Green Building Tips
By Steve Theis
MCGP Master Green Professional
GMB Graduate Master Builder
CGP stands for "Certified Green Professional" and is an exclusive designation offered by the National Association of Home Builders. It is designed to certify that those carrying this designation are qualified to assist building industry professional's strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes, using cost-effective and affordable strategies. After having received this designation CGP designees are required to adhere to the CGP code of ethics and to complete 12 hours of continuing education every 3 years.
A Certified Green Professional has received training in high- performance home building. High performance includes, among other things, building a home that ensures a healthy indoor environment. This healthy environment starts with the choosing the right HVAC system for the home. This HVAC system focuses on right-sizing the equipment that will create good ventilation, filtration, and air exchanges with effective moisture management. The proper HVAC system can result not only in significant reduction in energy consumption, but when coupled with proper insulation, window selection and air barriers will result in a more comfortable interior environment with less air allergens.
A CGP will use more durable materials in conjunction with tried and true building practices that can extend the life of a home and reduce the maintenance load on both the interior and exterior of the home. The CGP will also use sustainable building practices that will create less waste and preserve resources.
Certified Green Professionals have also been trained to build with water management in mind. They begin with planning a proper drainage plain beneath the home's exterior cladding and then develop an effective storm water management system and landscaping to reduce the exterior maintenance as well as provide a shield from excessive heat gain or loss.
A CGP has been trained in:
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Choosing products and practices for greater energy efficiency
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Indoor and outdoor water conservation practices reducing energy and water needs for your home
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Preserving indoor environmental quality by using low VOC paints and sealants
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Identifying and choosing sustainable building products
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Meeting benchmarks of the NAHB green building program – NAHB Green
Your CGP is dedicated to the practice of green building and is trained to deliver it to you in the way that best suits your needs. Your CGP will be able to explain the "hows" and "whys" of green building and educate you on features that are appropriate for your project.
People are looking for ways to have a beautiful home but doing it in a responsible way and a way that will save them time and money in the long run. Your CGP Professional is an excellent way to begin this process.
The Following is a list of Certified Green Professionals in Greater Des Moines Iowa:
Donald Beal
Beal Devlopment Corp.
IA
Matt Connolly
Generation Green Builders
IA
Dave Adickes
Midwest Contracting and Construction
IA
Ahmed Dzafic
DZ Construcion LLC
IA
Keith Butz
K & B Builders, LLC
IA
Colin King
K & V Inc.
IA
Amy Larsen
Emerald Homes of Iowa
IA
Daniel Knoup
DSM Homes
IA
Mike Miller
Castle Pointe Homes
IA
Sue Bechtel
Iowa Realty
IA
Jake Ried
Neighborhood Builders
IA
Russ Johnson
Accurate Development
IA
Kevin Johnson
Accurate Development Inc
IA
Alan Bowman
Environmental Design Group
IA
John Buttz
Cook Plumbing Corporation
IA
Creighton Cox
HBA of Greater Des Moines
IA
Devan Kaufman
Kaufman Construction
IA
Allen Brezina
Brezina Homes Inc
IA
Robert Tompkins
Moehl Millwork
IA
Deborah Keul-Asbra
Coldwell Banker
IA
Richard Parrino
Plum Building Systems LLC
IA
John Duer
Duer & Sons Remodeling
IA
Steve Theis
Emerald Homes of Iowa, Inc
IA
Copyright 2011 Remodelers Council of Greater Des Moines
