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GreenLife Wins ENERGY STAR Award from Governor

Wind, McNuggets & Paper Maché Monuments

Defending Alternative Energy Options

By Christopher J. Hall, CGP, CAPS

Wind energy is more expensive than coal. Period.

Anyone who pays even scant attention to our energy options understands the dollars and cents of wind power. Wind farms and their enormous turbines cannot produce the same amount of energy as your average, everyday, coal-fired power plant. So we need lots of those hulking, expensive towers in order to meet our energy demands.

As the big utility monopolies and our legislature consider how to supply the energy needs to future generations of our state, it seems time to consider the bigger picture.

Consider the Chicken McNugget. As our stomachs growl while we travel to far off lands via the minivan, we pass the golden arches and my little three year old girl says “hey, old MacDonalds!” She wants the little plastic joy-inducing wind-up toy of the week. We don’t visit the place often mind you, for many reasons. Most obvious being the lack of nutritional content in their food. But it’s cheap.

Granted, a McNugget kiddy meal only costs a few bucks, but is it really what my daughter’s growing mind and body needs?

We could save a buck or two and supply our kids with McNuggets and fries or we could look for fresh, healthy alternatives at the sub shop up the road. But those little, greasy, fried, formed, odd-shaped bits of yard bird are cheap.

The decision comes down to choosing between the benefits of McNuggets (they’re cheap) and the downside (they’re greasy, fried, formed, odd-shaped bits of yard bird). When considering the health and well being of my children, it is much more than a dollars and cents decision.

When we consider only the dollars and cents, we can easily lose site of the bigger picture. As a proud, right wing wacko, I am the last person who wants to see government mandates and irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. But there are some things most of us agree are good uses of tax dollars such as roads, monuments and national parks.

Consider roads. The lowest bidder may be whom the bean counters select but this is Michigan. We have hot, sticky summers and cold, icy winters (and springs). Our roads need to be professionally engineered, expertly installed and they need to hold up to punishing conditions. The least expensive way to do roads would be gravel. So why don’t we see more gravel roads? They are loud, messy, require hands-on maintenance and wash away in the rain. But they’re cheap.

What about our national monuments. They cost money. Lots. If we only consider the dollar investment when building monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, then forget marble, stone or big-name architects. Does the capitol building really need to be so ornate when a simple pole barn could keep our legislators out of the rain? Paper maché and pole barns are the only way to go. Will such a monument hold up to wind, rain and millions of tourist hands and feet? Probably not. But it’s cheap.

And our public parks cost money too. If we looked only at the downside (financial cost) when starting our national park system we probably would never have even considered such national treasures as Yellowstone or Zion. Let’ face it, they cost a lot of money to maintain. User fees don’t even come close to paying for the rangers, infrastructure, maintenance or upkeep. 

Believe it or not, I see the same considerations needed as we debate our energy portfolio in Michigan.

Our current energy options, such as coal-fired power, are relatively less expensive than wind. Period.

But there is an equally important downside as well. How can anyone argue the negative environmental effects of the burning coal in large-scale quantities? I’m not talking about global warming or job creation here. I’m simply pointing out the obvious, unquestioned impact coal plants have as they run day and night. From the obtaining the coal itself, burning it, handling the waste, to mitigating the atmospheric garbage it produces, the current “grid” is tremendously expensive to our shared, natural environment.

When the public domain and shared resources are negatively affected like this we must consider everything, including but not limited to, financial cost.

We get what we pay for. If we want cheap then coal is the way to go. If we want the better all around option, we invest in wind. Lots of it. To knowingly invest in a coal without considering other, cleaner option is irresponsible. The time for this conversation is now.

The big utility monopolies are (sort of) coming along kicking and screaming. But they do have monopolies so that opens up their operations to taxpayer involvement. If they don’t want us pesky people messing with their business plans then they should stop lobbying for protection from competition. 

But since we as Michiganders (thankfully) have input in this process, we need to look at the big picture and consider all costs—financial and otherwise. When we do that, wind power is definitely something we need to consider.

Then again, maybe we need to find a way to use all those McNuggets to produce energy. Now there is a good use for those greasy, fried, formed, odd-shaped bits of yard bird.

