionals. You will need at least 5 before you find a builder or do it yourself:
Most of these professionals are not part of a builders quote to build your home, but they are critical if you are serious about getting the best home and value you can.
Interviewing and selecting these people can go smoothly or can take a while. The toughest fit is you and the architect or plan designer. If the personalities and working styles don't mesh, there will be a great deal of frustration. I know because I've had to help untangle some of those hair-balls.
For the full explaination of who these people are and what they do and why you need them, check that out here:
Blog Entry: Building Quality Custom Homes: The 5 professionals you need BEFORE you need a builder
Get your financing: (Note to all mortgage types: please comment on your programs, processes and timelines for new custom construction.) This used to be pretty easy to do, but in today's market, this is the hardest part of the process unless you can pay all cash. Remember, not only do you have to get the construction financing, you also have to have the permanent financing in place for when the home is completed. And market conditions will change during the construction of your home. So be prepared to pay more on your permanent financing than what you're quoted today.
Find your builder: This is not the first step, it should be the last. The reason for this is you want to have all your plans and requirements nailed down so you know what you are interviewing for. It is easier to see if you have a fit with your builder if you already have all the details and requirements laid out. You can have a direct and unambiguous discussion about your project, requirements, timeframes and costs. Nothing causes more heartburn than to wing-it on the cost of some line-items only to get to the actual construction and find the costs are way over the budget.
Does your builder have the experience with the green technologies you want? Different building materials or do they only do "sticks". What about solar panels, wind generators, backup generators, radiant heat flooring, geo-thermal systems, rain water collection systems, . . . ? (Hint: we do)
Too many times I've seen an owner leave major decisions to a builder only to have the project get into trouble on costs, timeframes or features.
At this point, some of you may be saying "But wait, isn't this what a builder should do for me?" That depends on who you select as a builder and how much trust you have in their abilities to get it done properly.
Remember, a builder's goal is the build the least home they can for the most money. A home owners objective is to build the best home they can with value. These two sets of objectives are worlds apart.
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Another way to approach building your home is to hire a home construction & consulting company. That is what I do here at North Texas Help-U-Build. I provide the assistance, information, network and guidance to help you through the critical first steps of home construction, all the way through actual construction and to move-in. NTxHUB specializes in green building technologies such as ICF, SIP, Timberframe, Log, Bermed, Steel and even the lowly stick-frame technique.
NTxHUB provides different levels of service to fit your needs:
NTxHUB is also part of the Preferred Builders Network of Texas. No matter where you're building, your new home starts here!
Here are a few more posts on the different construction technologies that you can use:
Green Home Building 101: What is ICF and what does it do for my home?
Green Home Building 101: Just what exactly are "SIP"s?
Green Home Building 101: Steel Framed Homes
Green Home Building 101: Log Homes
6 Reasons to use an Independent Energy Audit Company for Your New Home
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Need to sell your home before you build your dream home? Want to sell it faster and for more money? Then have it Solar Certified! Check it out at www.solarcertifiedhomes.com.
How's this for "Green":
This is a 2'x2' piece of old barn roofing tin that has been flattened out and stamped with this design and then white-washed. It can be used for ceilings, wainscots, door or cabinet inserts.
This is the ultimate in green: recycling. Taking an old piece of building material that has come off of a structure that is being taken down and then repurposed and reused in new construction and other applications.
If you would like to order these in quantity for your project, you can drop me an email.
This is through my reclaimation company: Texas Heritage Timber and Wood.
Sell your listings for a HIGHER price and FASTER! Give buyers a reason to buy YOUR listings. Have them Solar Certified. Program to help buyers get solar equipment for discounts of up to 80%!
There's no cubby-hole big enough to
put me in. I'm not your typical broker or builder. In addition to personally being a licensed broker, I also own a custom home construction and consulting company specializing in green technologies. These include both materials and energy. ICF, SIP, log, timberframe, bermed, domed, solar panels, wind turbines, bio-diesel generators, hydro-power.
If you need land for your dream green home, then we've got it. Use my services to purchase your littile piece of heavan and we'll credit a part of the commissions against our builder's fee.
We focus on all of North and East Texas (56 counties) but build and install all over the state and into southern Oklahoma.
We're also part of the Preferred Builders Network of Texas. The single, got-to resource for building in Texas. Free information on builders, alternative energy systems, green home building technologies, "green" landscaping, green building consultation and technical resources.
