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Panelization Is a Quick, Easy Way to Go Green
By Building Systems Magazine and NAHB’s Building Systems Councils
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Panels are manufactured in a controlled environment not subject to the weather. | Of the building systems on the market, panelization offers one of the quickest and easiest ways for a conventional builder to go green.
The panels are assembled in a controlled environment, out of the rain and snow. Quality control standards for design, workmanship and materials are met for each home before it is shipped.
At the construction site, building with panels will make the house weather-tight much faster than a site-built home ― protecting the home from damaging elements while reducing the likelihood of mold, mildew or other indoor air quality issues down the road.
Building with panels also can save builders time and money without compromising quality, plus the home packages are easy for the other trades working on the home to understand.
Points For Panelization
Panelized wall framing systems and roofing systems receive six points each under the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and will be included in the upcoming National Green Building Standard. (Visit www.nahbgreen.org to learn more.)
Bob and Kathe Tortorice, of Building Alternatives in Franconia, N.H. have carved out an enviable reputation for eco-friendly and energy-efficient home construction — including earning an award for the most energy-efficient home in New Hampshire in 2007. They concentrate on building super-efficient homes in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.
Their company uses the panelized system from Harvest Homes as well as modular, logs, structural insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete forms (ICFs) building systems.
“My husband has been a proponent of energy-efficient homes for more than 15 years,” said Kathe Tortorice. “We were green before green was fashionable.”
Marketing on the Web, at Home Shows and With Lectures
The company attracts clients through its comprehensive Web site www.buildingalternatives.com and numerous home shows.
“We attend as many as 17 home shows in a year and my husband is a sought-after speaker on sustainable design and building. It’s a big investment in time and energy. The goal is to educate the home buyer about their options,” Tortorice said.
The company typically takes on a dozen new construction or large-scale remodeling projects a year. With the market slowdown, however, that has dropped to five so far this year, she said. Many of the projects are unique and employ cutting-edge technology, regardless of which system is used to enclose the tight envelope of the home.
“Every job is a new challenge. Many of our clients come to us because they want a green or energy-efficient home,” Tortorice. “Some of our competition doesn’t want to be bothered with those kinds of projects. They’ve built the same way for 30 years and refuse to change.”
How to Succeed in Green Building
To succeed in green building requiress many of the same skills needed to succeed in the building industry in general:
- Use your skills in communication and planning
Tortorice said her strength in strategic planning proves valuable in managing projects and meeting the expectations of clients. “With many of the processes we’ve put into place, it makes the walk-through go so much smoother,” she said.
- Trade contractors can help you succeed
“I think the best way to come into this industry is to respect your trade contractors,” Tortorice said. “If you respect their strengths, they will begin to see yours. I didn’t know anything about construction, but I do have an MBA and I know I’m smart. My trade contractors helped me understand their work and how it affects the rest of the job.”
- Be Proactive
“Not only do you have to be patient with clients and the trades and write everything down, you have to be proactive and look for ways to improve your business and its processes,” she said.
- Good design never goes out of style
“I don’t know how many people have come to me with designs — some of them done by architects — that don’t have a closet by the front door,” Tortorice said.
“Women in the industry weren’t that common 10 years ago. There are more now and I think they can bring a lot to the table,” Tortorice said. “They can help in the development of the floor plan, decorating, furniture placement and about the functionality of a design and many aspects of home building and sales.”
- Use available resources and certifications
The NAHB National Green Building Program provides ways to score homes against the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines as well as many other technical tips for panelized construction, demonstrating its resource-efficiency and getting building systems products certified by the National Green Building Certification.
To learn more, visit www.nahbgreen.org.
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With panel construction, homes are weather-tight faster than their stick-built counterparts. |
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