ABODE Builders of New England

Another Energy Star Completed Home

2011-12-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Wanting to celebrate Christmas at their home in N.H. was the deadline for our recent clients. Abode began this Energy Star Version 2.5 home in July and by November gave these excited homeowners the guarantee they'd be hosting that first Christmas in N.H. with their children, grandchildren and canine companions.

Building many years ago and knowing building standards and choices have changed greatly, our clients took a year and a half to research home builders that offered the energy efficiencies, quality, turnkey timeline and the critical budget for the house they hand in mind to build.

Informal meetings ensued with our project manager Gerald Fransen and Principal Bob Wildes to hone the goals and wish list items they wanted in this 2 floor, full basement home. References of recent clients allowed them to ask impartial questions to those experiences of building an Abode home from inception to completion.
Once built, a comprehensive energy performance review was done by Horizon Residential Energy Services. By comparing this house to a computer model of the exact same house if it were built to current NEC (national energy code) standards gives a HERS (home energy rating systems) score. On a scale of 0-100, zero being a highly efficient home and 100 being built to the energy code minimum an index score of 80 or less is necessary to achieve the Energy Star label.
This home scored a HERS index of 56 making this home 44% more efficient than a standard code built home!
From the ICF basement where the "Man Cave" is bright, dry and comfortably housed to the 2nd floor sewing room/office, each area will enjoy similar interior comfort due to the combination of products used.
Panelized construction, Pella Energy star windows and doors, spray foam and fiberglass insulation, coupled with Energy Star lighting and appliances and high efficiency boiler all add up to lower fuel and utility costs. Combined with the value engineering Abode incorporates into any project, gives peace of mind and the confidence that good decision making prior to construction and ongoing suggestions/support benefit the client and their home for many years to come.

Water, water everywhere-Managing excess on your property

2011-10-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Corralling snow melt or the abundance of rain, before hitting the busy roadway led to the creation of a bio retention swale here at Abode. The objective is to funnel storm water runoff from our paved parking area where there is no curb into a depression or “swale” rather than running directly into the drainage system beside Tenney Mtn. Hwy.

To encourage infiltration onsite, a calculation was done by a civil engineer to account for the number of square feet of impervious area (ie: paved parking area, amount of roofing, sidewalks etc.) to determine the amount of pervious surface needed to offset this in the form of a storage system.

Bio-retention systems are shallow depressions made with a layer of sand beneath topsoil to hold captured water and slowly release the excess. This prevents more water from entering the Baker River unfettered, and puts less stress on the drainage ditch.

A “weir” made of stone rip rap acts as an escape valve for overflow when the swale completely fills, spilling over into the wetland vegetation below. Planted with grasses and other native species that don’t mind being water logged for short periods of time and enjoy longer dry spells reduces erosion, supports a habitat and food source for insects, birds and other wildlife.

A similar type of depression known as a rain garden is a means to carry, as well as treat storm water. Excess water is diverted by the small dry river bed made of small rocks around the house into the rain garden. Plants with deep fibrous roots like this Tamarind tree and wild grasses thrive and provide cleaning and filtration benefits. This hydrated collection area is an attractive area for plants and animals, and keeps water on our property allowing it to slowly seep back down into the aquifer.

An aquifer is essentially an underground body of water that lies well below the surface permeated in porous rock, much like a beach. When you dig a hole in the sand, the wet sand at the bottom of this shallow hole or “well” represents an aquifer. The level the water rises to in the hole would be your water table.

Planning and creating a system to manage excess water runoff gives a twofold benefit. By minimizing destructive erosion to your property and limiting the spillover effect to surrounding land it places less burden on the public drainage system. Slowing down excess reduces the barrage introduced to the nearby river and allows us to contain as much water as possible to our property and ultimately filtered back into the aquifir. Paired with beautiful plantings your quality of life gets a boost along with your property values.

PSU intern C. Cook & Project Mgr. G. Fransen honored

2011-09-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

A recent PSU Environmental Planning intern, Chris Cook and ABODE's Project Manager Gerald Fransen were recently honored in the University's "Simply Amazing" viewbook, which is used to promote Plymouth State University in the United States as well as abroad.

Working with Gerald, Chris was able to correlate office work involved on projects with field experience during the course of building Abode was doing at multiple locations. Witnessing many phases of construction from preplanning to handing the keys over to the owner gave him real world experience for the energy efficient green building we are known for.

During those winter months as they carpooled to jobsites, valuable one on one time was available to discuss different aspects of these homes and the systems that would be going into them. A trouper, Chris was prepared to do everything from sweeping up at a jobsite to doing estimating and takeoffs and with good humor. Interacting with subcontractors and having opportunities to problem solve were an invaluable source of experience for him and a welcome chance for Abode to mentor a budding professional.

John McKeith Photography courtesy of Plymouth State University

Abode rainbows

2011-08-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Great rainbows from one of our multiple recent storms.

2011-08-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Between 2008 and 2010, twenty seven states passed legislation enabling Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs. Local governments were then allowed to raise funds for homeowners and businesses to use for renewable or energy efficient systems. The owner would then repay the lending agency eventually through property tax. Shortly after being set up it was put on hold by the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) which considered PACE programs loans instead of tax assessments and would not support mortgages for these properties. Recently, the PACE Protection Act of 2011, has been introduced, and has been quickly gathering bipartisan support. Its main goal will be to get PACE programs back up and running and more homeowners and businesses using alternative energy sources.
PACE has great potential here in Plymouth, which has been part of the Beacon Communities program. Last year Plymouth as well as Nashua and Berlin, started a combined effort to reduce energy usage by modifying buildings to be more energy efficient.