Use our alternative energy upgrade program for buyers or sellers. Make your home stand out in the sea of "Me too" when it comes time to sell your home. Sell it with sunshine! Check it out at www.solarcertifiedhomes.com
My philosophy on "Green" and building your home.
Personally, I don't believe in the one-size-fits-all approach of government mandated standards and methods. Therefore, I approach each project with my client's objectives in mind, providing the best of information and experience I can so my clients can make informed choices they will feel good about and can live with for themselves and future generations. I provide the best of financial impacts and analysis for construction to look at the true cost of a home, not just the cost to build. Actually, the building cost of a home is the least expensive part of a home!!! Financing is more expensive than construction costs, but maintenance, utilities and insurance are by far the most costly elements of a home over the life of the home. Building green can have a dramatic impact on these costs if taken into account during design.
I don't tell you how to build, I show you the alternatives and let you decide what works best for your situation.
A full range of construction and consultation services for your custom home.
Real Estate:
Similar to other agents and broker, I am licensed by the state of Texas as a real estate broker. I offer the usual services of helping with listing and buying properties. I specialize in farm and ranch, recreational and green development projects. So if you're looking for truely green real estate investment opportunities or homes, I am the go-to guy. I work with investors and other builders, so I know where the "buys" are in addition to the bank owned or distressed properties that are being dumped on the market.
If you are needing to sell your home but don't want to join the race for the bottom of the market, then give buyers a reason to buy your home. Have it Solar Certified. It gives buyers that are looking for homes that perform, not cheap a reason to come to you first! For more details, check it out at www.solarcertifiedhomes.com
Alternative Energy:
This is where the fun is! I am personally invested in a bio-diesel production plant and am working on plans to build another in Fannin County.
Marketing:
Our alternative energy upgrade program can be applied to buyers and sellers for qualified residential or commercial properties.
Sellers: Have a property you want to sell fast? Give buyers a reason. Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If your property qualifies, then it will be enrolled in our alternative energy marketing program.
Buyers: Want an alternative energy system on the home you want to buy? Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If the property qualifies, then we can help you buy the property AND have the equipment you want installed at a subsidized rate.
For new construction: Fram, ranch and estate properties. We always have people actively looking to purchase country property to build on.
The story behind the companies:
I started North Texas Help-U-Build out of a need. I bought my little piece of heaven in Fannin County, Texas. Out away from the greater "Metromess" (Dallas/Fort Worth). I like living in North Texas, but had had my fill of city life. So off we went into the great wilds of rural Texas. Having bought a lot of acreage, I wanted to build the "dream house". Problem was, I couldn't find a builder back in '99 that knew anything about green building! I knew a lot more than most builders on the subject. And having come from a family of entreprenuers and builders, I figured I could build my own.
The point of this is that I approach building not from a builder's perspective, but from an owner's perspective. And these two views are WORLDS APART. A builder's approach is cheapest, fastest and never see the owner and home again (hopefully). An owner's view is best value for overall ownership. By best value, I'm talking about what will give the best overall return in time, money and energy to the owner while they live in the home. And the best cost decisions for the long-term are not always the short-term cheapest to get a home built.
One of the unique things I do as a builder is I intentionally do NOT represent any manufacturers' products. I don't try to make a markup on some materials or products to boost the bottom line. That is long-term counter productive. By focusing my business on my clients' needs and not on what I'm trying to sell, I have removed the financial bias from any advice or recommendation I may offer. I am free to provide the very best professional opinion I can when it comes to evaluating products, systems or methods. I tell it like it is and my clients get to make a more informed choice as to how they approach their home project and what costs they choose to incur.
"Green" has such a wide interpretation when it comes to contruction. Changing light bulbs is considered green, but in and of itself does not make a home green. What we use to build with, how we build, how we incorporate natural energy into the home, how we light a home, heat it, cool it, fit it into the surround landscape, how we power it. All these together make a home green. But the biggest contributor to that is how we live and the choices we make in the construction of the home.
Sadly, government mandates are a one-size-fits-all mentality and generally don't work all that well. In some circles, that's sacriledge, but the government is not the answer to our energy problem or needs. It is us, the people and the choices we make of our own free will that will make the difference. And in my experience, when people are given the choice, they will generally choose the option that best fits all requirements.
Being involved in four industries sound like a lot, and it is. However, there is a common thread and and objective that runs through these four competencies. And that common thread is sustainable living, both environmentally and economically. Contrary to popular opinion, one does not preclude the other! Read on to see how this thread runs through everything I do:
Four core areas of business:
Green and Zero-Energy Construction:
A full range of construction and consultation services for your custom home.
