Green Builds – Upper Valley Builders

There is currently a lot of media and industry focus on developing sustainable green building methods. We believe that affordable yet well-designed, well-built structures provide the best way to live in a responsible manner. Whatever your decision, we are committed to meeting your needs and working within your budget. Keep in mind the following when thinking about going green.

Sustainability
Sustainable building is a broad subject and includes not only the source of materials used but also how they are manufactured, transported and their ultimate disposal.

Materials
Wood remains one of the best and most renewable materials available. All forests in the US use sustainable forestry as do many other places in the world. Old, recycled wood can add to a building’s character but it may come at a higher cost and may have a varied appearance.

Building Size
It will cost you more to build, fuel and maintain a larger home than a smaller one. The choice is yours.

Government Mandates
The government continues to mandate various energy efficiencies (insulation, windows, heating, lighting) which will add to the cost of the building.
-Insulation – Building codes require a minimum level of R-values in the insulation used in new construction. The fact is, the better insulated your home is, the less you will spend on heating and cooling it. There are many insulation options out there but UVB uses one of the most cost-effective, highly efficient systems available.
-Windows – Recent code changes require a certain level of efficiency in windows of new builds. UVB uses windows from manufacturers with a proven track record of performance, reliability and service.
-Heating – In addition to a well insulated building and high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heating system is important in maintaining comfort and keeping costs low. UVB’s heating experts can provide you with what you need.
-Lighting – LED bulbs can be six-seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by more than 80 percent. Good-quality LED bulbs can have a useful life of 25,000 hours or more — meaning they can last more than 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs.