Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Luxury Log Homes Can Achieve Earth-Friendly Certification

By Ed Burr

Few dwellings can compare to the beautiful artistry found in luxury log homes. There's something deeply satisfying about a home that has been build with individual craftsmanship using some of nature's finest materials. Well-built log homes have been known to become heirlooms themselves, handed down several generations.

Today the lure of getting away from urban stress is stronger than ever. In addition, many people are motivated by a strong desire to live in greater harmony with the environment, building homes that are made of sustainable materials and with "green" building practices. For these reasons and more, luxury log homes have become a welcome blend of skill and style.

Some homeowners fear that working according to LEED rules will prevent them from having certain design elements in their luxury log homes. However, in most cases it's impossible to tell the difference between a home built to current standards and a "green" home. Environmentally sustainable construction focuses on incorporating "green" methods, materials and resource uses into a home's plan from the original concept. In this way LEED goals aren't add-ons or retro-fits; they're an integral part of the home's design. There are seven major areas in LEED certification for luxury log homes. These include site sustainability, materials and construction methods, water usage, energy, heating and cooling systems, finishes and indoor environmental quality.

The first step is to purchase the land for your home. Complete this transaction before choosing a home design or signing up with a builder. Frequently the land's characteristics will determine the best way to build a log home on the site. Ignoring the "lay of the land" in building will result in distress and expense.

Second, spend as much time in planning for your log home as you need. In many cases, this home is something you want to hand on to future generations, so it makes no sense to cut corners to achieve your dream. Make choices, yes, but make them based on researched options, not because you're forced into them by a builder's plan or worse, budget constraints.

Water usage and energy are the two highest-profile elements of LEED certification. Regarding water, architects of luxury log homes work with their clients and engineers to make sure the home manages water use well, including potential water reuse for landscaping purposes. A good energy program involves using a renewable energy source for the home, along with installing or building in insulation. Heating and cooling systems (HVAC) are such a crucial part of energy management that they are a separate category. LEED plans for heating and cooling luxury log homes always include waters to capture solar energy, also known as radiant heat.

Fourth, secure your financing before you start construction. Equally as important, be sure you've borrowed enough to fund the entire project. Too many partially finished and abandoned log homes testify to the look far enough into construction costs to calculate the total expense of luxury log homes. In most cases, you won't be able to get a construction load when building is in progress, because lenders consider that to be too high a risk.

Once you verify your builder's qualifications, you want to be sure you have plenty of financial resources to start building and see the project through until you can move into your new log home.

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