by Christine Cooney on June 17, 2010 in ENERGY STAR, Floor Plans, Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Construction, Home Plans, House Plans
Every month we continue to add new house plans to our collection of over 5,000 best-selling stock house plans to meet the growing needs and styles of consumers looking to build their dream home. Some of the most popular home design features that consumers are looking for in their new house plan are green features like energy-efficiency and sustainable building products, a split level floor plan layout and lots of flexible and functional design spaces.
One of our newest house plans is the La Meilleure Vie House Plan, which is not only ENERGY STAR® approved, but designed with every amenity that you can think of, including a fireplace at lanai, luxurious master suite with garden tub and exercise room, open kitchen design with kitchen island, 12 ft. ceiling in the living room, covered front and rear porch, mud room, nursery room and much more.
The optional bonus plan features 934 sq. feet of family fun and entertainment with a game room, space for billiards and a media room to watch all your favorite movies.
Newest green house plan is designed with every amenity in mind.
by Christine Cooney on June 10, 2010 in Architecture, ENERGY STAR, Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Construction, Home Plans, House Plans
America’s only collection of ENERGY STAR® approved house plans
The House Designers, the leading online source for residential blueprints and stock house plans, and ENERGY STAR® have put together the ONLY collection of ENERGY STAR® approved house plans to promote consumers and builders to build eco-friendly, energy efficient homes. This collection of exclusive green house plans includes all the necessary tools to build a green home including information on green building products and practices.
“We came up with the idea to implement the first-ever collection of THD/ENERGY STAR® Green Home Plans to encourage consumers and builders to build authentic eco-friendly and energy efficient by implementing sustainable building strategies early in the design phase,” said Tammy Crosby, COO of The House Designers. “This partnership has brought together companies like Danze, Wayne-Dalton and Lumber Liquidators to support our efforts with ENERGY STAR® in educating consumers how to build high-performance, sustainable new homes.
All plans in THD’s ENERGY STAR® Approved/Green House Plan collection qualify as “Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR®”, and include requirements for energy-efficient features and construction details typically found in ENERGY STAR® qualified homes – tight construction and duct systems, properly installed insulation, high performance windows, efficient heating and cooling equipment, ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting and appliances and more.
In today’s price-sensitive economy, THD also helps consumers and builders “go green” by taking advantage of savings and rebates on eco-friendly products offered by residential manufacturers dedicated to promoting sustainable residential construction by offering a money savings/green building section to easily find the latest green building products and rebates.
by Christine Cooney on June 3, 2010 in ENERGY STAR, Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Construction, home designs, Home Plans
Last year I bought an ENERGY STAR® approved house plan from The House Designers and I have to tell you it was the best investment I’ve ever made. My builder was so impressed by how easy it was to build our home according to the ENERGY STAR® plans that they provided. It included all the necessary requirements like tight construction and duct systems, properly installed insulation, high performance windows, efficient heating and cooling equipment, ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting and appliances and much more. Last week all the inspections and field verifications were performed by a HERS rater and I am thrilled to report that our new home is not only officially ENERGY STAR® qualified but absolutely stunning.
by Christine Cooney on May 21, 2010 in Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Construction, home designs, Home Ideas, Home Plans, House Plans
The demand for sustainable materials and the popularity of outdoor living areas such as decks has led to a growth in “green” decking materials. One of the most popular and affordable sustainable materials is composite decking, which blends wood fiber and recycled plastic to create a highly durable and beautiful product. Our latest issue of Home Ideas features the latest trends in deck designs and the top green decking products to build and design your outdoor retreat. You’ll learn about some of the hottest decking materials from leading companies like TimberTech®, TAMKO®, Weyerhaeuser® and Tiberon® as well as some new creations like TimberSIL® which is made from glass and BamDeck® which is made from a 100% bamboo.
by Christine Cooney on May 19, 2010 in Floor Plans, Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, home designs, Home Ideas, Home Plans, House Plans
Here are some great design ideas to make a small bathroom appear larger without sacrificing aesthetics, comfort and functionality.
