With the tremendous emerging "Green & "Sustainable" new home construction market I think it would be a big mistake to build a conventional "to code" house in todays alerted world. Our area has reached a tipping point in this lull of new home construction. I think it is an advantage for Builders to shift their thinking through updated building science techniques about .....now! The time is now. People wanting a new home have learned the newest words of green and sustainable housing, straw bale and insulated concrete forms. Some even know SIP's or structural insulated panels. "Energy efficient" has become a household word and they expect their builder to know all of these words and how to build any one of them...yesterday. Now, all the contractors are "green builders" Just as soon as a client breathes the words "green home" the hungry builder that forsook the concept of green yesterday is now an"expert" and knows all about it today.

You may find it interesting that I recently created a Documentary on Green Building...it is playing on local TV in our area...you may watch some of it on line if you are interested. It is available to see the first few minutes on www.OregonGreenHomes.net or you can watch a section or two that you are most interested in....such as solar PV  or straw bale or radiant floor heat...on youtube you can see sections...2 to 3 minuts each.   http://www.youtube.com/user/BuildingGreenHomes