Key Principles

Sustainability

Continuously searching for the least harmful building practices and most thoughtful design

Both in our process and our product, sustainability is our key principle. We build durable, high performance homes that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and decrease water waste. We use sustainable materials wherever we can and focus on cleaner building processes.

And we strive to keep our carbon footprint low in our office. That means operating a pick-up truck that runs on natural gas, charging electronics with solar power, reusing paper that has been printed on only one-side, recycling, composting and much more.

Energy-Efficiency

Making sense economically and environmentally

Though the building of a home can be quite a harmful process, the burning of fossil fuels to power the home is much more detrimental in the long-term. 85% of all house-related harmful emissions come after the home is built, to power the home. ~Maryland Home Performance - www.mdhomeperformance.org

At SEED, we know how to make a home as energy-efficient as possible without increasing cost. And we know energy-efficiency also makes sense economically, due to the long-term cost savings.

Creating a tightly insulated building envelope, sealing all cracks and air leaks and designing smart is a huge part of making a home energy-efficient. Once this is achieved, we consider on-site power generation to reduce dependence on the energy grid, through photovoltaic (solar) panels, residential windmills, geothermal energy, and other methods.

Design

We think before we build

Below are some key design principals that we incorporate in every project.

• Passive Solar Design - Maximizing natural energy characteristics and the sun's energy for the heating, cooling and lighting of living spaces.
• Tight Building Envelope - Reducing air and thermal infiltration, further insulating a home from extreme temperatures.
• Thermal Mass - Utilizing materials that absorb heat from a heat source, then release slowly, protecting the home from quick temperature swings.
• Smart Power Management - Monitoring electricity use in real-time, providing a clear breakdown of how energy is consumed in your home.
• Energy Creation - After the above steps are accounted for, power generation most applicable to the building site is considered.

Home Health:

Overlooked for too long

For physical and mental well-being, we create homes that are void of harmful chemicals and toxins. This means discontinuing the use fiberglass insulation, paints full of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and other toxic materials. This is standard in every home we build.