Check out http://www.betterbuildingsnh.com/ and http://pacenow.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/HR-2599-PACE-Protection-Act-of-2011.pdf

Indoor Air Quality

2011-07-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

There have been a number of visitors to Abode recently who have been concerned with indoor air quality. Anyone who struggles with allergies knows that clean air can be hard to find, especially this past spring. Indoor air pollution is composed of particulate matter, for example, dust, pollen, molds, and bacteria, as well as gaseous pollutants, which are given off, among others, by stoves, paints, varnishes, and cleaning products. According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality is among the top five environmental health risks. But take a deep breath, there are many methods to get cleaner air.
As we learn more about indoor air quality’s contribution to health problems, using low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and carpeting, as well as having an air filtration system in our homes becomes an evident necessity. Efficiency of removing particles from the air is measured by the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), with a scale from 1 to 20. Medium efficiency filters from MERV 5-13 are reasonably efficient at removing a range of airborne particles. Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) is also beneficial up north here, where like it or not, it is cold at least 8 months out of the year. HRV systems allow the heat from the exiting air to transfer to the incoming air, increasing your home’s heating/cooling efficiency. For more information about indoor air quality check out http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html.

Abode's Current Energy Star report

2011-05-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this exciting news:

ABODE Builders of New England,
Thank you for your continued partnership with ENERGY STAR. By building ENERGY STAR qualified homes, your company is doing its part to help protect the environment while offering consumers new homes that are more comfortable and save money on utility bills.
Our records indicate that your company built a total of:
4 ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes in 2010*

This is equivalent to:
Eliminating the emissions from 1.96 vehicles
Saving 11,856 lbs of coal
Planting 3.24 acres of trees
Saving homeowners $1,788 on their utility bills
We thank you for the important contribution that your organization has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection.* Your ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes are reported quarterly to EPA by your Home Energy Rating Provider.

Holderness School AP Class visit

2011-05-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Holderness School Environmental Science AP Class visits ABODE

The 19 Holderness School students in Reggie Pettitt's Advanced Environmental Science classes recently visited Abode to learn more about green design -build concepts. Project Manager and Certified Green Professional Gerald Fransen spoke with the students and fielded questions about sustainable building technologies & products that produce Abode homes making them 40% more efficient than traditional code built homes.

The first 8 students arrived early for this field trip that featured a 3-d model cutaway showing features such as:

Ice and water shield, 30 yr. architectural shingles made with 30- 40% post consumer waste that is recycled.

Various open and closed cell spray foam insulation for walls.

ICF's (insulated concrete forms) with an R-24 rating.

The following day 12 more students were introduced to the product benefits, material choices and principals Abode uses when building to Energy Star or Leed standards. Points touched upon were:

Higher insulation values reduce a/c and heating usage during the course of a year which can equal a 30-70% reduced fuel consumption.

Energy Star 3.0 requirements and compliance becoming more stringent as of July 1, 2011.

Passive solar orientation.

Blower door testing which tests the amount of air leakage and air changes needed per hour for fresh air.

43%

The benefits of high efficiency boilers and heating systems couples with on demand hot water.

Solar and Geothermal systems benefits & costs were given discussion time as well.

As these students are engaged in the ongoing LEED dormitory project at the Holderness School, we are encouraged by the catalysts and environment they are exposed to that will ultimately shape more efficient futures.

Insulation: Spray Foam and Cellulose

2011-04-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Spray foam Setup

Homeowner with hose apparatus used to distribute cellulose through webbing between studs

Cellulose (immediate left).

If you experienced cold rooms that never seemed to heat adequately, an energy audit should be first on the list to identify the problem and take steps to correct it. The key is to follow through so next year the fuel bill and the cold rooms will both change. Think ABC-Attic and attached garages, Basement and Circumference of the building for your air sealing priorities.

Cutting energy costs in the way of fuel consumption begins with a comprehensive game plan. From this you choose what your budget and goals will be to get there. One way is to make sure you have the proper insulation, from the get go or by retrofitting either professionally or small scale by the diy'er.

Attending an insulation workshop sponsored by PAREI (Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative) recently, gave a whole new appreciation for the techniques and skill a professional exhibits when you hire them to do the work, vs. a diy'er.

A new home being constructed locally was the host of this hands on seminar. Working with representatives who demonstrated spray foam apparatus and procedures and cellulose distribution via wand that sprays cellulose inside the wall cavity beneath a sheer membrane overlay, one can see the merit to both applications.

As a homeowner with small area's needing to be addressed, spray foam can be found in the form of individual cans or for larger projects a dual cannister setup for sealing. The latter case, as we were shown, consisted of one bottle (like a small propane bottle) of a mixing agent that activates the other as they flow through hosing to be mixed together at the nozzle tip, and then sprayed. (Extra nozzles should be on hand as, once initiated you need to keep using or it can plug at the nozzle tip, along with gloves, face mask and safety goggles). Nozzle tips vary to allow for varying spray radius to get into small area's around pipes vs. larger spray for between joists.

Avoiding overspray or spraying too densely, is not mastered quickly, but once a rythym is worked out eveness becomes easier to achieve. The key is to not create voids nor underspraying. This can be tricky due to the tight quarters of many of the places you're trying to seal.

