Earth-Friendly Building Choices with Houston Homes
In today's world, building a home responsibly isn't just a trend – it's a commitment to a healthier future. At Houston Homes, we understand that you want a beautiful, high-quality home that also aligns with your values. That's why we're dedicated to offering earth-friendly options that never compromise on quality, style, or your peace of mind.
There are numerous ways to construct a home that treads lighter on the planet, reducing its carbon footprint, minimizing energy and water consumption, and embracing truly sustainable building practices. Houston Homes is proud to provide homebuyers with an expanding selection of eco-conscious products to incorporate into their new build.
The Foundation of Sustainability: Our Building Materials
The very materials used to build your home play a crucial role in its overall sustainability. In the residential construction industry, building supplies vary significantly in quality, environmental impact, longevity, and aesthetic appeal.
At Houston Homes, we choose to partner with Louisiana-Pacific (LP) Building Products because they deliver on all fronts: exceptional quality, lasting durability, and a strong commitment to responsible sourcing. In fact, in 2023, LP reported that an impressive eight of their products are "carbon negative." This means these innovative materials actually remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they emit throughout their entire lifecycle – not just reducing their impact, but actively contributing to a cleaner environment. Furthermore, LP is dedicated to the responsible harvesting of trees for their wood and wood pulp products, actively supporting sustainable forest management practices.
One of the standout carbon-negative products we use in our builds is LP WeatherLogic BlueBoard. These water-resistant wall sheathing panels are a key component during the framing stage, providing crucial protection against moisture intrusion while still allowing beneficial water vapor to escape. Beyond moisture defense, BlueBoard enhances the structural integrity of your new home by adding significant cross-panel strength and stiffness. This versatile product can be used for both wall and roof applications, ultimately contributing to increased energy efficiency within your home.
Ready to learn more about the superior protection and sustainability of LP WeatherLogic Water and Air barriers? Visit https://lpcorp.com/products/panels-sheathing/air-water-barrier
Water-Wise Living: Sustainable Home Fixtures
Inside your home, even the smallest details can make a big difference. Our plumbing fixture supplier, Moen, shares our commitment to sustainability, believing that "every drop of water matters." They engineer their home and plumbing products to significantly reduce water usage, translating directly into lower water bills for you.
Many of Moen's water-efficient products proudly meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rigorous WaterSense® criteria for both efficiency and performance. The WaterSense program is a national initiative dedicated to promoting water efficiency and empowering consumers to make informed choices about water conservation for future generations. Look for the distinctive droplet logo on products like showerheads and faucets – these signify that your new home is designed to use less water without sacrificing functionality or style.
Moen offers stunning bathroom faucets that can reduce water consumption by up to 45% with their efficient 1.2-gallon-per-minute flow rate. You can also find stylish, water-saving kitchen faucets to perfectly complement your kitchen design. Even their showerheads are engineered to use less water while still providing an optimal showering experience.
Taking water conservation a step further, Moen offers innovative Smart Water Network products, including intelligent sprinkler systems. These smart technologies put the power of water conservation directly in your hands, allowing you to track your home's water usage and set personalized conservation goals through the intuitive Moen Smart Water app.
Energy Efficiency from the Outside In: Pella Windows and Doors
The windows and doors of your new home play a critical role in its energy efficiency and overall comfort. That's why Houston Homes partners with Pella, a brand synonymous with quality and innovation in energy-efficient solutions. Pella's windows and doors are designed to prevent drafts and minimize heat transfer, ensuring your home stays comfortable year-round while reducing your heating and cooling costs.
Many Pella products have earned the prestigious Energy Star "Most Efficient" designation, signifying that they meet even more stringent energy performance requirements than standard windows. This means greater energy savings and a smaller environmental footprint for your home.
A key component of Pella's energy efficiency is their use of "low-emissivity" or low-e glass. This virtually invisible coating, optimized for our local climate, effectively blocks a significant portion of the sun's harmful UV rays. This helps to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, all while protecting your furniture and flooring from sun damage.
Pella also offers double-pane and even triple-pane glass options, which create insulating air spaces between the panes to dramatically slow down heat transfer. In fact, their new triple-pane windows are reportedly 62% more energy efficient than standard windows, offering exceptional insulation. For added convenience and efficiency, their popular between-the-glass blinds and shades help control light transmittance and further enhance energy performance. To maximize insulation in both double and triple-pane windows, argon gas can be added between the panes, acting like an invisible "insulating blanket" to further reduce heat transfer. Select Pella product lines even offer optional foam insulation within the frame, creating an exceptionally tight seal for superior energy performance.
Low Voltage & Reduced Energy Use
A low-voltage lighting setup is not just about illuminating the space. It's about setting the mood, enhancing your décor, and increasing your energy efficiency. Houston Homes partners with The Sound Room for the installation of low-voltage lighting, but also offers home owners multiple options for home entertainment systems, as well.
Imagine being able to adjust the light fixtures in your home to match your activities, whether it's a romantic dinner, a movie night, or a productive work session. Or create automated schedules that enhance your family’s safety while saving energy costs. During the build process, homeowners will have the opportunity to meet with the pros at The Sound Room to identify other needs in addition to low-voltage lighting and electrical outlets.
Building a Brighter Future, Together
At Houston Homes, we believe that building a sustainable home shouldn't be a luxury – it should be a standard. By carefully selecting innovative and eco-conscious materials and partnering with forward-thinking suppliers like LP, Moen, The Sound Room, GE, Pella and others, we're committed to providing you with a home that's not only beautiful and comfortable but also responsible and resource-efficient.
Ready to explore the possibilities of building your sustainable dream home with Houston Homes? Contact us today to learn more about our earth-friendly options and start your journey towards a brighter future.