Serra Construction follows basic green building principles: integrated systems, energy efficiency, careful use of resources, healthy materials, and environmental responsibility. Here are some examples:

Reducing Energy Consumption
The greatest impact of a new house on the environment is its long-term consumption of energy. Optimal energy use is about how much we use for producing and then operating a house.

One way we achieve energy-efficient homes is by using a new generation of wet-blown cellulose insulation in the exterior walls. It seals the walls, stops all drafts, is treated to resist both fire and mold, and has a greater R-value than fiberglass.

We also seal all penetrations of a SerraHome in the interior "envelope" (ceilings and floors) to eliminate heat loss from cold air flow through interior wall cavities. U.S. Dept. of Energy tests show that this kind of home uses over 20% less energy to heat and cool than traditional houses.

Protecting Endangered Ecosystems
Houses in North America are still built mainly from wood. Western forests have been logged for lumber for over 150 years, at a rate that cannot be sustained. The age and size of trees available now are far less than just 40 years ago, when forests were cut for the second and third time. We have witnessed the gradual decrease in quality as old, slow-growing forests have been replaced with younger, smaller trees.

Engineered wood products dramatically reduce the volume of wood required to frame a new home, thus reducing the impact of logging.

At Serra Construction we have replaced all solid sawn beans with engineered products, using Timberstrand as headers (the large beams over all windows and doors in structural walls). Timberstrand also reduces the cracking of drywall around windows and doors that sometimes occurs as solid sawn headers dry and twist.

Homeowners can choose from almost endless new approaches to using traditional or new approaches to wood for the home. The use of bamboo flooring, for example, has increased dramatically. Bamboo grows rapidly, and is even more durable than hardwoods such as oak.

Creating Better Health for Homeowners
Building materials can considerably affect the health of new homeowners. Many of the highly processed home materials contain adhesives with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and other detrimental chemicals. We are constantly searching for affordable alternatives. An example of what we currently use in SerraHomes is the Voyager Elite subfloor material, which is 100% formaldehyde-free. It also strongly resists water penetration, a great boon during construction.

For more detailed information on green building, contact us at serra@serrahomes.com or 970.242.3730.