Next, the homeowner, a petite woman put on her safety glasses, dust mask, old clothes and went to town with the cellulose dense pack insulation from National Fiber. Cellulose is made primarily with over-issue newsprint and can be treated with borate. (Mined primarily in California and Turkey, borate resembles granulated sugar, pulls out moisture, provides fire, insect and mold resistance and is used commercially in eyewash and cosmetics for instance.)

Think of a reverse vacuum cleaner-instead of the long hose and wand lifting, this hose was expelling the cellulose in the cavity between the studs over which a sheer webbing had allready been stapled quite taut. The bulging wall was filled with 3.5 lbs per square foot. (3 1/2" is the ideal, as air can't pass through that density), then smoothed with a metal roller much like a paint roller, to help evenly distribute and allow the sheetrock to fit correctly. A diy'er could rent an Accu 1 dense packing unit, and is best done with a buddy to keep feeding the unit with the cellulose.

Not only do you get a warmer home from the thermal properties, but also the accoustical deadening. Known as the Sound Transmission Coeffient or STC rating which is the guideline for controlling noise between spaces, cellulose in a typical 2x6 wall with 1/2" drywall on each side yielded an STC 55 rating according to National Fiber for sound attenuation. That translates to the noise of the slumber party in the next room is significantly muffled, as is the lawnmower working outside.

Ultimately, whether you do this yourself, or get estimates to hire a professional, will depend on your goals and budget. Attending workshops offered by PAREI and others are invaluable to help become more informed and allow you hands on experience to determine the best fit for your skill level. Saving money is a great motivator, but being warmer next winter...priceless

Our Mountain Model hits the big time in Times Square

2011-04-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

What a little thrill to see a low resolution snapshot of our Mountain Model home that made its debut on the Times Square Reuters sign on 3 seperate days! A nice shout out to our friends at Pella who got the ball rolling by choosing us to highlight their energy star windows we use. I wonder if any urban dwellers had a tinge of wistfullness looking at it on the grey dreary days they had last week.

Our Project Managers quote centerpiece for Pella Postcard

2011-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Recently our Project Manager here at Abode, Gerald Fransen was showcased in a promotional feature by Pella Windows! This was used at the recent Pro Expo event and will also be used in the upcoming N.H. Home Builders annual directory.

We typically use various sizes of their Proline Architectural series of Low-E double paned Argon filled energy star rated windows and doors as seen in our Mountain model home on this card.

The interior is wood which can be prestained(water based) to match your woodwork or preprimed saving time. The foldaway crank handle lies flat not interferring with blinds and not scraping your knuckles.

The exterior is aluminum clad with a baked on finish (available in a spectrum of colors) is a great low maintenance feature that doesn't give that chalky finish over time.

With the amount of traffic here on Tenney Mountain highway (read-18 wheelers and lumber trucks down shifting) the noise could be conversation stopping, but not so once inside. These beautiful casement windows let you see the assorted vehicles, but you never need raise your voice over the outside din due to the thermal and accoustical properties these windows have.

The passive solar orientation of our model allows the brightness of sunshine into these rooms, but 86% of the u/v rays are blocked, thereby minimizing damage to our textiles.

So, keep a lookout for Gerald's tag line on the Pella postcards that we will be mailing out shortly!

Holderness School Senior Colloquium

2011-03-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Abode was pleased to host a visit by 4 Seniors of the Holderness School as part of their 10 day Immersion program, learning about our Green building philosophy and the LEED Platinum certification our model home possesses.

New construction to LEED standards currently happening at Holderness, will give students the opportunity to make educated suggestions towards that process.

Points of interest touched upon were Led & cfl lighting, use of no -VOC paint, specifically designated area's for recycling, the use of products with recycled content (from shingles to carpet) as well as appliances that conserve water (dual flush commodes, low flow shower heads)and mechanical systems with high efficiency (tankless hot water on demand and heat recovery ventilation).

Plymouth State University senior intern Chris Cook, was also on hand to discuss his experiences when working with PSU's Eco-House transformation.

See the progress

2011-02-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

Check out the progress the Energy Star home has made that we posted when you could see the bare ground!

BetterBuildings Program

2011-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Abode welcomes Madeline McElaney to the Plymouth area as the new Plymouth Community Manager for the BetterBuildings Program, which is open to businesses and residents in Plymouth, Nashua & Berlin N.H.
Working with local municipalities, property owners, building auditors and contractors the program is designed to coordinate energy efficient retrofit projects, working with local financial institutions to help finance them.
What an opportunity to take advantage of!
Madeline's office is located at
85 Main St in Plymouth, N.H. 03264
Phone# 603 717-6531

Permeable pavers at work

2011-01-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

The front entrance allready melting from solar action on the
permeable pavers.

Snowy Steps

2011-01-13T07:34:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the beauty of the nor'easter yesterday? If you were one of the many who got an unexpected "snow" day keeping you home from work or enjoying snowforts w/ kids from school, it can be a seldom enjoyed pleasure.

Doesn't limited shoveling make you feel good after being sedentary behind a desk or enjoying an old movie on a snow day too?

After shoveling and then sweeping the walkways, I'm appreciating the foresight of the permeable pavers set during landscaping. I know a few sunny days even in winter, allows the snow or rain to seep through the voids leaving a solid surface that rarely gets icy to warrant sand for traction, unlike the solid concrete on the north side of my home that is like an ice rink until spring!
Permeable pavers allow water to drain into your plant root systems along with nutrients & minerals thereby reducing your need for an outside water supply via tapwater. It offers stability and reinforcement by controlling erosion from storm water runoff to boot!