###

Christopher J. Hall

GreenLife Homes LLC

2415 Porter SW Ste A

Wyoming, MI 49519

888.760.2999 ext. 3

chris@homesbygreenlife.com

Price Per Square Foot: Compare Apples to Apples (Part II)

“Green Apples”
So in Part I we talked about why it is hard to compare the price per square foot between builders and their homes. Now, the next question usually is “how much more does green cost?” or “how long is your ‘payback time’ for energy efficient features?”.

That answer is pretty tough to answer in one sentence as well.

Scenario 1
If a builder thinks all this “green stuff” is a bunch of hooey and builds to the Construction Code and not a penny over it, chances are it will cost thousands of dollars to get to the level of green certification for LEED for Homes®, EPA ENERGY STAR®, and NAHB's Green Building program.

Scenario 2
If a builder does good work, builds a tight, efficient homes and is responsible with resources, then green shouldn’t cost that much more.

Scenario 3
If a builder (perhaps one named “GreenLife Homes™”) builds all homes to LEED for Homes®, EPA ENERGY STAR®, and NAHB's Green Building program, then green is their baseline. You can go up from there depending on just how green you’d like to be, but you’ll know that you start out with a healthy, green home you can afford.

We aren't snobby enough to think we are the only builder in America who can build you a healthy, green home. But we are willing to give you our honest, best effort. No hidden motives. We just want to build your family a home we can be proud of.

Okay, you want actual numbers. Well here is what I was told at the US Green Build Council's LEED for Homes® class regarding pricing:



So the money you save every month on energy and water will make up for the increased monthly cost on your mortgage payment. Looks like a wash. Under this scenario, you get your "energy efficiency payback" every month!

GreenLife Homes™ only builds homes that are certified by a third party under programs such as LEED for Homes®, EPA ENERGY STAR®, and NAHB's Green Building program. So when you compare our product to other builders, make sure they are building to the same level of sustainability, otherwise you may not have a realistic comparison.
Bottom line: Make sure you make a decision based on good research and not by comparing apples to lemons.

Price Per Square Foot: Compare Apples to Apples (Part I)

“So what is the average price per square foot for a new home?”

As a builder, we hear this question a lot.

You probably won't like my answer: “Well, it depends on the home.” 

There are so many variables that affect the price of the home, such as:

• Quality of the installers, products and materials
• Style of housing
• Size, location and natural features of the lot
• School district
• Experience of the builder
  

Ask Questions

Builder A offers 2,000 square feet at $77 per square foot and Builder B offers the same 2,000 square foot plan at $130 per square foot. Which is a better deal? The answer is in the details.

You may be getting a 70% efficient furnace in the $77 home. That means you save money on the mortgage but will pay substantially more every month in utilities. Does the $77 home include quality windows or use installers who are trained and understand how to properly control moisture?

Did the $77 home hire trained professionals to do the work you can't see, such as insulation, framing, heating, cooling, plumbing, or electric? Perhaps they did pay a lot to their trim carpenter and painter so they could cover up the little "oopsies" that occurred due to shoddy craftsmanship.

Out of all this, the most important is the quality of your home. Is it well built? Will you be able to live in it for a long time without major remodels or repairs? Or did they build it to last the life of the mortgage (30 years) only for it to become the slumpit for future generations to drive past with disdain?

Open up the hood and look around. These are questions you need to ask when you see someone talking about price per square foot.

Further, since we are believers in Sara Susanka's Not-So-Big-House philosophy, we'd rather build you a comfortable home right-sized to your family and your lifestyle. Not "space for the sake of space". Functional spaces you will use. Wouldn't you rather spend money on a home that is fully utilized versus having a large home with entire rooms you don't use but still have to heat, cool, and clean?

Don't Forget the Lot

Usually the lot, or the dirt you build on, is the single most expensive part of the new home puzzle. Nothing else will effect the bottom line more than the property.

While two homes may be the identical in square footage, the lots they sit on may be completely different. One may be a quarter of an acre in a suburban area. The other may sit on two acres in the country.

Since the lot is usually the largest individual cost in a new home, you could build the same home in two parts of town, one in a ritzy neighborhood and one next to the water treatment plant, and the cost would be very different simply because of the lot location.

You can build a very small home, on a very small lot, with lots of custom, built-ins and spend twice as much as you could building a large home, on a large lot with standard or baseline features.