Real Estate:
Similar to other agents and broker, I am licensed by the state of Texas as a real estate broker. I offer the usual services of helping with listing and buying properties. I specialize in farm and ranch, recreational and green development projects. So if you're looking for truely green real estate investment opportunities or homes, I am the go-to guy. I work with investors and other builders, so I know where the "buys" are in addition to the bank owned or distressed properties that are being dumped on the market.
If you are needing to sell your home but don't want to join the race for the bottom of the market, then give buyers a reason to buy your home. Have it Solar Certified. It gives buyers that are looking for homes that perform, not cheap a reason to come to you first! For more details, check it out at www.solarcertifiedhomes.com
Alternative Energy:
This is where the fun is! I am personally invested in a bio-diesel production plant and am working on plans to build another in Fannin County.
Marketing:
Our alternative energy upgrade program can be applied to buyers and sellers for qualified residential or commercial properties.
Sellers: Have a property you want to sell fast? Give buyers a reason. Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If your property qualifies, then it will be enrolled in our alternative energy marketing program.
Buyers: Want an alternative energy system on the home you want to buy? Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If the property qualifies, then we can help you buy the property AND have the equipment you want installed at a subsidized rate.
For new construction: Fram, ranch and estate properties. We always have people actively looking to purchase country property to build on.
The story behind the companies:
I started North Texas Help-U-Build out of a need. I bought my little piece of heaven in Fannin County, Texas. Out away from the greater "Metromess" (Dallas/Fort Worth). I like living in North Texas, but had had my fill of city life. So off we went into the great wilds of rural Texas. Having bought a lot of acreage, I wanted to build the "dream house". Problem was, I couldn't find a builder back in '99 that knew anything about green building! I knew a lot more than most builders on the subject. And having come from a family of entreprenuers and builders, I figured I could build my own.
The point of this is that I approach building not from a builder's perspective, but from an owner's perspective. And these two views are WORLDS APART. A builder's approach is cheapest, fastest and never see the owner and home again (hopefully). An owner's view is best value for overall ownership. By best value, I'm talking about what will give the best overall return in time, money and energy to the owner while they live in the home. And the best cost decisions for the long-term are not always the short-term cheapest to get a home built.
One of the unique things I do as a builder is I intentionally do NOT represent any manufacturers' products. I don't try to make a markup on some materials or products to boost the bottom line. That is long-term counter productive. By focusing my business on my clients' needs and not on what I'm trying to sell, I have removed the financial bias from any advice or recommendation I may offer. I am free to provide the very best professional opinion I can when it comes to evaluating products, systems or methods. I tell it like it is and my clients get the make a more informed choice as to how they approach their home project and what costs they choose to incur.
"Green" has such a wide interpretation when it comes to contruction. Changing light-bulbs is considered green, but in and of itself does not make a home green. What we use to build with, how we build, how we incorporate natural energy into the home, how we light a home, heat it, cool it, fit it into the surround landscape, how we power it. All these together make a home green. But the biggest contributor to that is how we live and the choices we make in the construction of the home.
Sadly, government mandates are a one-size-fits-all mentality and generally don't work all that well. In some circles, that's sacriledge, but the government is not the answer to our energy problem or needs. It is us, the people and the choice we make of our own free will that will make the difference. And in my experience, when people are given the choice, they will generally choose the option that best fits all requirements.
Here's a link to an article that was written about an alternative energy home that we built here in North Texas. The pics show the house in progress, not finished. More interesting that way.
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Building a house can be a lot of stress, as well as a hassle, but in the words of Suzanne Broussard, a woman in the process of building a home in Bells, “I am having so much fun doing it!” Mrs. Broussard and her husband, Kit, will be moving to Bells from McKinney. They were looking to get away from the crowded city and happened upon some land in this area. “We found the land, and instantly fell in love with it. The gently rolling hills, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly people were really great.”
The Broussards next step was to build a home once they had the land in their possession. As with all people looking toward that end, they had a lot to consider. Decisions had to be made on the location, materials, people, companies, etc. They wanted a traditional looking but high performance, low maintenance home that would last for generations, much longer than the usual 2x4 framed homes built today. They designed the house to look like a traditional ranch style homestead with covered porches running the length of the house in the front and back.