Yet another eco friendly perk when foreplanning or when spring fever hits and you begin to plan what to do beneath a walkout deck needing a more viable option than the sparse grass, weeds or pea stone that gets spread everywhere. How nice to be able to enjoy a beverage in your chair and table outside on a stable surface & relax during the twilight of the day.

White snow isn't terribly conducive to imagining a green spring, but there are only 60 more days...

Recycling Everyday Items

2010-12-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We all know this mantra of everyday living. Is it always easy?

No, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Appreciating the long term benefits-if not for yourself, for your children, nieces & nephews that are growing up with this thought process as standard operating procedure is good stewardship.

The immediate gratification you get by recycling your soda can or water bottle should send coursing endorphins to your conscience. If it doesn't, you're not alone. By taking small steps you can sometimes lose sight of the impact you ARE making.

This week sweeping the crusty snow off the "green*" decking of our Model home was a heck of a lot easier than my home's splintering deck (future project there...) and is a good example of how starting small can lead to a bigger impact.

Abode's green decking is made up of 90% Recycled materials.
Milk jugs, grocery bags, detergent bottles are things I recycle every month and the very same things that go into this composite decking along with wood construction debris.
Using a process of encapsulating wood pulp with plastic makes it stiffer, reduces thermal movement and ultimately gives the end product a beautiful color that doesn't fade, has a high resistance to mold, mildew, staining and is also a LEED Certified product.

270 million pounds of waste being used to create something beautiful, useful and ecofriendly.

To give a different perspective, imagine 36 football fields of trash each stacked 10' high-with materials normally destined for landfill!!

So, maybe I could have been admiring my old detergent or milk bottles-even parts from my own wooden deck that were recycled on Abode's snowy deck, that I easily swept on Wednesday.

I can truly appreciate how spending money wisely to begin with, gives you bigger payoff over the length of time a product will ultimately be used as it enhances your home/lifestyle and as mentioned before, makes you feel great about doing your little part for the greater good.

*MoistureShield decking is made by Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc.

Building New Hampshire Trade Show

2010-10-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

The Building New Hampshire Trade Show & Conference is taking place November 2-4 at the Grappone Center in Concord, NH, focusing on energy efficient & sustainable building.

This is your opportunity to explore, test, and demo the latest in energy-efficient, sustainable building materials and products. This exciting three-day conference will include professional development seminars, continuing education, and certification courses for building pros. Exhibits will include products from the design phase through the completion of residential built environment.

Registration prices increase after November 1st, so call now or visit the web site to reserve your spot.

Have a Green Halloween

2010-10-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

While planning your Halloween celebration with friends and relatives this year, consider your environmental impact, too. By choosing your costume, treats and decorations carefully, you can reduce environmental impacts from manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal. Establishing new traditions and bringing back some very simple practices from the past can save money as well as help the environment.

Costumes
•Make costumes from objects found around the house or visit a thrift store to find fun outfits and accessories.
•Try a costume swap with relatives, neighbors and friends.
•Rent a costume from a local costume store.
•Avoid plastic Halloween costumes that contain soft vinyl materials, which may present a health hazard.

Decorations
•Buy local pumpkins
•Decorate with objects found in nature or make your own out of recycled materials.
•Use old sheets to create scary ghosts.
•Take pumpkins and all-natural decor to the compost pile and return them to nature.•Store and re-use non-perishable decorations year after year.

Trick or Treat
•Walk from house to house if possible. If driving, find a central location to park and walk from there. If you wait in the car for your little goblin, turn the engine off. Idling wastes gas and pollutes the air.
•Avoid purchasing single use treat bags. Have the kids carry re-usable tote bags, old pillowcases, or even their favorite backpack instead.
•Serve organic or “fair trade” treats if available in your area.

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday while keeping the environment in mind. It might take a little more creativity, but it’s worth it!

ABODE Hosts Plymouth State Sustainability Class

2010-09-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

ABODE recently hosted a group of students from Plymouth State University to teach them about eco-friendly and sustainable construction practices. The students are learning about Sustainability, Second Homes and the Northern Forest, which focuses on the principals of sustainability in second homes in this region along with the sociological knowledge that can be applied to encourage homeowners to reduce their environmental impacts.

During the session the students learned about energy efficient building practices, environmentally friendly building materials and sustainable development. Much of the discussion touched on the sociological factors involved in the decision making process for building a second home, from how homeowners approach energy efficient building to how the word "sustainability" takes on a different meaning for different people and situations.

ABODE is happy to be able to provide a "remote classroom" experience for these students and extremely lucky to have such a great community partner in Plymouth State University. We look forward to the next opportunity to spread the word about green building.

Green Buildings Open House Tour

2010-09-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

The New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association will be hosting a Green Buildings Open House Tour on Saturday, October 2nd, from 10am - 4pm. This statewide event features over 65 properties from Nashua to Berlin that are using renewable energy technologies from straw bales to geothermal and everything in between.

If you are considering building an environmentally friendly home, this is a great way to speak directly to homeowners who are already enjoying the benefits of eco-friendly living. To search for energy efficient homes near you or for general information, visit http://www.nhsea.org/gboh/. Enjoy!

Choosing Paints That Don't Give Back

2010-09-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Painting is one of the best ways to refresh a room. Unfortunately, most paints aren’t good for us: They give off volatile organic compounds, or VOC's, which can cause short- and long-term adverse health effects. Look for paints that say “low VOC” or “zero VOC,” as well as paint strippers that are nontoxic and biodegradeable.