Basically, comparing homes or builders based on price-per-square foot is like comparing cars based on their cost-per-pound. For example, a BMW Z3 may weigh as much as a Yugo, would you pay the same for both cars?

Are you following me? Would you compare these as being apples to apples? You wouldn’t, would you? It's more like comparing apples to lemons.

Same rule applies to new homes.

Green Building for President?

I admit it. I'm guilty (As a recovering lobbyist I have this need to share these little moments of enlightenment with the rest of world. Maybe it will cleanse me of my lobbyist-ness?).

Anyway, when I first started paying attention to the green building movement I thought it was all a bunch of goof ball hippie stuff, dreamed up in an marijuana-induced haze by some long-haired freaky people in San Francisco. I thought green homes looked like this photo on the right.

I could not have been more wrong.

Green building isn't about red state/blue state, liberal/conservative, long hair/crew cut or any other political or social identities. It is about doing it the right way. Better.

After being exposed now to countless programs, seminars, and educational opportunities on building science, high performance construction and green building, I'm convinced our way of building is the future of housing. And being someone who is eager to get started on the future today, I'm ready to dive in and build green right away.

The cool part... consumers agree.

They may not know what to call it or how to describe what they are looking for (some do, a lot don't) but they do know they want quality, performance, healthy indoor air quality, and they don't want to be the reason Dinoco Oil Company has to tap into another field in Dubai. So it's our job, as builders and REALTORS®, to let these people know there is a better way to build and live. We don't want to shove it down their throats mind you. But with some patience and passion we should be able to make a compelling case for building more efficient, healthier, and environmentally friendly spaces.

I've talked to a lot of people who are interested in green building. And the old, incorrect assumptions I made a long time ago seem really, really ignorant. The folks we deal with come from all corners of income, social class, education, political persuasion, location, height, weight, and music tastes. At one of our workshops you could walk through the parking lot and see a Prius with a Gore/Lieberman 2000 bumper sticker (where do you get those in 2008?) parked next to a muddy pickup with a Ducks Unlimited logo. Free-love and Free-market. Save the Whales and Save a Buck.

A more articulate person would say green "transcends". Good word.

It's true. I don't care if you like to throw paint on people who wear baby seal skin jackets or if you like to track bear for the meat of it. Whatever your motivation (stopping global warming or conserving resources for future generations), green building makes sense for you, your family and your world.

Why? We can live off the land...affordably. Wind. Solar. Geothermal. Energy resources are available for the taking. Good design isn't difficult to achieve. Efficient use of resources takes very little time. Responsible materials are coming online (and onto the lumber yard shelves) everyday. It isn't rocket surgery.

However you are voting today, I'm guessing a healthy, green home is relevant to you. It should be because it is well within reach of just about all of us. And if it isn't within your reach, Habitat for Humanity is helping out in my beautiful homeland of West Michigan. Same for Inner City Christian Federation in Grand Rapids who also is leading the way with affordable, charitiable and market rate homes that are LEED and/or Green Built Certified..

Are you kidding me? So now we have green entry level homes all the way up to the big, contemporary $6 million Leonardo DeCaprio thing we see on Oprah? How cool is that?

At the end of the day, I salute all my fellow green builders and those trades and service providers who are working towards a more sustainable built environment. We're all in this together and even though we are competitors, I'm a firm believer that a healthy, competitive market place will provide consumers with even better choices and selections. So the green homes of tomorrow are going to be even better than those that are being built now. Let's keep it up.

Oh yeah, and don't forget to vote.

Green Builder Says "Thank You!"

By Joshua L. Rupp, President

GreenLife Homes

Greetings my fellow bloggermaniacs. As the other voice in GreenLife Homes, I am pleased to see support for what we are doing. Thank you! When Chris and I initially talked about starting this company at this time last year, we never thought we would receive so much attention from the real estate community!

Both Chris and I came to GreenLife Homes from within the industry and realized the need for an innovative green company that wasn’t afraid to make an impression and be different…really different.

Way back in those glory days I didn’t see anyone taking an the initiative to promote green building on the scale that we are doing with GreenLife Homes—where every home we build is certified by a third party. It seemed all that was out there was a handful of builders who definitely had green going on but it was an option on their fuller menu.