One of the simplest ways to make a small bathroom appear larger is to choose light colors for the décor and the appropriate style and size for your sink design. If you want to add some bright, bold colors to your small bathroom, use accent colors in your border or decorative accessories like mirror frames and bathroom hardware.
Choosing light colors for your bathroom flooring will aid in making your bathroom appear more open and roomier. Some of the more popular colors for bathroom floors are tans, light grays and light blues. By incorporating light colors on your walls and floors, you will have created the basis for a light colored décor that will give your small bathroom design the appearance of a much larger space. Read the entire article in the latest issue of Home Ideas featuring dazzling and eco-friendly new products from top companies like Linkasink®, Newport Brass Company®,Danze®, Delta®, Toto® GRAFF®, and many more.
Linkasink's® new line of patterned bronze sinks, which are made from 100% recycled materials make a stunning addition to any bath design.
by Christine Cooney on May 13, 2010 in Architecture, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Construction, home designs, Home Plans
The essence of outdoor living is to create an extension of your home, but with all the comforts of the great indoors. With the rising cost in gas and travel prices, families are deciding to stay closer to home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create that great getaway feeling with your outdoor living space, you just have to choose the right elements.
A key ingredient in most outdoor living spaces is a fully equipped and designed kitchen. You’ll find items like sinks, dishwashers, refrigerators, granite countertops, tile backsplashes, gourmet gas and charcoal grills and much more. To further impress, you can add a fireplace, television, stereo system and high-end teak or wrought iron furniture. A popular design trend is having your outdoor kitchen appliances encased in an island or cooking center constructed of concrete, brick, stucco, slate, limestone or similar counters and bases.
Before you go out shopping you’ll need to decide how you plan on using and designing your outdoor space. Do you want to create a retreat or an entertainment space? Do you need a space for food preparation and storage or will a grill be enough? Is a wet bar or hot tub a must for entertaining? Perhaps a combination of all these ideas can be used to create a special outdoor living space that your family and friends can enjoy.
Almost all of our designers and architects are adding an outdoor living space to their house plans, so you can easily create and customize your own private retreat. The latest issue of Dream Designs highlights some great outdoor living designs.
by Christine Cooney on April 22, 2010 in ENERGY STAR, green designs, Home Plans, House Plans
In honor of Earth Day, we have assembled a collection of small ENERGY STAR®/Green house plans, which are all designed with the same features and amenities of a much larger plan, but without the high cost to build and operate. Now is a great time to think about how green your home “really” is and to make some changes that will not only help save the planet, but create a more healthy and efficient living space.
View our collection of small, stylish and efficient ENERGY STAR®/Green House plans, including some of our most popular in this week’s issue of Dream Designs.
This efficient little plan is large on living.
by Christine Cooney on April 16, 2010 in ENERGY STAR, Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, Home Plans, House Plans
With Earth Day April 22, now is the perfect month to think about building your dream green home. We have taken the stress out of wondering if your house plan will meet the high level of green standards once it’s built by offering you our exclusive ENERGY STAR® approved house plans. And we mean EXCLUSIVE, because we are the ONLY online house plan company selling ENERGY STAR® approved house plans.
We also provide you with an in-depth Green Building Guide that will help you choose the right green products for your home. You’ll find everything you need to know about he latest green trends and products, from HVAC to flooring to painting and of course ENERGY STAR® appliances.
This week’s issue of Dream Designs, features some of our best selling ENERGY STAR® house plans. If you have any questions at all while browsing through our green house plans, please give a call to 866-214-2242 and our customer service staff would be happy to answer any questions.
by Christine Cooney on March 4, 2010 in Floor Plans, green designs, home designs, Home Plans, House Plans, Open Floor Plans
Every month we continue to add new house plans to our collection of over 4,000 best-selling house plans to meet the growing needs and styles of homeowners. Some of the most popular home design features that consumers are looking for in their new house plan are: a split level floor plan layout; green features; functional and easy to maintain using the latest building products and technology and an open floor plan to allow for flexibility. Take a look at this Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house plan with its stone exterior, low roofline and covered entryway. The main floor features a roomy master suite and office with the kitchen and living area just down the hall. A built-in bench wraps around the kitchen area, making additional seating and cozy spaces for entertaining family and friends. The lower level is spacious with a recreational room, exercise space and three additional large bedrooms. Enjoy more of our new and exciting house plans in our latest issue of Dream Designs.
