How many times have you heard the word green in the last year? Probably more times than all the 10 previous years. Everyone these days is trying to jump on the "green" bandwagon.

At Kaufman Construction we prefer to use the term "sustainable" as it seems to do a better job of describing our building philosophy. We have been encouraging our clients to build sustainably since our inception in 1999 not only because it helps the environment but also because it just makes sense. We believe in an approach that considers all aspects of a home as a complete system. It is a given that environmental issues should always be considered but projects undertaken in your home should also benefit you both in quality of life and financially. In other words, we like to look for the "point of diminishing return" on all projects. Many sustainable options are also upgrades (more expensive) and there is usually a point where the cost/difficulty of including the upgrade is not feasible either in environmental benefit, budget or additional quality of life it will provide – there is a balance that needs to be achieved.

In contrast to that philosophy, all decisions on any project are always the client’s decisions to make. We don't feel it is our job to dictate a minimum or maximum standard, we feel it is our responsibility to give you as many options as necessary in an attempt to help you determine that "point of diminishing return". Homeowners need to make the ultimate decision on the inclusion of sustainable options, their opinion of the environmental benefits and the cost/ value/return benefits to them individually.

The first step in completing a sustainable project is design considerations. Design details as basic as which way a window faces, how big it is and of what quality it is can have profound impact not only on the aesthetic value of the room but also on the ability and energy costs associated with keeping that room or part of the home comfortable. Other basic design details including the angles of the roof, eve depths, wall thickness, shading for windows, insulation, siding materials (and on and on) can all have serious impacts on producing a comfortable and “sustainable” home… again, the “system” approach.

We highly recommend employing the services of a reputable energy rater (CENERGY in the local Des Moines area) to help analyze the best options with the best return for homeowners whether remodeling or building new. These companies should be able to do many things including performing audits, helping to deign HVAC systems, recommending the size of heating and cooling units, sealing ductwork and much, much more.

Sustainable options are included in many newly built homes today as part of standard construction - examples including I-joists and engineered wood products, house wrap, blown in cellulose in the attic and energy star rated heating/cooling units, appliances and windows. Other options that may or may not be considered standard include component built (or panelized) construction, Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) foundations and above ground walls, foam insulated basement floors and walls, geothermal HVAC systems and Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) systems, solar options, rain water collection/rock gardens and using recycled materials. Sustainable finishes include using recycled material, low VOC paints, bamboo/cork products, formaldehyde free cabinets, carpets and fabrics with indoor quality ratings and much more.

Employing a “sustainable” philosophy entails utilizing many resources and educating ourselves, homeowners, suppliers and subcontractors. Providing options and working with area experts allows our customers to make the leap to a more "sustainable" building approach without it being overwhelming and/or enormously costly to their project.