Conference in Albuquerque Takes Tour of Green Homes

Kicking off three days of seminars, exhibits, awards and educational opportunities at NAHB’s National Green Building Conference, the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico has invited attendees to tour a half-dozen innovative homes in the Albuquerque area on March 12.

• High Mountain Homes. Photovoltaic cells and a roof-top glycol system in this 5,300-square-foot home transfer heat into the in-floor radiant heating system. Pipes collect rainwater and gray water from sinks and tubs; it is filtered to remove bacteria and then reused in the greenhouse and for landscaping.
  
  
• Vision House '06. A collaboration between Sun Mountain Construction and Green Builder Media, this stunning Southwest contemporary home overlooks the Rio Grande Valley. Designed and built in accordance with the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, the project demonstrates the cutting edge of luxury home building technologies and systems. Insulated concrete form construction, highest quality windows and patio doors, super efficient mechanical systems, water and energy saving fixtures and appliances, and fine workmanship exemplify the latest in custom green building.
  
  
• Charter Building & Development Corp. Charter Building’s 3,349-square-foot home has a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 90.3, 2x6 exterior walls framed on 24-inch o.c., R-38 blown-in attic insulation, R-23 blown-in-blanket insulation in the exterior walls, a Reem 90% AFUE furnace, Reem 12-SEER DX cooling and an Aircycler thermostat. The home was tested in November with whole house leakage of 1087 cfm at 50 Pascal negative pressure, 45% below the target of 2005 cfm, and total duct leakage on the return side of 26 cfm and zero leakage on the supply side at 25 Pascal.
  
  
• Durano Custom Homes. Indoor air quality features, solid waste reduction and resource and water conservation highlight this tour home with a HERS 91.8 rating. Low VOC paints, stains and finishes promote indoor air quality. Low-flow plumbing fixtures, including dual-flush toilets and the elimination of water-reliant evaporative coolers, contribute to water conservation. Air transfer grills between bedrooms and main living areas ensure even temperatures and balanced interstitial air pressure throughout the home.
  
  
• Cromlech LLC. Combining the feel of the Southwest with contemporary style, this 4,000-square-foot custom home is a Bronze level green house, according to the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, with particular emphasis on indoor air quality and energy efficiency. House orientation, a tight building envelope and a duct system designed and constructed within the building envelope help eliminate energy loss. This custom home demonstrates how easy it is to incorporate sustainability without sacrificing design or style.
  
  
• The Strosnider Company. This home is designed to maximize living space with elevated ceilings and abundant natural light throughout. All heating and cooling systems have undergone rigorous design specifications for the floor plan and random field testing by an independent contractor to ensure optimum performance for the consumer. Engineered lumber, blown-in insulation throughout, low ‘E’ windows, Solatube skylights, foam-seal air filtration and Energy Star digital auto-programmable thermostats combine for  improved air quality along with an average 30% reduction in utility costs, and a significant reduction in water use.

Advance registration for the conference is no longer available. Attendees can register onsite beginning at 7:00 a.m. Monday, March 13, at the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque. Call the hotel at 505-842-1234 for accommodations.

For more information about the tour, e-mail Kaycee Coffman at the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico, or call her at 505-344-3294 x113.

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