by Christine Cooney on February 19, 2010 in green designs, green house plans, Home Plans, House Plans, two-story house plan
Our ENERGY STAR® and green home plans have all been selected from our best-selling collections and architectural styles, which include everything from tiny house plans, country home plans, fabulous kitchens to luxury one story and two story house plans. Our ENERGY STAR® house plans have a wide range of energy saving elements that can help you save 20% to 30% off your energy costs. Check out our some of our best selling ENERGY STAR® and Green home plans in this weeks issue of Dream Designs.
On of our best-selling ENERGY STAR® house plans is the Bellingham, a contemporary two-story craftsman with great curb appeal. From the eloquent pergola entry and covered porch to all the custom designed windows. Inside the open great room and hearth room share a double-sided fireplace. Entertaining is made easy with the over-sized kitchen area that leads into the dinette and hearth room or for outdoor living you can easily access the screened porch with fireplace and back deck. This plan comes with an optional basement that features a recreational room, game room, wet bar, wine room and additional bedroom. The three-car garage feeds into an oversized storage area with lots of built-in lockers and walk-in closet.
Enjoy the wet bar and wine room in this eco-friendly two-story house plan.
by Christine Cooney on February 8, 2010 in green designs, green house plans, House Plans
With consumers expected to spend millions of dollars on new refrigerators and dishwashers as part of the “Cash for Appliances” state-federal rebate program, manufactures like Whirlpool have busily been building an online tool to make it easier for consumers to apply for rebates.
Whirlpool has launched a rebate finder tool for its Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid brands, where consumers can enter the zip code and appliance type at the to learn the amount of applicable state rebates available. The rebate finder also scrolls the Web for utility rebate programs, where applicable.
The federal government is kicking in $300 million for states to disburse as part of the energy efficiency upgrade program, which came about after the Cash for Clunkers car rebate program. Also check out EcoRebates, a cool site designed to help consumers find rebates.
Even house plan websites like The House Designers are doing their part to share valuable coupons and rebates for home building products. The House Designers are the only house plan company to sell exclusive ENERGY STAR/Green House Plans.
by Christine Cooney on November 16, 2009 in Green Building, green designs, green house plans, home building, home designs
The editorial staff of The House Designers has spent several months working with their architects, designers and builders to find out what green building products they would recommend to consumers looking to build their dream home. Here is our list of Top 10 Green Home Building Products for 2009 based on performance, innovation and design:
1. GE Hybrid Water Heater
The new GE® Hybrid Water Heater is the first water heater to be ENERGY STAR® rated and the first to be listed on the U.S. Department of Energy‘s website. This new energy efficient heat pump electric water heater can reduce energy expenses up to 62%, saving as much as $320 annually on energy bills.
2. ALNO Kitchen Cabinet
The ALNOCLASS kitchen cabinet collection lowers the carbon footprint, while delivering high style and cutting-edge technology. The door fronts are constructed of 100 percent sustainable oak from FSC-certified forests and its matte lacquer finish is free of VOCs. Those looking to spice it up a bit can add a mobile multifunctional niche unit that keeps your most important kitchen utensils within arm’s reach. The best part is that the glass cover, which is used to conceal the components when not in use, can be outfitted with your choice of colored LED light fittings.
3. Benjamin Moore’s Green Promise® products
Benjamin Moore continues to grow its portfolio of Green Promise® products, which includes Aura, high–performance low–VOC paint; Natura Zero-VOC interior paint, which is considered one of the greenest and safest paints available in the residential market. The Green Promise® designation is Benjamin Moore’s assurance that its environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest industry standards, while also delivering the premium levels of performance and color you would expect from Benjamin Moore. But how did they get to be so green? The reason is the combination of both the base paint and the colorant. In addition to Aura and Natura, the Green Promise line also includes Aura Bath & Spa, Waterborne Ceiling Paint and ben.
