Durango Green Builders - Green building the Durango way!

Sustainable Building Practices incorporates many concerns and approaches. There are a vast array of Eco friendly products and techniques available in today's Ecology conscious environment utilized by LeGrand Construction as they become credible.

Rick believes it is a balancing act to provide beautifully crafted, masterfully built homes while making low carbon footprint choices for Green construction. Sometimes a person's budget is the only restricting factor in how much Green Building can go into a home. More and more customers realize the choices they make for their home will help sustain their life-style longer if they also consider the sustainability needs of the planet.

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Remodeling a current home to be more "Green" is another way to make choices that will save on utility costs, freshen the breathable air in the home, conserve natural resources like water and gas and utilize recycled materials.

All LeGrand Construction new custom homes and remodels incorporate sustainable technologies and the latest in energy efficient products.

Through Rick's guidance Home Owners are asked to consider the importance and practicality of their decisions as good for themselves, for home re-sale and for the well-being of the planet.

Renewable resources like wind, solar and geo-thermal are essential in our collective and sustainable future. LeGrand Construction works with a number of environmental engineering firms to make these technologies part of a new generation of home design.

"Things that are needed by all living things are the same -- Clean air, clean water and earth to grow from and sustain us over time."

Involving Rick early in the design process offers an opportunity to be sure the design incorporates the latest and greatest in environmentally friendly considerations.

LeGrand Construction offers environmentally sound products designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, promote healthier indoor air, decrease water usage, preserve natural resource and reduce maintenance requirements over time.

Here are some things to consider for Green conscious building whether you're building a new home or remodeling an existing one:

• Indoor Air Quality - Because we build air-tight, high R factor homes it is important to consider adding air filtration and air exchange in your home. One of the most important considerations for indoor air quality is the choices you make for the products you use and materials you make decisions NOT to use.

• Interior and Exterior Choices should utilize as many Green materials available for siding, counter tops, flooring, VOC free paint, adhesives, cabinets, wall sheathings and coverings, and an ever growing selection of recycled materials and products. Selecting these products keeps your inside air from being toxic and are often environmentally conscious from manufacturing through distribution. You lower your own carbon foot print by choosing these products.

Many environmentally conscious products and procedures are designed to reduce heat loss and cut heat bills. All fireplaces and free standing stoves should be vented with outside air supply.

• Well insulated, heat retaining, roofs, walls, floors and ceilings accomplished through the use of tightly compressed recycled materials and efficient climate control systems make your home energy efficient -possibly achieving R Values as high as 50 .

• Select Windows and Doors with Low E glass let the sun in while reducing heat loss.

• Recycled or sustainably harvested woods have become the norm for wood selection in LeGrand Construction Custom Homes.

LeGrand's personal home utilized recycled hundred year old Birds Eye Maple and rustic cherry seconds to reduce the impact on their environmental impact while still appealing to the aesethics of a wood floored home.

• Radiant Floor Heating powered by Integrated Solar-high efficiency modulated boiler combinations is a highly sustainable, cost containing, popular choice for Rick's custom homes.

• Selection of Appliances makes a difference in your home's energy efficiency. There's continued new consumer products and technologies being developed so you have many choices to help reduce your carbon foot print.

• Plumbing choices include tankless hot water systems and waste water treatment systems for recyling residential water.

• LeGrand Construction uses Phoenix Recycling to recycle construction waste and Bob's John's for the rest.

Rick has respect for the land, nature and it's inhabitants. He continually finds ways to make choices that reduce impact on the immediate environment. Reclaiming the land after construction through natural landscape is important for birds and critters as well as aesthetics.