There are also some really big, green homes with huge budgets to work with and a lot of room to slide in fancy “green” features. While we are pleased the industry is starting to become much more environmentally conscious, we saw the need for quality green homes that were actually affordable to the average American family. This is something I encourage all our fellow green builders to take up because that is how we’ll really make a difference in the quality of the housing stock in this country.

This is the core of why we got into this business. It’s why Chris jumped from his role with the nation’s first statewide, green home certification program. It’s the reason I left my own construction company behind. I am proud to have completed hundreds of precise carpentry jobs as a subcontractor and dozens of custom homes as a builder. But I will be even prouder to deliver the homes of the future that we are currently developing and will be working on for years to come.

In the GreenLife family, we are trying to lead the way in new ideas and innovations in the green building market. Some examples of our willingness to do bold things include our hybrid car giveaway and our newly formed green workshops (that are going to be full of education on not only what we do but what is being done by others to promote the cause).

These workshops are going to be posted on various outlets so our REALTOR and client network will all have access to the education wherever they may be We have a valid and proven desire to spread the word about what we do.

The collective experience of Chris, myself and our project superintendent Shannon Rupp, dates back to the early 1990’s and individually we’ve each earned respect from our peers for our hard work and above-the-table way of doing business. No games or backstabbing.

We want our entire GreenLife Homes family to succeed and we’re honored to be able to work with some excellent people and some committed green professionals. We are also very excited to be teamed up with people such as Mary Bigelow and Allen  O’Shea of Contractors Building Supply. They single handedly are going to help not only us promote the cause but others as well. They are setting new standards in solar, wind and energy saving products.

Come get involved with us and experience the way we do business. We don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do take our work seriously. That means we like the home building experience to be a fun filled enhanced experience with expert results. You will not be disappointed and, yes, we do have a whole bundle of great references and quality constructed and remodeled homes from Grand Haven, Wyoming all the way down to Ohio.

Take care and like our friends Mary Bigelow and Buzz Holtvluwer always say, “Life is good!” 

Ready for Anything

Now we are able to build homes that can adapt to the various changes we can (and usually do) go through in life. Not only will our homes be environmentally sustainable, energy efficient and offer a healthy indoor environment, but now they can be 1. Adaptable 2. Accessible and 3. Visitable.

Our slogan is "Healthy. Green. Home." and we think the "healthy" part is very important. Universal Design is a large part of making a home healthy.

Basically, aging-in-place (or "Universal Design") means the home is equitable in use, simple and intuitive, tolerates errors, requires low physical effort, offers perceptible information and is sized and spaced appropriately for use (learn more about Universal Design at The Center for Universal Design at NC State University).

Personally, I'm pretty excited to utilize the training and the professional designation. Years ago when I was doing education for the Home Builders Association we did their first CAPS training and I was blown away by the simple things we can do to help make homes more tolerant of the changes we go through. Perhaps the best part about all this is that Universal Design doesn't have to be sterile or ugly. You can work in so many features and it will look beautiful. And now that I'm in the building world, I have the pleasure of helping people enjoy their homes--whatever life throws at them!

Realtor Workshop: Building A Healthy Green Home

Workshop: Building A Healthy Green Home
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids
1633 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
 
Learn the basics of healthy, environmentally friendly homes. Christopher J. Hall, CEO of GreenLife Homes, will discuss various products and systems found in green homes and will also explain the third-party certification programs (LEED for Homes, Green Built Michigan, and EPA Energy Star) commonly used by Green builders. You'll have a chance to ask questions and meet a number of Green Building experts. This course is free but registration is required and is open to the public and REALTORS®.
 
REALTORS® bring you clients to this class and help them to learn about green homes. GreenLife Homes will offer a Buyers Agent Commission through their selling agent, ERA Network Realty.

To register for this class call (888) 760-2999 ext. 2 or register online at www.homesbygreenlife.com. On the top left side of the home page, under “Resources” click on “Upcoming Events”.

Seating is limited so sign up today!

What Are Buyers Looking For

Okay real estate pros, I'm looking for your input. If you were representing a buyer in the following price ranges, what would be some of the most important features you would have them look for? Mud room? Master suite? We're tweaking our plans as we move into Texas, New Mexico and Tennessee and want to make sure we cover all our bases with our plans...

150 - 225,000

225 - 275,000

275 - 500,000