4. Brizo faucets and showers
Brizo®, the luxury brand of Delta Faucet Company (DFC), brings eco-friendly elegance into the home with a line of products that are both environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing. Showcased at the 2009 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, the new Brizo green platform includes a range of water-efficient products with luxurious and sustainable design. Many Brizo lavatory faucets, such as the Vesi® Channel and Vesi Curve design, flow at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 pounds per square inch (psi), saving approximately 30% of water. In the kitchen you’ll find many product lines featuring its new SmartTouch technology, which allows the user to turn the water on and off with just a tap anywhere on the spout or handle. The faucet’s hands-free functionality allows users to easily wash hands, dishes or food without ever touching the faucet. With this new technology, homeowners are able to conserve water and energy by activating water only when needed, saving an average of 0.3 gallons of water per minute.
Read more…
by Christine Cooney on August 25, 2009 in green designs, green house plans, Home Plans, House Plans
Even though 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is suitable for drinking. It is important to conserve this natural resource by practicing moderation and installing water-efficient products in your home. Here are some helpful tips and practices so you can save water and live green:
1. Using toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) can save up to 22,000 gallons of water a year. Don’t use your toilet as trashcan, this only inhibits efficiency and uses more water.
2. Cutting a minute off your shower every day will save more than 900 gallons of water annually (based on a taking a seven minute shower). Purchasing WaterSense labeled 1.75 gpm showerheads can save your more than 7,500 gallons of water annually.
3. Using efficient faucets and installing low-flow aerators on kitchen and bath faucets will save hundreds of gallons of water each month without requiring any additional effort.
4. Use the appropriate water level and load size when doing laundry in your washing machine. For the most savings, purchase a frontload washing machine.
5. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.
For more top water saving tips and practices visit our Green Building section. For inspiring green kitchen and bath home designs visit our Green House Plans, which are all ENERGY STAR approved.
Affordable green house plan
by Christine Cooney on July 31, 2009 in Floor Plans, Green Building, green designs, Home Ideas, Home Plans, House Plans
Interest in building an energy-draining dream home that comes with high costs and wasteful space is fast becoming a thing of the past. Today’s homeowners are very savvy about energy-efficiency and economics. The economy has swiftly changed us from excessive pampering to practical living. Helping to make that road easier are architects and designers, builders and manufacturers, who support green building through their products and services.
Here are some common questions people ask when deciding whether or not to purchase or build a green home:
Q: How much is it going to cost to heat and cool a green home?
A: Residential cooling and heating alone make up 20% of the United States ‘ yearly energy use. Throw in household lighting, appliances and other electronic equipment, and homes are clearly a major source of energy consumption. Green homes use 40% less energy than comparable standard homes.
Q: But what does a “Green” home look like?
A: Your new dream home is likely to be smaller but designed to look bigger with the right floor plan, window locations and interior design accents. Flexible spaces make it easier to do more with less space.
Q: Is it true that there are several tax breaks available and even a special energy-efficiency mortgage for building a green home?
That’s correct. If you build an energy-efficient home you may qualify for a higher mortgage and get a tax break. You can read this entire article on Why Build Green in our latest issue of Home Ideas, along with a Green Home Checklist and our exclusive collection of green house plans.
by Christine Cooney on July 26, 2009 in green designs, Home Plans, House Plans
As consumers continue to learn more and more about green building, architects, designers and builders are starting to incorporate more green features into their new homes. Thanks to new technology and products, consumers can build their dream home without sacrificing aesthetics.
Even though everyone in the home building industry is buzzing about the term ‘green’ building, many consumers are still confused as to exactly what it means to build a green home. Some of the benefits to building green are living in a healthier, more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly home. Learn all about all these benefits by reading this entire article.
You can also view our exclusive collection of green house plans, featuring ENERGY STAR approved house plans.
