What are you doing to educate homeowners/customers/clients.... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

foamhome · 10-10-2007, 04:01 PM

...about 'greener' approaches to their projects? I'm just curious what some of you are doing about educating the public.

Grumpyplumber · 10-10-2007, 04:52 PM

Every time I get a call for a gas fixture replace or install I run through the different options for efficiency.
Trouble there is the higher the efficiency, the higher the intial cost.

Milhaus · 10-11-2007, 06:45 AM

I push the reuse aspect with materials whenever I can. We just did an insulation job on a old cedar sided house. Customer didn't want to see the holes in the exterior, so we pulled off all the cedar siding (where we needed to insulate), and reused every bit of it that we could. Homeowner was super happy to see us glueing and taping small cracks in the old boards, rather than tossing them out and buying new. Took a bit more time and money for the homeowner, but she was a great customer in that regard.

**joasis** · 10-11-2007, 06:48 AM

The problem is "tradition", and selling something to someone who can see the obvious benefits, but sleeps on it, and then sticks with tradition....We have shown the ICF home we just completed to more then a dozen prospective clients, one sale.

We will build 3 stick frame homes though.....for the others.

Grumpyplumber · 10-13-2007, 02:20 PM

I agree, also the details entailed are lengthy.
I've had customers almost get the impression I must be gaining something big to spend that much time explaining it.
Now I just briefly mention the options, if there's no interest I don't pursue it.

**joasis** · 10-13-2007, 03:07 PM

Unless we see a severe energy crisis in the US, and somehow still continue to build new homes, I think it will take decades for ICF's to ever gain real acceptance.

I am seriously considering using ISP's in my new home, simply because of the design and price. I do believe we could sell more ICF's if the cost were more reasonable. $12 a sq/ft for cost on walls isn't bad, but customers want comparisons, and you can't compare apples to oranges.....the biggest leap to get around, is if they are that great, why isn't everyone doing it now?

Joe Carola · 10-13-2007, 04:54 PM

Let's say I frame a Green addition off the back of a house that's 18' wide. Now I take out the existing wall of the house and install a beam to support the second floor or the roof of a one story home. Now the new addition is Green and the existing hopuse that is not Green AND is opened up to the new addition. What do you do with the existing house?

You have a Green addition but and old house tying into to it that's all one open room now.

What happens when you do an Add-A-Level that's Green and you open up the front Foyer to the Add-A-Level that's Green and the whole first floor is existing that's now open to the Green second floor?

MikeTheBuilder · 10-21-2007, 01:15 PM

On each home we build I use an energy rater. They take the entire home with all my normal house specifications and run it through the States approved energy calculation program. That will tell you what the monthly energy comsunption is (electric bill). The client can then choose the energy efficient options they want to use on their home. The option list tells them how much they will save each month with each option. This way they can make an informed decision. Products that perform poorly get discarded. Once we tell them how much each option cost they and do a cost/benifit analysis. Believe me it takes all the guess work and supplier marketing hype our of the selection process. The end result is a better, more efficient home, happier Client and additional profits.

BigJon3475 · 10-21-2007, 02:05 PM

I would refer them to Energy Star for their own research purposes. I would then answer any question they had that the site didn't answer for them (more technical things)

Chris Johnson · 10-21-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joasis

Unless we see a severe energy crisis in the US, and somehow still continue to build new homes, I think it will take decades for ICF's to ever gain real acceptance.

And this acceptance is going to take some time, a lot of time. I'm not sure where you guys live, but here in CA the utility company is promoting people to use better appliances, windows, roof insulation, light bulbs and such, so much they are sending them rebate checks or P.O.S. discounts. Solar has hugh rebates, which all this is fine and dandy, but how about promoting and offer discounts to people who nip it in the bud and use better solutions from the get go?

Not that I am a scientist or engineer but as an educated guess I would say if my state created discounts to level the final costs on the playing field between standard homes and energy efficient ones the term 'rolling brown-outs' would disappear from our vocabulary very quickly.

BigJon3475 · 10-21-2007, 03:19 PM

I have already seen members of power co.'s coming into other forums to figure out the HVAC/R side of things and efficiencies. With questions like "How do I determine if a proper load/loss calculation was done?", "How do I determine if a system is properly charged?", "How do I determine the SEER or EER of a system once it is installed and how do I verify proper instillations?".......I don't think it's so far around the corner...It's only a matter of time before they figure out how to stop "brown outs" and in my thinking they are going to do what it takes because no one is happy with millions of people without power...companies...homeowners...government....

In the above situation they also would not justify "extra" rebates without seeing a load/loss calculation and all the info required to justify a proper install. It will only roll into everything else. I can't tell you how many shows on TV are all about "Greener" building.

MikeTheBuilder · 10-21-2007, 10:13 PM

Each time we have a construction slow down in Florida. Builder and supplier marketers try to figure out away to motivate existing homeowners to move to a new home or renovate their existing one. I believe Green Building is getting a lot of press because it is the latest motivator. Not that it is all smoke and mirrors, but they are certainly faning the flames. With that much money behind it, it's someting I want to be involved with too. I just want to promote the pieces that make practical sense to the consumer. I have found that when the trend moves in a particular direction I want to move and be part of it. It's just good business sense. I have tried the other approach in the past, only to be overwhelmed by the wave. Something about fighting wind mills!

10-24-2007, 10:07 AM

Mike, I agree... it seems that the trend will HAVE TO go that direction as energy soars to all time high (last heard $90/barrel). I have talked to a bunch of realtors lately, and they said that they are predicting that house values will be directly proportionate to your home's energy efficiency because energy is such a precious resource and will play a much larger part in home prices and how people will buy a home. Who will want to buy a cheaper home if it will cost you tons of money to upkeep and maintain?

Green building is definitely a higher upfront cost, but will be cheaper to maintain in the future and in some cases (like with SIP walls and roof) can pay themselves back in the long run. You can't be short sighted when doing green building. Since some builders want the cheapest for the most, and they don't really care about future benefits for the homeowner, a lot of them won't green build, which I think is VERY unfortunate (and why we became owner builders).

ownerbuilder · 12-29-2008, 07:44 PM

God knows how much I appreciate this question. I talk to people every Saturday on a construction radio show about green building technologies, and encourage contractors and suppliers to start proclaiming the green revolution from practical experience before the whole idea is relegated to a newspaper journalist or anchorman who has never lifted a finger to build anything. Thank you for asking. Now lets get with the program before it goes by us like a stray gun nail.

ownerbuilder · 12-29-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Carola

Let's say I frame a Green addition off the back of a house that's 18' wide. Now I take out the existing wall of the house and install a beam to support the second floor or the roof of a one story home. Now the new addition is Green and the existing hopuse that is not Green AND is opened up to the new addition. What do you do with the existing house?

You have a Green addition but and old house tying into to it that's all one open room now.

What happens when you do an Add-A-Level that's Green and you open up the front Foyer to the Add-A-Level that's Green and the whole first floor is existing that's now open to the Green second floor?

You might start with a zone control HVAC system upgrade in your submittals for your energy cals, if you have them. Window retrofits to add to the new cals, and maybe radient barrier plywood if the existing roof is old and has to be replaced. And add more insul.Yes, I see your point. Ken

Dmax Consulting · 01-01-2009, 08:07 PM

I do painting and concrete restoration. I explain the benefits of using gs-11 coatings concerning their indoor air quality and reducing greenhouse gasses. If they have more questions, I send them to my website, to which I constantly add content.