|
Harmony Home Construction offers building, design, and consultation
services which help create elegant, healthy, energy efficient places to
live and work while preserving our natural resources.
The
ideals guiding our work include:
- Thoughtful
placement on the land: The seemingly simple act of
paying attention to, and designing with, the orientation and makeup of
the building site can affect energy use enormously. In
addition, we believe the livability of a home is greatly enhanced by
designing into the context of the site rather than placing a building
upon it.
- Passive
solar features: Taking advantage of free heat from
the sun makes sense in any climate. While we here in Northern
Michigan may not be able to be entirely dependent on solar energy for
all our heating needs, it still pays to minimize glazing on the
northern side of a house and maximize sun-capturing southern
windows. With sufficient thermal mass and insulation, even our
long cold winters can be cozy without burning excess fossil fuels.
- Renewable
energy systems: We promote and encourage a common
sense use of high-efficiency appliances with a conscientious use of
our natural resources for daily needs. We are also excited to
implement alternative energy sources where appropriate.
- Improved
indoor air quality: Many standard building materials
are in fact highly toxic. Alternatives do exist, and
surprisingly to some, are not necessarily more expensive. We
strive to eliminate many if not all dangerous materials from the
home. In addition, the use of breathing wall systems allows us
to bring fresh air into the home without expensive mechanical systems
or heating inefficiency.
- Reduced
electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure: This issue is
not well understood and seldom discussed. In our efforts to
create healthy living spaces, special care is taken to eliminate
circuitry or large expanses of metal which cause EMFs. Please
see the article which discusses this issue further.
- Reduced
operating and maintenance costs: We like to look at
the use and cost of a building over the time span for which it is
designed. The use of durable, time tested materials and
procedures allows us to produce healthy homes which function without
high energy input and won't fall apart and end up in the landfill.
- Quality
nontoxic materials from sustainable sources: It
takes some research and care, but all aspects and pieces of a modern
house can be produced without stealing from future generations.
- Recycled
building materials: Many older buildings are still
around because they were built with excellent lumber and other
materials requiring minimal processing. While these buildings
may not fill a need anymore, many of the materials used to build them
are as good as the day they were put in. By recycling these
materials back into new buildings we keep perfectly good stuff out of
the landfill, we avoid having to produce new materials, and we often
get a higher quality product than is available at any price today.
- Reduced
waste and environmental impact: Many building sites
feature dumpsters nearly as big as the houses being built. In
fact, it is estimated that 40% of the solid waste in landfills is
created by the housing industry. We buck this trend by designing
for less material waste and recycling that which cannot be avoided.
- Creative
and inspiring designs: A healthy home environment is
not just clean air and efficient energy use-there is an instinctual
delight in a feeling of comfort, solidity, and beauty.
- Careful
attention to detail: Whether it is knowing the right
alternative material to use or creating just the right curve in an
arched opening, we take pride in understanding the principles of good
design and implementing them in construction that will function and
last.
- Traditional
craftsmanship: We draw inspiration from the work of
our forefathers and the techniques that served them in a life led
closer to the land and based on our local environment.
- Improved
safety for our clients and workers: Healthy
sustainable homes are built by avoiding toxic materials and
conscientiously creating a work environment which does not endanger
the inhabitants.
Please see
the articles for in-depth discussions of many of these issues.
Harmony
Home Construction, LLC.
8122 Barney Road
Traverse City,
Michigan 49684
Ph: 1-877-45-GREEN Fx: 231-932-9193
info@harmonyhomeconstruction.com
|
