Sustainability starts with a careful process

A sustainable home is one that makes efficient use of resources and energy. It does not use up or destroy natural resources. This means that a home is only as environmentally-friendly as the materials used in its construction and the systems on which it runs. At Clarum Homes, our core purpose is to transform the way you live by creating greater comfort, greater health, and greater environmental sustainability.

Where a home’s materials are sourced is important, as well as the manufacturing methods of the products. When the Clarum Homes team selects home building materials, we consider questions such as:

• Are the materials harvested in a way that endangers species or threatens communities?
• Do they require large amounts of non-renewable energy to manufacture?
• Are they non-toxic for the occupants?

Questions like these help determine the true sustainability of your custom home. Read more about some of the features that make our homes sustainable and healthy!

Five key features of sustainable homes

1. Extreme energy efficiency

To be a sustainable, a home must be extremely energy efficient. High-performance design is one where the heating, cooling, and water delivery systems meet rigorous criteria. This approach in building can slash the energy consumption up to a whopping 90% versus conventionally-built houses. Clarum weaves the following systems into the homes we build to ensure this outcome:

• Solar power systems – Harness the power of the sun to produce the electricity needed for your high-performance home. Similarly, solar hot water systems utilize energy from the sun to heat water (85%) and provide energy for home heating.
• Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) systems – Cycle air throughout the home. An HRV system provides proper air ventilation throughout your home, drawing fresh air in, filtering and tempering it with the native air, and moving it throughout the house. This constant, balanced supply of fresh air makes your indoor environment healthier, maintains even air temperatures throughout the house, and saves up to 90% of space heating costs.
• Tankless, on-demand water heaters, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and high-efficiency appliances like front-loading washers are smart water-saving solutions for a comfortable, high-performance home.

2. Ecologically-responsible materials

Sustainability also means that a home incorporates ecologically-friendly building materials. A sustainable home should include ecologically-friendly and recycled materials, as well as environmentally-sensitive planning. Here are some of the features that make our homes so healthy and sustainable:

• Engineered lumber
• Recycled decking material
• Eco-flooring: sustainably-harvested and reclaimed wood floors
• Eco-cabinets: Formaldehyde-free construction
• Environmentally-friendly, low-VOC paint

3. Drought-tolerant landscaping conserves water

Your yard, your gardens, and the overall landscape that cradles your house can have a huge impact on the sustainability of your custom home. And high performance landscaping can create huge benefits for more than the environment—it helps you spend less money and less effort on a gorgeous, natural aesthetic.

Drip irrigation cuts down on wasteful inaccuracy (no need to water your home’s siding and driveway) and over-watering. Drip irrigation runs along pipes throughout your lawn, slowly dripping water directly onto the vegetation, which also helps to prevent immediate evaporation into the air by high winds. Within this landscaping system, we also incorporate rainwater collection systems and permeable pavers to further improve landscape drainage and water efficiency, so your lawn stays lush without sucking up too much water.

4. Superior framing and insulation

High-performance homes are built with high-efficiency framing and superior insulation to improve your home’s thermal envelope. These systems regulate your home’s temperature by preventing unwanted air flow, heat loss, and drafts. Insulation helps you lower costs, lighten your environmental impact, add comfort, and create calm and quiet in your home.

We incorporate the following to add to the home’s envelope and efficiency:

• Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)are high performance building panels that offer greater air tightness to the external envelope – the floors, walls, and roof – of your home.
• Spray foam insulation forms an air barrier around your structure, sealing and insulating in one step. Sealing the interior of a house eliminates drafts and leaks, saves energy, and keeps temperatures constant.
• High-performance windows are airtight. This increases comfort in the home, decreasing energy use and reducing condensation and well as decreasing space heating costs by 18%.

5. Taking building materials composition into consideration

Traditional home construction can pose countless health hazards – many building materials and finishes are rife with chemicals and toxins. Certain construction practices create exposure risks to biological and chemical contaminants that threaten our health in the short- and long-term.

We believe that part of building sustainable homes means that occupants do not face hazards from building materials in their home. This means taking a close look at all glues, caulks, paints, and carpets that are incorporated into a home to make sure there is no formaldehyde or other harmful toxins.

Clarum uses cabinets, shelves, and counters without particle board and also ensures that there are zero added toxins to any materials. Additionally, we carefully stay apprised of Green Guard ratings to ensure you’re getting the healthiest choice for each construction element, such as low to no-VOC paints.

The flooring we use is non-toxic and environmentally responsible. It reduces your exposure to allergens, and involves minimal off-gassing. The result? Healthy floors, and superior air quality.

Increased satisfaction, enhanced value

Sustainable homes offer a responsible alternative to conventional home-building, ultimately providing a more comfortable, beautiful, healthy  option for you and your family.

Along with a higher reported occupant satisfaction, green homes typically have a higher resale value and are on the market for less time than conventional homes. According to a recent study, green homes can be built for the same cost as conventional homes. On top of that, green homes sell faster and at a higher price than conventional homes.

Want to learn more about how Clarum can help you build the sustainable home of your dreams? Give us a call at 650.322.7069