Toxic Building Materials can kill Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution, the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials, can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces do. With new homes being built tighter and more energy efficient, this can be a real concern. If you do not analyze all of the actual building materials that go into your home you could be breathing in toxic chemicals for years to come after moving into that nice, new home.

You may think indoor air pollution does not apply to you. After all, you live nowhere near a highway, farm or industrial plant. You do not smoke and you do not use a wood-burning stove. But indoor air pollution comes from some places you would not normally think of, like your house (building materials), the land it is sitting on (radon leakage, here in the mountains) and everyday items you can purchase at the store (chemical cleaning agents). In addition, if you consider that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, and around 65 percent inside their homes in particular, you can see why indoor air pollution is an important issue. Advantage Development Co. is a certified green home builder and can build you that new home while assuring you indoor air quality (IAQ) will be of the highest levels possible on a new home in the Asheville area. Visit us today at www.AdvDevCo.com to learn more about us, and why we build better homes.

Buy Solar & Geo Thermal & Obama will Pay Your Tax Bill

First off, let me start by saying that North Carolina state government has renewed the 35% renewable energy tax credit for active solar, PV, passive solar, and other renewable energy systems. Coupled with the 30% federal tax credit (which now thanks to the stimulus has no cap for individuals), this is now a 65% off discount on these technologies if you pay enough taxes to use the credits.

Remember, tax credits are directly subtracted from the tax amount you owe the feds and state, and you can roll the deduction forward for up to five years if you fail to use it all in the first year.The major new change is that geothermal has been added to the list of renewables for the first time. There is a cap, but it is pretty high ($8400 on the credit) so many small/medium systems will not reach the cap. At 65% off, the price of a geothermal system can look a lot like the price for a high-efficiency air-source heat pump. And a geothermal system with a water to water heat exchanger to replace a boiler system powered by oil or propane can look like a fast payback. I will not just throw out numbers because different home sites will vary a lot, but if you pay taxes, geothermal should be very seriously considered for both new homes and upgrades of existing homes. Visit us at http://www.advdevco.com/ to learn more about us and custom home building.

Black Mountain Custom Builder shares on Net Zero Homes

By 2015, if General Electric has their way, all our homes will be running on smart grids with mini-turbines and solar panels to produce electricity, consuming zero net energy in the process. GE says that their smart energy system, dubbed the Net Zero Home project, will center around a $250 central management hub that will allow all of a home's networked appliances and on-site power-producing equipment talk to each other, as well as to the smart grid outside the home. As an Asheville Custom Home Builder and certified green professional we have embraced new green technology, employing it in all of our new construction when possible, providing our clients with more sustainable, higher quality, more efficient homes. Visit Advantage Development Co. on the web at www.AdvDevCo.com or call us today at (828)-215-9064 for a free consultation, you will be glad you did.

Black Mountain Custom Builder shares on Sustainable Cork

The very best material for avoiding damage from denting and dog claws is cork flooring. We have heard this time and again from dog owners. Where wood and bamboo are durable because they are hard, cork is durable because it is resilient, it yields under the pressure of the dogs claw and then returns to its original shape. And cork is naturally quiet, warm, hypoallergenic, fire resistant, a great alternative to conventional carpet, yet as long lasting as a wood floor. Nova Cork flooring products are even FSC-certified! Advantage Development Co. is an Award Winning Custom Home Builder in Asheville NC now in our second decade of building fine luxury homes. We love educating our clients on new sustainable, eco friendly green building materials that are durable and healthier for your new home. Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/ to learn more about us and why we are better.

Black Mountain Custom Builder explains Manual J

Year-round, comfort is the goal. In the summer, your air conditioning system not only cools your homes air (sensible cooling), it removes moisture (latent cooling). In the winter, your heating system must keep you comfortable without causing high utility bills. Make sure that your HVAC contractor uses the Manual J residential load calculation procedure. Insist on it! Manual J is the official standard for residential load calculation and is required by many building codes around the country. By accurately performing a Manual J calculation you can be assured that your HVAC system has been sized properly for optimal performance and maximum energy efficiency.

Your HVAC contractor will carefully measure your home and evaluate its levels of insulation. Windows, sizes and quantity will be noted, levels of infiltration will be estimated and internal loads including lighting and kitchen appliances will be taken into consideration. A computerized analysis will be completed that indicates just how much heating and/or cooling capacity your new system should provide. After the installation of your new system is completed, you will receive a copy of the computerized load calculation for your records. As an Asheville NC Custom Builder and certified green professional we only use qualified HVAC contractors that properly perform Manual J calculations on all new heating & cooling systems installed in our fine, luxury custom homes. Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/ to learn more about us.

Black Mountain Custom Builder talks Carpet

If you are considering wall-to-wall carpet for your home or project, stop, look, and read on. Take a minute to think about the pros and cons of your carpet choices before you buy that next roomful. Carpet is synonymous with comfort, it is soft, absorbs sound, and makes a house warmer, literally and figuratively. Unfortunately, it also contributes to poor indoor air quality (IAQ),off-gassing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), absorbing and retaining moisture that can lead to mold, and is a huge sinkhole for dirt and dust mites. Carpets containing high VOC materials and compounds can be extremely hazardous for your health by affecting the indoor air that you are breathing.

If your heart and feet are set on carpet, go with natural fibers, like wool, hemp, silk, linen, and sisal. My favorite is wool: The innate beauty and durability of pure wool provides a natural soil barrier, adds warmth and comfort, is inherently flame resistant, plus, it comes from a renewable resource. Look for natural fiber carpets free of toxic dyes, pesticides, herbicides, and flame retardants. Two of my favorites are Earth Weave and Natures Carpet, both 100% wool complemented by solid environmental practices. Ensure healthful carpet installation by using tack strips instead of adhesives, which can be loaded with VOCs and make the carpeting harder to remove/replace/reuse/recycle later on. Padding increases softness and the carpet's life, so, again, look for natural wool and rubber; there are many made from recycled products. Advantage Development Co. is an Asheville NC Custom Home Builder and certified green professional that is always educating clients on potential health risks of different types of building materials so that more green products can be chosen. Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/ to learn more about us.

Black Mountain Custom Builder only Paints with Healthy Paints

With good reason, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates paint within its Top Five environmental hazards, and has produced research that shows VOC (volatile organic compound) levels indoors while paint is drying are 1000 times higher than outdoors. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the dangers faced by people who work with paint. It reports that painters have a 20% increased risk of a range of cancers and a 40% increased risk of lung cancer, in particular.

In general, it is recognized that children and older people are particularly vulnerable to solvent vapors. When added to headaches, other allergic reactions, skin problems, heart stressing and effects on the reproductive systems, conventional paint is something you should think hard about before inviting into your home. Advantage Development Co. is an award winning custom builder in Asheville NC that has recognized the health hazards of indoor paints for years now. We always recommend low or no VOC paints and finishes to our clients for indoor applications on their new homes. Visit us at http://www.advdevco.com/ to learn more about us as a custom builder in Asheville since 1990.