Most, if not all of the major brands now offer both low and zero VOC options. If you are looking for other alternatives, Green Planet Paint is an interior clay paint that covers well, Anna Sova's food grade paint has zero VOC's and 94% food ingredients and AFM SafeCoat offers a broad array of interior and exterior options that were developed specifically for people with chemical sensitivities and allergies.

There are a variety of options out there, so do your research and ask a lot of questions.

Retrofits for Non-Profit Organizations

2010-08-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Does your organization, or one you know, own a building that is in need of energy efficiency upgrades? Would you like to learn how to take action to lower your organization’s monthly energy bills? BrightBuilt Retrofit, a collaboration among US Green Building Council, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Green Building Advisor, and BuildingGreen, LLC, is excited to announce an energy conservation initiative open to non-profit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that want to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings. Through an open source, community-based process, BrightBuilt Retrofit aims to demonstrate the affordability and accessibility of deep energy retrofits in colder climates. All non-profit applicants will receive access to online resources and support for lowering energy bills; the selected organization will receive more than $100,000 in cash, loans and services to carry out the building renovations with a team of green building professionals. The application deadline is September 15, 2010.

For more information, visit: www.brightbuiltbarn.com/brightbuilt-retrofit/be-a-part-of-it/
or email retrofit@brightbuiltbarn.com.

Tips for Keeping Cool

2010-08-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Summer weather can bring increased energy use for keeping cool. No one wants their energy bills to rise with the temperature, and finding ways to stay cool without cranking up the air conditioner saves money – and is better for the environment.

Air conditioners require a lot of energy to operate, and generating power means more air pollution and greenhouse gases being released into the environment. This contributes to global climate change – and runs up your electric bill. To save a few bucks in the long run – and to reduce your carbon footprint – there are plenty of “green” ways to keep cool this summer.

Easy, Low Cost Solutions:
• Fans: Use fans to keep air flowing. Ceiling fans can make a room feel up to seven degrees cooler, and they use less electricity than air conditioners. A medium-sized window AC unit uses 900 watts of energy, while a ceiling fan set at high speed uses just 75 watts. By using a ceiling fan and raising your AC thermostat by just two degrees, you can lower your cooling costs by up to 14 percent.
• Window Coverings: Install window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and drapes facing the sun during the day to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently.
• Heat Sources: Reduce internal heat sources by turning off lights and computers when you’re not using them. Don’t use a stove or oven to cook – microwave your meals or grill outdoors. Incandescent light bulbs also create heat, so consider replacing them with compact florescent bulbs.
• Air Conditioning: If you use central air conditioning, program your thermostat to work around your family’s summer schedule by setting the temperature higher when no one is home. When buying a new air conditioner, look for one that is an ENERGY STAR product.

Longer-Term Solutions:
• Plant Trees: We already know trees are great for the environment, but most people probably don’t realize they can also help cut cooling costs. By planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house, you can reduce air conditioning costs in the summer by up to 30 percent, and still allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
• Windows: Upgrading your windows is another cost-saving renovation to consider. If your windows are due for replacement, ENERGY STAR windows can make your home more comfortable year round.

In the car: Besides the house, the car is probably where people are most likely to crank the air conditioning to avoid a sweltering commute, but running the air conditioning works your engine harder and cuts down on fuel economy. When traveling slower than 40 mph, it’s more fuel-efficient to roll down the windows.

We’ve already seen some record breaking temperatures this summer, and while it may not be realistic to eliminate the use of air conditioners altogether to keep cool, there are options that use less energy and don’t raise your energy bill quite as much. So keep yourself cool while saving money — and the environment!

Room Air Conditioner Turn-In

2010-06-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

NHsaves participants have teamed up to offer a unique opportunity for consumers to save energy and money this summer! For a limited time, NHsaves is offering a $30 incentive toward the purchase of an ENERGY STAR-qualified room air conditioners when customers turn in old & inefficient room air conditioners. Electric Utilities are offering its customers/members a chance to recycle their old air conditioners. This service is free at participating retailers, saving the fee of $5-$20 normally charged at municipal transfer stations. A special $30 rebate to be used toward the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR mode will also be provided. For more information or to find the recycling location nearest to you, click here.

NHsaves is about people in New Hampshire doing the right thing working together to save energy, reduce costs and protect the environment. NHsaves is made up of: Public Service of New Hampshire, Unitil, National Grid, and New Hampshire Electric Co-op.

Baker River Appreciation Day

2010-06-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Bring your friends and neighbors and join the community for the Baker River Appreciation Day on Saturday, July 10th. Special thanks to the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), D'Acres and Community Partners for organizing the day's festivities.

The schedule of events includes:
- Baker River Clean Up and Trail Work from 10:00am – 12:30pm. Lunch provided to volunteers.
- Sunnyside Ride Farm and Solar Bike Tour of the Baker River Valley to benefit Local Foods Plymouth starting at 1:30pm. Leaving from Rumney Village, mileage choices are from 15 – 35 miles. $15 per rider; pre-registration required.
- Dinner & music at the Calmpost Café on Buffalo Road. The evening will feature local, farm-fresh dinner, area artists, natural resource education, family entertainment and the music of local bands including the Crunchy Western Boys, Black Bear Moon and the Cable Guys.

For more information, visit http://www.plymouthenergy.org/. See you there!

ABODE Recognized for Green Award

2010-05-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Plymouth Regional Chamber of Commerce recognized ABODE Builders with The Green Award at the recent Annual Meeting at The Common Man Inn in Plymouth, NH. The award is given for leadership in the business community of environmental awareness. The theme of the meeting was "Going Green...What's In It for Me?" and featured keynote speaker Richard Ober, VP of Civic Leadership & Communications for the NH Charitable Foundation.

