Ann Arbor Green Building
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Ann Arbor's Leader in Green Building
Green building is what we do. Since the founding of Meadowlark Design+Build, our company has focused on developing custom homes and remodels that are designed with the world in mind. We combine our experience and knowledge of green building with specialized, green construction crews to ensure that every aspect of every build is completed as sustainably as possible. From zero-energy and passive homes to green home additions, whatever sustainable project you're hoping to build, our experts are here to guide you from start to finish.
There are few investments in home building or remodeling that will pay you back over time. Green building is one of them. If you're ready to build your dream home, sustainably, the Meadowlark team is here to help.
Let's Talk About Your Green Building Project!
Meadowlark's Green Building Services
As a sustainable, green builder, we believe that better building practices build better futures for our community and for the planet. Our company was founded on the practice of sustainable building, and that's where we continue to excel today. A Meadowlark home is not just a beautiful custom home — it's also a home or remodel that's built to support the environment and stand the test of time. Here's a little bit more about our green building certifications and our green building capabilities.
Green Building Certifications
As a leading green builder in the Ann Arbor area, we're proud to say we build to meet a number of green building certifications, and hold LEED Platinum custom home certifications for a number of our past projects. At Meadowlark Design+Build, we're here to support your goals to build a LEED-certified, net-zero, or even passive home.
LEED Certification
LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit trade organization. LEED for Homes provides independent, rigorous, third-party verification that a house was built or remodeled using best practices aimed at improving energy and water efficiency, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving indoor air quality, protecting natural resources, reducing long-term environmental impacts, reusing materials and resources, and encouraging local sustainable product sources.
Passive House Certification
Of all the green building certifications, a Passive House certification is one of the most difficult to achieve. Passive homes are complex to design and must be built carefully to meet the standards of the Passive House Institute of the United States. But, once the work of building is complete, you'll find that living in a passive home is a totally unique experience. Designed to use such low amounts of energy that the sunlight shining through your windows and the summer breezes blowing through the screens provide your heating and cooling, a passive home is built to maintain an ideal indoor environment effortlessly while providing unmatched comfort and quietness for you.
Net-Zero Homes
Net-zero homes are so energy-efficient that they produce as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of the year. If you're interested in active renewable energy sources like solar panels, a net-zero home might be the right green building option for you. Meadowlark net-zero, or near net-zero homes also make use of passive design strategies to maximize natural heating and cooling methods and ensure that your home is built for exceptional energy efficiency.
Whether you're interested in a passive home, a LEED-certified home, or a net-zero home, Meadowlark Design+Build is your go-to resource for green home building and remodeling in the Ann Arbor area.
Green Building Architecture & Design
The Meadowlark Design+Build team specializes in sustainable and green architecture. Not only do we have some of the very best green designers on staff, but we also maintain great working relationships with top sustainable building architects in the area. Whether you're already working with an architect you trust or are seeking experienced green design support, we bring a collaborative approach to our sustainable and green building design projects.
Green Building Technology
Exceptional sustainable homes start with the latest and greatest in green building technology. The Meadowlark Design+Build team is proud to build using the very best technology, materials, and techniques on the market today. With decades of experience in the green building space, our in-house crews have the knowledge and the resources to build homes that are healthy, comfortable, and ultra-efficient.
Why We Care About Green Building (And Why You Should, Too)
At Meadowlark Design+Build, it's our mission to set the standard for sustainable building. We believe in building homes that create a healthier environment and a path to a better future for those who seek it. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do because we believe when we all walk a little lighter on the earth, we enhance the world around us. Here are just a few of the reasons we're so passionate about green building — goals we hope our clients share, too.
- Building Better Futures. It's one of our core values. We believe that by building sustainable homes with the very best in energy efficiency standards, we reduce our impact on the environment, creating better, brighter futures for the next generation.
- Quieter, Healthier and More Comfortable Living. Green homes offer a quieter and more comfortable environment and a healthier indoor air quality. Passive building techniques deliver an indoor environment that's comfortable year-round. Green building envelopes are tightly sealed to deliver a quiet haven that's truly your own. And all of those strategies combine to deliver a green home built with exceptional design and craftsmanship — one you can enjoy without worry for decades to come.
- Innovation in Sustainable Building. One of the most exciting things about building green homes is that we get to use the most innovative sustainable building techniques available. Our crews are true green building experts, learning and implementing the latest technology with every home we build. For you, that means a finished home or remodel built to support your family for decades to come.
To us, green building means delivering our clients the very best — design, materials, and craftsmanship — so you can live in a home that's not just custom-designed to fit you, but that's also built to preserve the world around you. That's a home you can feel good about.
Green Building FAQs
As a sustainable custom builder and remodeler, we get a lot of questions about what green building is, and what it means to build a "green" home or remodel. If you've got questions, that's totally normal. Here are answers to a few of our most frequently asked questions about green building. If you don't see your question below, be sure to get in touch with our team!
What is the difference between a LEED-certified, net-zero, and passive home?
This question is so common, we actually wrote a blog about it! Head to What is Green Building? for the complete breakdown between those different types of green-certified homes.
How do green custom homes differ from standard-built homes?
There's a lot that goes into green building. The simple answer to this question is energy efficiency — but there is so much more to it. In general, green homes are much more energy-efficient than standard-built homes. But, if you want to know more than that, we've got the full answer to this question in our post How Do Green Custom Homes Differ From Standard Built Homes.
Are there additional costs associated with building a green home?
Any new home or remodel you build is going to cost you something. Many people worry that building green or sustainably will cost more. It's good to know that a green custom home or remodel might carry slightly higher costs in design and in the types of materials you choose. That said, it's important to remember that once built, a green, passive, or net-zero home is likely to save you considerably over time. Because green homes are built to minimize energy use and to reduce maintenance needs, you're likely to recoup any additional upfront costs in the first few years of energy savings. On top of that, you get the added benefit of a more comfortable, healthier home.
How long does the green home building process take?
In general, you can expect the physical building process of a green custom home or remodel to take about the same amount of time as a traditional build. The Meadowlark team estimates that a typical green custom home might take anywhere from 4-6 months for design and 12-15 months for building. A green or sustainable remodel may take around 3-5 months for design, and 4-6 months for construction. Of course, this timeframe will vary depending on the scope of your unique project.
How do you determine whether a building material is green or not?
Entering the world of green building can feel overwhelming. There's a lot to know, from what a sustainable home looks like to what green materials go into constructing it. Our article Shades of Green Building discusses what "green" means, and what exactly makes building materials green.