Craig Builders Home Certified by EarthCraft Virginia, EasyLiving Home, and Fortified Home
News Release
March 14, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stuart Raper, Director of External Affairs
EarthCraft Virginia
Stuart.raper@earthcraftvirginia.org
Charlottesville, VA – March 14, 2013 – Craig Builders, a locally owned and operated building company serving the Charlottesville, Virginia area, is pleased to open the doors to their recently built triple certified home. The first-of-its-kind home, which will be open to the public and media on Saturday, March 16th from 12 – 4 PM, is certified by three building certification programs: EarthCraft Virginia, EasyLiving Home, and Fortified Home. The result is an energy efficient home with a reduced impact on the environment that is designed around every day convenience and fortified against severe weather.
One of the top priorities was to build a sustainable home that conserved energy, resources and water. In order to meet that goal, Craig Builders incorporated EarthCraft Virginia features into the design process. The result is a more durable, comfortable and resource-efficient home as compared to industry standard. The homeowner will save money each month due to strong air sealing and insulation strategies combined with a high efficiency heating and cooling system. Some other features of the home include windows that are Low E and filled with argon gas, a high efficiency hot water heater, Low VOC paints, tightly sealed HVAC Ductwork, and Energy Star appliances. Finally, to ensure that the entire system was built to meet or exceed EarthCraft guidelines, the home underwent a rigorous energy audit that included inspections such as a “Duct Blaster Test” and a “Blower Door Test”. The result is a home that ensures lower energy usage in two ways, by designing and building the home to use as little energy as possible as well as implementing energy saving features and appliances. To learn more about EarthCraft Virginia please visit www.earthcraftvirginia.org.
Another priority was to include many design features that would provide the homeowners and their visitors with ease of movement and convenience during any stage of life. The residence includes EasyLiving Home features such as a step-free entrance; a front door wide enough for a double stroller or large wheelchair and bathrooms and hallways with ample maneuvering space. For added ease of use, additional universal design features are included such as one level living, a covered front porch; light switches and thermostats set at a 55” height; lever handles on doors; and pull handles on cabinets and vanities. Bathrooms also feature comfort height toilets, and curbless roll-in showers with grab bars. To learn more about EasyLiving Home and the “Liveable Homes Tax Credit” please visit www.elhomes.org.
In addition to EarthCraft and EasyLiving, the house was designed to meet Fortified Home standards by building a stronger, safer home that will increase a home’s resistance to natural hazards found in Central Virginia. These features include an upgraded roof system complete with upgraded plywood and waterproof sealing, roof shingles rated for both 130 mph winds and high hail impact protection, improved attachment system and sheathing of gables with increased bracing. For more information about Fortified Home certification can be found at www.disastersafety.org.
“We were honored to be selected to build this home as these design elements represent where the future of homebuilding is headed ” says Sam Craig, President of Craig Builders. “By receiving all three certifications, we are proud to offer a home that will reduce the impact on the environment as well as provide comfort and peace of mind for this homeowner for many years to come.”
Experience this cutting edge home for yourself by attending an open house on March 16th from 12 – 4 PM at 1193 Orchard Drive, Crozet, VA 22932. Representatives from Craig Builders, EarthCraft Virginia, EasyLiving Home, and Fortified Home will be in attendance.
About Craig Builders
Craig Builders has been a fixture in the homebuilding industry in central Virginia since 1957. As long-time residents of Albemarle County, they treasure the beauty of the native land and understand the need to preserve its charm and character all while meeting the housing needs of the local community. Craig Builders proudly builds various styles of homes from town homes to custom homes. The company strives to be highly regarded for quality product, for excellent service before and after the sale, and for impeccable integrity.
About EarthCraft Virginia
EarthCraft Virginia, a 501c3 non-profit, was established in 2006 in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Virginia and Southface Energy Institute with assistance from the Virginia Community Development Corporation. The EarthCraft House program, originally founded in 1999 by non-profit Southface and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, serves as a blueprint for energy and resource efficient homes built in the Southeast. Throughout the Southeast the program has certified over 8,000 homes and 17,000 multifamily dwelling units.
EarthCraft Virginia’s partners include Southface Energy Institute, the Home Builders Association of Virginia, Habitat for Humanity of Virginia, and Virginia Housing Development Authority.
About EasyLiving Home
EasyLiving Home is voluntary certification program designed to encourage builders of single family homes, duplexes and triplexes to include EasyLiving Home features in home design and construction. The EasyLiving Home program is managed by Virginia Accessible Housing Solutions, Inc., a Virginia 501c (3) non-profit organization.
Virginia Accessible Housing Solutions, Inc. owns the rights to the EasyLiving Home certification mark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trade Office.
The goal of certifying homes as EasyLiving is to increase the stock of accessible and convenient (“easyliving”) homes for all persons regardless of age or ability.
About Fortified Home
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s suite of FORTIFIED programs is dedicated to improving the quality of residential and light commercial buildings. The FORTIFIED programs feature practical, meaningful solutions for new as well as existing structures throughout the United States. Every area of North America is exposed to some type of natural hazard that puts homes and businesses in harm’s way. IBHS uses applied building science solutions to reduce the risks facing these properties. Fortified Homes is brought to Virginia by Build Smart Virginia, a non-profit, offering fortified inspection services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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