We thank the Chamber and the business community for this recognition and we're proud to be a responsible community partner.

ABODE on Cover of Cabin Life

2010-04-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

ABODE's award-winning model home is featured on the cover of May's edition of Cabin Life Magazine. For a sneak peak, click here.

Prefabulous + Sustainable

2010-04-15T09:36:00.001-07:00

As reported in early January, Sheri Koones' new book, Prefabulous + Sustainable, hit the shelves in April and it's getting a lot of great reviews. ABODE's award-winning model home is one of the featured homes in the book, which focuses on building and customizing affordable, energy efficient homes in an effort to inspire homeowners to consider more environmentally friendly options for their home. Check out what others are saying about Sheri's book:

USA TODAY
NY Times
Money Watch - Part 1
Money Watch - Part 2

Thanks to Sheri for spreading the word and helping to educate readers on the benefits of green production building!

ABODE Home For Sale in Concord, MA

2010-04-05T12:13:00.001-07:00

ABODE put the finishing touches on our new green home in Concord, MA last week, just in time to host a private Friends & Neighbors Open House on Saturday. Approximately 25 families stopped by to take a sneak peek at the new house on the block. This Colonial-style home offers a ton of charm to go with a great location, with classic hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry, custom kitchen, oversized master suite and unique 3rd floor living space complementing a level lot in a private neighborhood.

For more information about purchasing this home, contact The Collaborative Companies at 617-457-3300, and be on the lookout for the next ABODE home in a neighborhood near you!

ABODE Hosts Business After Hours Event

2010-03-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

ABODE, along with Mary Dragon Real Estate, welcomed the Plymouth business community last evening by hosting the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. Over 60 area business people stopped by to meet and greet colleagues, enjoy refreshments and learn more about ABODE's award-winning building design. Guests toured our model home and learned about area real estate offerings from the sales associates at Mary Dragon.

A special thanks to Biederman's Deli for providing a delicious array of snacks and a big thank you to all of the attendees for coming out to show your support.

ABODE to Host Energy Efficiency Lecture Series

2010-03-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

ABODE will be hosting an upcoming stop on the Energy Efficiency Ideas for Homeowners Lecture Series on Wednesday, March 31st from 4:30 - 5:30pm. Sponsored by All in the Details Interior Design, this series is geared toward educating Lakes Region homeowners about the energy efficient products and incentives available in today's marketplace. ABODE's lecture will be given by Gerald Fransen, ABODE's senior project manager and a certified green builder, and he will be focusing on the design, construction and renovation of energy efficient homes. Chris Johnson from New Hampshire Electric Co-Op will also be joining us to discuss current energy efficient utility programs available to consumers. Admission is complimentary and questions are welcomed. See you there!

PAREI ENERGY AUDITS

2010-03-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) is offering Professional Whole House Energy Audits. The cost of the audit is $350 for members and $425 for non-members. As a PAREI Home Energy Audit participant you will receive a BPI Blower Door test that includes 1) Indoor air quality testing to determine carbon monoxide levels at appliances, 2) Evaluation of your home's insulation and air sealing requirements, 3) Evaluation of your home's heating system and water heating system efficiency, and 4) Energy Savings Report and Recommendations for the top five home improvements and resources for meeting those goals.

For more information or to sign up, contact Craig Cadieux, PAREI’s Energy Solutions Manager, at Craig@plymouthenergy.org. If you are not a member, you may want to consider starting with PAREI’s “Energy Assessment Planning Session." It is an introductory energy assessment house walk through (no equipment used) and is complimentary for PAREI members. To learn more about this excellent service, visit PAREI's web site at www.plymouthenergy.org.

Cabin Life Cover Story

2010-03-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

Our good friends at Cabin Life Magazine called with some good news yesterday afternoon. As mentioned in a previous post, ABODE's award-winning model home was originally slated to appear in a featured in an article in the Going Green section of May's edition of the magazine but will now be showcased on the cover as the featured story. Thank you Cabin Life!

ABODE Featured in Professional Builder Magazine

2010-02-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

ABODE is featured in Professional Builder this month, both in the print and on-line edition, highlighting our recent success at the Best in American Living Awards (BALA). ABODE's LEED for Homes Platinum-certified model home won the coveted national Gold Award for Best Green-Built Home and was also recognized regionally as Best in the North Atlantic Region.

BALA's expert panel of judges focused on the ability of each contestant to use green technology that more effectively integrated with quality architectural design, an approach in which ABODE specializes in. The judges also identified a handful of design trends that are influencing the architecture and marketability of new homes in this challenging market and set the bar high for the future of home building.

ABODE Model Home To Be Featured in Cabin Life Magazine

2010-02-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

ABODE just learned that our award-winning model home will be featured in the Going Green section of Cabin Life Magazine's upcoming May 2010 edition.

Cabin Life is a national publication with over 58,000 paid subscribers and a mission to capture the essence of the vacation home lifestyle by giving readers great ideas, information and inspiration for enjoying their vacation getaways.

ABODE Chosen to Participate in Prestigious Babson College Program

2010-01-29T07:03:00.000-08:00

ABODE was recently chosen as a participating sponsor company for the prestigious Babson College Management Consulting Field Experience (MCFE) program. Babson student teams have been consulting with Boston area businesses since 1976, analyzing and responding to problems ranging from inventory control to market penetration. MCFE sponsor companies have included Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, new ventures and privately held firms, and ABODE is very proud to have been selected. During the 12-week program, the ABODE student team has been tasked with developing a strategic marketing plan that will support ABODE's expansion into the Greater Boston region.