Choosing the materials was next on the agenda, and it was done after much research. “We decided to use several different things, instead of just the usual Timber Frame. Besides that, we are using Perform Wall Systems (also know as ICFs or Insulating Concrete Forms), and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS).” Perform Wall ICFs are hollow blocks or panels made of 85% recycled polystyrene (styrofoam) and 15% cement that construction crews stack to form the walls of the building. The workers then reinforce the walls with steel rebar and fill the centers with concrete to create the structure. When completed, the house frame is made of steel reinforced concrete, not 2x4 sticks. A home built with Perform Wall Panels is extremely resistant to fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, insects, earthquakes and fungus and mildew, including black mold. Because of the thermal-mass of the completed wall (around 10 inches), the temperature is almost always constant, thus reducing your heating and AC bills. SIPs are high performance building panels that can be used for floors, ceilings, and walls. SIPs are made with a six-inch layer of polystyrene sandwiched between two plywood sheets. The thickness of these panels provide superior insulation and keeps air drafts down to a minimum, thus providing a more energy efficient building. And, the Broussards used the timber frame because they love the look of wood. “Look around, and then tell me why not to use wood!” Suzanne said. “It is absolutely beautiful, and reminds me of an old homestead, or a barn. My husband and I really like that look.” With advantages such as these, the Broussards decided to make use of this technology.
To get the construction process going, Kit and Suzanne chose North Texas Help-U-Build. “The decision to use North Texas Help-U Build (NTxHUB) was an easy one, after talking to Michael Michaud, the owner of the company. He was really easy to work with, and had the interest of the homebuilder, and not himself in mind.” North Texas Help-U Build is a custom home construction and consulting company that specializes in helping people build their own homes at a lower total cost by enabling the homeowner to act as their own general contractor. NTxHUB is based in Bonham, but works with clients from Texarkana in the northeast to Glenrose in the southwest. His approach to the building process is with the customer’s long term objectives in mind instead of what is easiest for the builder. “I recommend highly efficient, green-building technologies such as ICFs to my clients. While the initial cost is a little higher, the payback to the immediate homeowner and conservation of our nation’s energy resources is huge.”
As for why they chose Hearthstone Timber framers, which is a specialty timber-framing company, “The people are extremely friendly, wonderful to work with, and very knowledgeable. They really know what they are doing. They also have a beautifully engineered product that makes the building process less stressful.”
Mr. Chris Adkins, a Hearthstone Timber Framer who worked on the Broussard’s house, said that using the ICF and SIPs technology with timber frame creates the sturdiest structures that he has ever seen. “I really like this technology because I know that we are building quality homes that will withstand the elements for people to enjoy.” Hearthstone Timber framers have worked on jobs for people all over the United States, from Tennessee to Illinois, Texas to Mississippi and all in between.
Suzanne and Kit are pleased with the work that both North Texas Help-U Build and Hearthstone Timber framers have provided for them. “It is amazing how much difference the people can make when building a house.” When asked if she had any advice for anyone interested in building a house, Suzanne responded, ”Get help! Don’t do it by yourself! It will turn out to be a bigger job than you first thought. Get help from the experts, and make use of their knowledge. You will be glad you did.”
If you would like more information on either North Texas Help-U Build or Hearthstone Timber framers, please feel free to visit their web sites. http://www.ntxhub.com and http://www.hearthhomes.com
Real Estate:
Similar to other agents and brokers, I am licensed by the state of Texas as a real estate broker. I offer the usual services of helping with listing and buying properties. I specialize in farm and ranch, recreational and green development projects. So if you're looking for truely green real estate investment opportunities or homes, I am the go-to guy. I work with investors and other builders, so I know where the "buys" are in addition to the bank owned or distressed properties that are being dumped on the market.
If you are needing to sell your home but don't want to join the race for the bottom of the market, then give buyers a reason to buy your home. Have it Solar Certified. It gives buyers that are looking for homes that perform, not cheap a reason to come to you first! For more details, check it out at www.solarcertifiedhomes.com
Alternative Energy:
This is where the fun is! I am personally invested in a bio-diesel production plant and am working on plans to build another in Fannin County.
Marketing:
Our alternative energy upgrade program can be applied to buyers and sellers for qualified residential or commercial properties.
Sellers: Have a property you want to sell fast? Give buyers a reason. Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If your property qualifies, then it will be enrolled in our alternative energy marketing program.
Buyers: Want an alternative energy system on the home you want to buy? Call me. We'll make the determination as to program eligibility. If the property qualifies, then we can help you buy the property AND have the equipment you want installed at a subsidized rate.
For new construction: Fram, ranch and estate properties. We always have people actively looking to purchase country property to build on.
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