Health and Energy

Hilo Lot 1 Exterior Image with a Northwest Contemporary Style Home and twilight lighting in the background

New homes designed with sustainability and mindfulness at the forefront.

Our buyers know there are many benefits to buying a new home over resale, and superior energy efficiency and integrated living is often at the top of their list.  New construction homes are built to the most up-to-date building and energy codes, so your new home is emitting less pollution and reducing your carbon footprint. From our all-electric Urban Series homes to our signature, larger builds, we’ve packed our homes with eco-conscious features that enhance your lives through cost savings, high performance, and better air quality for peace of mind.


    Designed for Better Living

    1

    Save on Electricity with LED Lighting

    LED lighting can last up to 25,000 hours compared to 1,000 hours with their incandescent counterparts, plus they are 100% recyclable and Energy-Star certified. You can also hook up LED lights to third party apps, so you have complete control over your lighting use at your fingertips. You will save on your electricity bill and on bulbs, since most brands state they'll last 10 years. They also offer an added safety feature since they produce no heat. 

      2

      Better Air Quality with Induction Ranges (Urban Series Feature)

      Induction ranges are becoming increasingly popular, but the technology and benefits are still new to many buyers.  A recent Forbes article stated that one of the biggest benefits of induction ranges is the safety element, especially when it comes to cooking with little ones nearby. You can cook without a hot surface and save energy and money knowing that ~90% of the generated heat goes straight to your cookware without residual heat.  You'll also enjoy faster cook times - you can boil water in about half the time it takes a gas cooktop. As an added benefit, there's less emissions and pollutants in your home when you cook with induction over gas, which means healthier air quality for you and your loved ones. Read more about the benefits of induction over their electric and gas countertops, below!

        3

        Water-saving, eco-flow showerheads

        We install low-flow shower heads that reduce your water usage by 20%, without compromising functionality. HGTV stated that the average household in the United States can save about 2,900 gallons of water every single year by installing only 1 low-flow showerhead. Showers make up around 30% of typical water usage, so you'll save significantly on your water bill with each low-flow showerhead installed. 

          4

          Healthier Air Quality with Low-VOC Paint and Carpet

          All of our new homes utilize low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) rated paints and carpet, offering a more sustainable and healthier home.  Low VOC ratings mean less off-gassing and toxicity placed in the air in your home. All of our carpets are equipped with a green label from the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). To learn more about the CRI green labels and criteria, please click here.

            5

            Mini-Split Heating and Cooling (Urban Series Feature)

            We place mini-splits in every living space in our Urban Series homes, so you have complete temperature control at the push of a button! Since every room has its own unit, you have full control over the temperature of each zone, ensuring you're not heating or cooling unoccupied spaces.  Not only will you save on energy costs, but you can feel good knowing your energy consumption is reduced as well.

              6

              Save with High Efficiency Heat Pumps and Electric Water Heaters

              Modern heat pumps can reduce your energy use for heating by ~50%, compared to baseboard heaters and other furnaces? This feature is found in both our signature homes, as well as our newly created Urban Series Homes. Our hybrid electric heat pump water heaters come with increased energy efficiency, to ensure you have enough hot water when you need it, but at the most efficient cost. They conserve energy and still meet energy star qualifications. You can learn more here.


                7

                Reduce Your Water Use with Dual Flush Toilets

                According to a recent Forbes article, a dual flush toilet can save a family of 4 up to 13,000 gallons of water a year, and can save the homeowner $99 per year. While that may not sound like much over 365 days, if you consider the lifetime of the toilet, your family could save over $2,200 per a Princeton Student Climate Initiative article. These efficient toilets allow you to reduce your water consumption without having to think about it, so we've placed them in select locations throughout your new home.

                  8

                  Energy Efficient Front-load washer and dryer

                  There's a lot of debate over front-load washers and dryers vs their top-load counterparts, but front-load appear to be the clear choice when it comes to energy and cost savings, plus increased reliability since they don't use a central agitator. They can use up to a half the amount of water compared to their counterparts, and as an added bonus, they create significantly less noise!

                    9

                    Generous Skylights + Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

                    Our contemporary homes are known for signature use of skylights, elevated ceilings, and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. Not only do these windows offer fantastic curb appeal and enhance the look and feel of your living space, but they create an abundance of natural light which in turn can lower your utility usage in climates like ours. With more natural light present in your new home, you can cut down on the use of your lighting fixtures throughout the day.

                      10

                      EV Charger Ready

                      All of our homes with a garage are ready to park and charge your electric vehicle! We provide a 50-amp 240-volt circuit for your electric car charger. Learn more about the significant emissions benefits over conventional vehicles here

                        11

                        Smaller Footprint Living (Urban Series Feature)

                        Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, a move-down buyer, or someone simply looking to reduce your environmental footprint, our new Urban Series are our most efficient homes yet. We understand not everyone needs or wants to maintain a 2,500+ SF home, so our Urban Series homes range from 1,500 - 1,800 SF, offering the perfect balance of design, function, and carbon-conscious living. With less square footage to maintain, your maintenance costs are reduced, which means less cleaning products and chemicals, reduced outdoor upkeep and water usage, and less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. As an added bonus, you'll save on energy costs!

                          Benefits of Induction Ranges

                          Healthier air quality in your homes

                          Homeowners and builders are turning to induction over gas is due to potential health and environmental concerns. A Stanford study cited by Harvard Health showed that gas stoves leak even when they are turned off, and these leaks equaled 76% of their total methane gas emissions. In addition, cooking and baking with gas appliances give off high concentrations or nitrogen dioxide. The CDC reports several health-related issues that can come from high exposure to nitrogen dioxide, especially when a home has poor air ventilation.  In addition, Smithsonian Magazine cited the same Stanford study, and claimed, "...natural gas burning stoves also imperil the planet by releasing methane. While carbon dioxide gets the most attention in conversations about climate change, methane is a huge contributor to planetary warming."

                          Faster cook time

                          According to an article by Consumer Reports, an induction range can boil water in about half the time as a conventional stove. To put it into perspective from the same article, "6 quarts of water will approach a boil 2 to 4 minutes sooner than on gas or electric stove."  The reason for the faster cook time? You're essentially cutting out the middleman when you're no longer heating up an element and then transferring that heat to the pot.

                          Safer and cooler cooktop surfaces

                          Due to the way heat is generated with induction cooktops, you don't have to worry about an extremely hot burner. This is especially important if you have little ones at the house - this is an added safety benefit. While gas ranges have an open flame which can be dangerous, especially with nearby towels, pot holders, and the like, an induction range stays cool to the touch. It may feel warm, similar to when you place a hot dish on a countertop and then remove it. 

                          Precision heating and less energy waste

                          Enjoy more efficient and precise cooking by cutting out the middleman with an induction range. EnergyStar reported that an induction stove is 5 to 10 percent more energy-efficient than conventional electric stoves and about three times more efficient than gas stoves.  They go on to state that induction cooktops energy usage and transfer is done with approximately 85% efficiency, compared to 32% for their gas counterparts.

                          Easier to clean with less harsh chemicals

                          A plus side of induction cooktops not getting as hot as their gas countertops is that they will burn food less to the surface. However, we know spills still happen, and thankfully they will wipe off pretty quickly! Since induction ranges have smooth surfaces, you don't have to worry about getting into hard-to-reach crevices, and most stains can easily be wiped off with a little vinegar and water.

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