As a designer and builder of custom homes in Dallas, we focus on designing and building super energy efficient homes, which at the same time also means the homes we build are much healthier for its inhabitants. Why is that so? Well… there are several pieces to the puzzle:
Indoor Air Quality: Tight shell construction – meaning the air that leaks in and out of the building is kept to a minimum – as well as right sized heating and air conditioning systems to properly manage humidity and pollutant control are one part of the puzzle.
Building Materials: On a standard home (meaning not one built for extremely allergic or chemically sensitive people), the majority of building materials we use are low formaldehyde or formaldehyde free. We have also standardized our construction documents and specifications to only include low VOC construction adhesives, bonding agents, paints and sealants. For people with chemical sensitivities, we can specify even more stringent material requirements for a home.
Process and Quality Control: One of the most overlooked aspects of building a healthy home is the actual process of building. Quality control measures, ensuring only specified materials are being used, need to be in place and enforced. This is a process that can be challenging for builders that have never dealt with the issue. EGC has a qualified supplier and trade contractor chain that can build to even the most stringent green building certifications such as LEED for Homes, ensuring that our homes are built to the exact plans and specifications.