Babson was recently selected as the #1 school with the “Entrepreneurial Edge” by Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review. In the seventh annual survey, Babson became the first college to take the top categories for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

ABODE WINS NATIONAL DESIGN AWARD!

2010-01-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

ABODE was a multiple winner at the Best in American Living Awards (BALA), announced yesterday during the 66th NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, NV. The BALA awards are considered the most prestigious new-home design competition in the building industry, with judging conducted by an expert panel of builders, design professionals, land planners and interior designers.

ABODE’s model home in Plymouth, NH, garnered a national Gold Award for Best Green-Built Home, a category recognizing new homes that meet green certification standards and achieve high design excellence. ABODE also took top honors in the North Atlantic Region for the same category, bringing the home’s overall award total to nine in the past twelve months.

For a link to the story on CNBC, click here.

Home Energy Savings Workshop

2010-01-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) will be hosting a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Thursday, January 28th, from 6:45 - 9:00pm at the Pease Public Library in Plymouth, NH. This free workshop will be presented by Bob Walker of the Sustainable Energy Resource Group, and will introduce homeowners to the value of home weatherization. The workshop will include info on how simple household adjustments and modest investments can lead to significant energy savings over the long haul.

PAREI was formed in 2004 with a simple mission - to encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and to promote the use of renewable energy at the residential level in the Plymouth area. The organization is comprised of over 225 local families & businesses and promotes itself through a pragmatic approach to education, community building and an increased accessibility to renewable energy.

For more information or to RSVP for the workshop, call 603-254-7924 or email weatherize@plymouthenergy.org.

ABODE is in the News Once Again

2010-01-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

ABODE has just learned that our award-winning model home will be prominently featured in author Sheri Koones' new book titled Prefabulous + Sustainable, scheduled to hit bookstores in April 2010. Sherri's new book focuses on building and customizing affordable, energy efficient homes in an effort to inspire homeowners to consider more environmentally friendly options for their home. She does a great job of profiling homes that are true inspirations because they were built with great forethought, sensitivity and practicality. All of the homeowners, builders and architects not only considered environmental issues in building these houses, but also budgetary issues - in all cases attempting to build the houses for the least amount of money with the least amount of waste and the most efficiency. And to top it off, the foreword is written by Robert Redford himself! This is sure to be a great read.

Apres-Ski Open House at Waterville Valley Realty

2009-12-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

Join us on Tuesday, December 29th, from 3-5 p.m. for an apres-ski party at Waterville Valley Realty, co-sponsored by ABODE. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about Waterville Valley-area real estate opportunities in a relaxed and casual setting. Local experts in real estate, new home design & construction and mortgage lending will be on-hand to answer questions and provide assistance throughout the afternoon.

Beverages and light fare will be served, so make sure to mark your calendar. Call 888-987-8333 or email wvr@wvnh.com for more information. See you there!

Epoch Homes Wins National Design Award

2009-11-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Epoch Homes for taking first place for Green Building at the annual BSC Excellence in Marketing and Home Design awards program. The Building Systems Councils (BSC) of the National Association of Home Builders presented the award for the Best Green Prefab Home at their annual Showcase event in Marco Island, Florida. The winning home design was of the ABODE model home, located at our Design Center in Plymouth, NH. The home is LEED Platinum-certified, was the first to achieve Build Green NH Gold certification and has acheived an ENERGY STAR 5+ rating. For more of the story, click here.

ABODE Shares Sustainability Message with Holderness Students

2009-11-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

ABODE played host to students from the Holderness School's Environmental Studies class this week, with over 30 students & faculty on-hand to learn about ABODE's energy efficient building techniques. Gerald Fransen, ABODE's Senior Project Manager, led the class through the Design Center and award-winning model home, educating them on the importance of sustainable design and construction and discussing how these practices will impact their lives. Factors such as air quality, water & air infiltration, and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint were all topics of interest. A special thanks to Mr. Pettit for his commitment to environmental studies and his unique way of exposing his students to technologies and practices that positively impact the environment.

Barron Mountain Founder's Club Opportunity

2009-11-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

As you may know, ABODE is formulating a development plan for Barron Mountain in Thornton, NH, in conjunction with Commons Development Group. Current plans call for site and infrastructure work to begin at Barron Mountain in late winter/early spring of 2010, and we have been working with several log home companies to assist us with providing attractive home plan packages.

In advance of that, ABODE is generating an interest list for the Barron Mountain Founder’s Club, a select group of pioneers that will be the recipients of a significantly reduced package offer for their home site and cabin plan in exchange for being the first buyers in the community. This opportunity will be limited to just a handful of home buyers and will offer a savings of up to 40% off the listed sales price.

The theme of the community will be one of simplicity and conservation. Preservation of the land is our focus, with plans calling for the creation of large natural areas that will protect native wildlife, plants & trees, establishing an extensive hiking trail network, and constructing private camping and picnic areas with tent platforms & outdoor fire hearths that blend carefully into their surroundings. With over 5,000 lineal feet of frontage on Eastman Brook, swimming holes and secret fishing spots are plentiful. Our purpose is to provide a low maintenance, low cost lifestyle that immerses you in nature while providing easy access to the nearby White Mountain National Forest and Interstate 93.

If you are interested in learning more about this limited opportunity, please give us a call at 603-536-1400. We look forward to sharing our vision with you.

ABODE in the News Again!

2009-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

ABODE is in the news again, this time in the article "Energy Efficient Lighting" found in the November/December issue of New Hampshire Home Magazine. The award-winning ABODE model home kitchen and dining area were featured in the story, showcasing the extensive LED lighting package that the home contains. LED's are the epitome of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Typical LED's have a lifespan of about 100,000 hours, and with proper care can last for 15 years or more.

ABODE a Multiple Winner at 2009 Prism Awards

2009-10-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Builders Association of Greater Boston (BAGB) presented ABODE with four 2009 Prism Awards on Wednesday evening at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The field consisted of more than 260 entries and represented the the best-of-the-best in building, design and marketing throughout BAGB and beyond. By the end of the evening, the judges awarded ABODE Gold for Best Model Home Interior Under $650,000 and Silver for Best Design Center Showroom, Most Innovative Single Family Green Design and Best Single Family Home under 2,500 sq. feet.

In total, ABODE has garnered ten regional & national awards in 2009 alone. Thank you to all of our partners for making this possible and for helping us provide value and excellence to our clients each and every day.

Green by Design Open House a Big Hit

2009-10-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Stunning foliage, great food and some of the finest green building & design experts in New England were the highlight of the weekend at ABODE. The highly anticipated Green by Design Open House attracted nearly 100 participants, with visitors joining us from Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to learn more about the latest energy efficient building techniques. The casual setting allowed prospective home builders to get a chance to speak
directly with the experts about their plans & ideas, and the energy and participation from the crowd spurned a lot of great discussions throughout the day. Given the value the event provided our clients, we will definitely be hosting a similar event in the future. Thanks to all for a great day!

Green by Design Open House Update

2009-09-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

The ABODE Green by Design Open House is now just two weeks away and we have a full complement of experts scheduled to join us for the afternoon and share their expertise with you. The theme of the day will focus on Building a Custom Green Home the Smart Way - Designing your home to fit the needs of your family, lifestyle & budget. How do you go about accomplishing this? Here are a few suggestions:

1. You have to start by deciding what you want and what is most important in the beginning. Comfort, energy savings, a healthy home, return on investment, commitment to green or sustainable living or all of the above? Set clear goals & objectives for yourself and that will begin to shape the vision of your home.

2. What is your investment goal? Be realistic and this will keep you and your building team focused on the right design for you. Sharing this goal with your builder will allow them to approach your home design much more efficiently and effectively and will save valuable time and energy as you move through the process. Pre-qualifying with a banking institution is also recommended prior to beginning the design process.

3. What are your choices? There are many choices, but you can get a jump on the DESIGN process by doing your homework ahead of time. Research sample floor plans to get a sense of space, flow & square footage, research design styles you find appealing, take pictures of homes in your area that you admire, and research products & materials you are considering incorporating into your home. Next, take a look at the ENVELOPE of the home to determine what makes a "tight" house - solar orientation, insulation options, ICF's, glazing options? From there decide what SYSTEMS are going to suit your needs - heating, cooling, hot water, ventilation, propane, oil, geothermal, solar? Finally, your FINISHES add the final style & character to your home - flooring, paints, trim, lighting, cabinetry, countertops?

4. How do you decide? Find an experienced guide to lead you through the process. Each part needs to be coordinated and all of your choices need to be smartly integrated into the whole house solution. This is where ABODE separates from the rest. We manage the team and provide alternative solutions to make the decision-making process easier. We walk you through the process and help you clarify your goals and establish your budget. We educate you on your choices and bring in experts to help you make smart decisions. We develop a holistic solution and put all of the pieces together for you.

The home building process doesn't need to be daunting and building green doesn't need to be expensive. Visit us on October 10th and we'll introduce you to the team that can show you how to build and design a green home the smart way.

Introducing ABODE's NEW Concord, MA Green Home

2009-09-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

The site work for ABODE's new energy-efficient home on Virginia Road in Concord, MA is officially underway. The previous structure was taken down earlier in the week and the foundation preparations for the ABODE home are in full swing. Plans are developing for a beautiful Colonial design, which will make a nice addition to the current ABODE plan library. The home will be approximately 3400 sf with plans for a finished attic space. We expect to establish a sale price for the home in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. Also, you're invited to follow our progress on Twitter. Search for "ABODEBuildGreen" and keep up-to-date on the daily happenings in real-time.

Green by Design Open House

2009-09-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

ABODE will be hosting a Green by Design Open House on Saturday, October 10th, from 1-4 pm. Bring your plans & ideas and join us for a casual afternoon of demonstrations by New England’s top green experts in architectural, interior, kitchen and landscape design. Representatives from Crown Point Cabinetry, Design East Interiors , Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring, KW Management, Green Building Solutions, and Andrews Construction, along with award-winning architect Elise Stone, will be on-hand to talk about the benefits of green design and energy efficient living.

A BBQ and live entertainment will round out the day, so don't miss the opportunity to tap into some of the green home building industry's top talent and get started on the right path to building your dream home the right way.

We look forward to seeing you!

Jason Maring
Director of Marketing

Custom Green Design & Building Made Simple

2009-08-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the ABODE Builders blog! Our approach to blogging is the same as our approach to green building - make it simple and have fun doing it.

How could building a green home be simple you ask? It's made simple by doing the right thing the right way, designing a system that ensures consistency, paying attention to details and communicating well.

We'll use this space to keep you informed about the latest green building techniques, upcoming educational opportunities, financial benefits & incentives and our full-service, award-winning hybrid construction process.

Enjoy!

Jason Maring

Director of Sales & Marketing